Dear Friends,

Please forgive the lateness of this communication. A huge “thank you” to this congregation for all your help during our last Family Promise week!

We, along with St. Mary’s By the Sea, hosted two lovely families for a total of six guests. There were most appreciative of the delicious dinners, the groceries and the welcoming accommodations… And now for some terrific news items:

• One of our families moved into a home on April 1st!
• Family Promise is opening a shelter in Toms River in the building once used by Harbor House! This will be temporary housing for families that do not have cars and need more intensive case management.
• A shelter for adults (without children) will also be opening in Toms River! This is huge – the need is great. Family Promise will be managing this site as well!
• The former Interfaith Family Services site in Toms River has been approved for a temporary family shelter! Their opening date is currently unknown.

With these new sites opening, there are more opportunities for volunteerism: grounds keeping, growing a vegetable garden, monitoring of the guests, etc. Some paid positions will also be available.

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact the church office.

Again, many thanks for all you do for this ministry!

Most sincerely,
Dee and Donna

P.S. Our next host weeks are July 5th and October 11th.