Dec 27

Written by: Family Promise Lancaster
12/27/2007 3:05 PM

By Johnathan Ryan - Reporter

Just two months into organization, volunteers wanting to start a network of homeless shelters at local churches are seeing concrete results from their work.

Four host churches have now agreed to participate in the Interfaith Hospitality Network's shelters for qualifying homeless families. A month ago, one church had agreed to participate.

Host churches agree to donate facilities to shelter families a week at a time.

"I'm thrilled about that (the churches signing up)," said organizer Bill Hutchinson, a member of First United Methodist Church in Lancaster. "We want to make sure to do it right, so waiting a bit for the right churches to sign up is fine."

The host churches are Covenant Baptist, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian and St. Catherine Catholic churches in Lancaster.

Hutchinson said the decision to participate in the shelter network should be considered carefully by a congregation. A church must have the facilities and volunteers to work with the shelter network.

Hutchinson said he hopes at least eight churches will join the network. The network will be self-supported, which is the case for all 140 Interfaith Hospitality Network operations nationwide.

Churches can be within a 30-mile radius of a planned day center, where the network director and other volunteers will work with adults on life skills and supervise small children who aren't old enough to attend school. The center will likely be in Lancaster.

Volunteers first, then fundraising

At a Nov. 29 meeting, network volunteers elected a board of directors and approved a volunteer slip for distribution at host churches, which offers a range of options for those wanting to help.

Hutchinson said there's no expectation on how one may volunteer.

He said volunteers within the York County network range from teenagers who help small children with homework to adults who supervise the families overnight at the churches. The York County program is now in its 10th year.

"We're looking for the people, not the funds at this point," said organizer Mary Atkinson, a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church.

Atkinson, who serves on the host recruitment and fundraising committees, created the volunteer slip, which has been distributed to members of her church. The response there has been strong, with more than 10 members wanting to help in some capacity.

"We're pretty excited to be able to help out," Atkinson said.

One may also sign up to donate shelter items, such as food supplies and paper goods. Families will eat and be able to bathe at the shelters.

Volunteers plan to distribute the slips to all members of the host churches soon and are now brainstorming ways to get them to the general public.

For details on the Interfaith Hospitality Network of homeless shelters, go to www.familypromise.org. To learn more about the York County network, go to www.ihnyc.org.

To learn how to help out in Lancaster County, call Hutchinson at 285-0301 or Atkinson at 416-2481. The next organizational meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, at Grace United Methodist Church, 1905 Country Club Drive, Lancaster.



Contact Johnathan Ryan at 416-8416 or jryan@thelancasternews.com

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