Family Promise Host Week: August 6th-13th
Family Promise of Greater Des Moines provides emergency shelter to homeless families with children. Westminster is home to the Family Promise Day Center, where families receive help in securing housing and jobs. Westminster, along with other churches in the Des Moines area, provide overnight housing and hospitality to the Family Promise families on a rotating basis. Westminster Church hosts Family Promise guests overnight two weeks out of each year.
Here’s how you can help:
Setup Volunteers: (10:00 – noon) Set up volunteers meet after worship service on Sunday, August 6, in the church library to set up the bedrooms. Put sheets/blankets on air mattresses-inflate if not inflated.
Dinner and Host Volunteers: (5:00-6:30 p.m.) Prepare food for each evening meal Sunday through Saturday. Prepare selected parts or all the menu on your selected day. You will receive details about dietary restrictions and the ages of the guests. Arrive before 5:00 p.m. at the Franklin door where Family Promise staff will meet you with a cart for you to take your food to Westminster Hall. Set the table for buffet style. Information about food allergies and head counts are provided the week prior.
Socialize with the families while they eat the meal and eat with them if you so desire. Cleanup after the meal, wipe off tables and store leftovers in refrigerator. You are free to leave once the evening host (s) arrive.
Evening Hosts: (6:30-8:30 p.m.) After the meal, play games, talk, watch a movie with the families, respond to guest needs or just be present in the building if they decide to return to their rooms. You are free to leave once the overnight host (s) arrive.
Overnight Hosts: (8:30 p.m.–7:00 a.m.) Volunteers spend the night providing hospitality until families go to their rooms. We must have someone present until the day center opens at 7a.m. (weekdays) or 8 a.m. (Saturdays) and for anything that may occur during the night. Once the Family Promise staff arrives, you are free to leave.
Breakfast on Saturday, August 12: (8:00 – 10:00 a.m.) Prepare a warm meal; deliver by 8 a.m. to Westminster Hall and serve buffet style. Cleanup after the meal is finished and store the leftovers in the refrigerator.
Take down guest rooms Sunday, August 13: (7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.) Take down the overnight rooms.
Laundry Volunteers on Sunday, August 13: The bedding laundry will be ready for volunteers to take home, wash, dry, and return to Westminster by the following Sunday.
How to sign up: Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A44ACAC2BA5F58-family1
Thank you for your support in this important mission! If you have any questions, please contact JoAnn Latta, Family Promise Host Coordinator, at joannlatta@yahoo.com or 515-490-4134.