Family Promise

Family Promise of Greater Orlando (formerly IHN) exists to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. Unlike most agencies, Family Promise uses a comprehensive approach that keeps families together as counselors help them seek permanent housing, employment, day care, health care and other services necessary to achieve independence and return to mainstream life. Follow-up counseling is also provided.

“Host weeks” are an integral part of the program. Support congregations provide overnight accommodations and meals–at their churches–for three or four families with children for one week at a time on a rotating schedule. University Carillon is one of FP’s host congregations.

Many people are required to fully staff the host week at the church, so inquiries and volunteers are welcome. (Training provided.) Please contact familypromise@ucumc.net

The Big Picture of Family Promise:

• There are 182 Family Promise affiliates in 41 states (ten in the state of Florida)
• More than 160,000 volunteers are mobilized from coast to coast in a commitment to building communities and strengthening lives.
• Since its founding more than 20 years ago, affiliates have serviced about 500,000 people (most of whom are children)
• FP’s proven approach has helped nearly 80 percent of client secure housing.

“Host Weeks”

For upcoming “host weeks” and sign up information > Events Page

Job Descriptions

Set Up – Sunday, 1:00 pm, 2nd floor of the Education Building.  Four to six volunteers are needed to unload luggage and beds from trailer, set up and make the beds in each room.

Evening Host– Training required. Two volunteers are needed (children are welcome to come with you) from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm to help set out the dinner, fix the drinks, get ice and put away leftovers.  They also interact with the families, help the children with homework, and play games with the children.

Saturday Host – Training required. Two-hour shifts run throughout the day. Two volunteers are needed for each shift to interact with the families and play with the children.

Overnight Host – Training required. Two people are needed for each night from 8:30 pm to 7:30 am. The overnight hosts are provided with a private room. Their responsibilities include making sure families are in their rooms by10 pm and assisting with breakfast by setting out the cereal and coffee.

Food for Meals – Volunteers prepare an evening meal for the IHN families. They should bring the meal to the kitchen by 5:00 pm. Usually the meal is for 18 people, with at least half of them being children. Volunteers are notified of the number a few days ahead of time. Some meal suggestions are:  lasagna, chicken, meat loaf, vegetable, salad, bread and dessert. Meals should be brought in disposable containers. To help with meals, please email Pat Cox at patclarkcox@gmail.com.

Provide Pantry Items – Volunteers help stock the shelves with dry goods and food items for breakfast and lunch for the families.  Food can be delivered by the bins in the lobby on or before the first Sunday of the IHN week. Please mark the items “Family Promise”

Take Down – Sunday, 7:30 a.m.  Four volunteers needed to move beds and luggage back into the trailer and clear the rooms of all items.

Laundry – Volunteers serve by taking home a bag of laundry (sheets, towels and blankets).  The bags are labeled with the volunteer’s name and will be labeled IHN. The laundry is to be washed, folded and returned to the lobby within the following two weeks.  (Please use 1 cup of bleach in each load.)

If you have any questions, please contact familypromise@ucumc.net

Pantry ITEMS Needed

Please place items in the lobby marked Family Promise.

• single-serve cereals
• snack crackers
• Pop-tarts
• cereal bars
• fruit cups
• applesauce cups
• chips
• fruit snacks
• assorted kid-friendly foods for breakfasts and lunches