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A Single Parent...
Homeless...
and a Father
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Written by Linda Smith
While we see lots of single moms in our program, we also serve single dads. These guys work hard and have an uphill battle. We often hear about the dad who has deserted his family responsibilities, but not in the case of our latest graduate.
Family Promise recently hosted a single dad, Joe (not his real name), and his children. Joe is a recovering addict. One day, he woke up and decided he wanted better for his kids. He went into treatment and is now two years clean. He still faithfully attends his groups every week. Joe left his home with his children to remove them from a negative environment and keep them safe. After struggling for several months with no stable housing, he entered Family Promise. While with us, Joe’s kids attended school every day, they had a safe place to sleep, plenty of food and lots of people to love on them. Joe was able to go back to work, save some money, and then a miracle happened—Joe found a three-bedroom home in Hamilton. His children will be able to attend the same school, he is close to work and they even live near their babysitter. Joe’s biggest desire—to protect his kids and to be able to provide them with a stable home—has been realized. While Joe would be quick to tell you his journey to success has been long and difficult, he is so thankful to have had many people gather around him and offer encouragement.
It is an honor to walk with a man like Joe through this journey. We wish him and his children the best and brightest future.
To all of our Family Promise of Butler County partners, volunteers, board of directors and staff, thank you for changing lives through your commitment to Family Promise! |
| | Did you know that love is a verb?
While many of us define love as a deep intense feeling towards someone or something, love is also an action. We are all quick to state that we love someone, a certain food item, our car or job, but are we also quick to act out of love? And, even more importantly, do we show our love in action to those who we don’t know or who are on the fringes of society?
Many days, we are so busy with work, family, home life and church that we don’t act in love toward others. A simple “thank you” to a store clerk, “have a nice day,” or holding the door for someone are easy expressions of love. Other more complicated expressions can be offering a ride to someone who has no transportation, buying lunch for a hungry child at school, listening to someone’s story without telling them what to do, or even making a donation to a pantry, animal shelter, homeless shelter or other social service agency. In these days of social media, showing love may mean not commenting or not sharing an inappropriate post.
Here at Family Promise, the verb portion of love happens every day. At the Day Center, love in action looks like giving cleaning supplies and personal care items to the families, listening to a child when they talk about their day, guiding parents in making the best choices about stability and sometimes it is simply hanging out with families at the park. At host congregations, love as a verb is shown in every action our volunteers take: preparing and serving a hot meal, playing tag and water balloons with the kids, helping everyone pack lunches for the next day, listening to kids and adults, and spending the night at church with families. For me personally, love in action involves saying “thank you” to our staff, board of directors, donors and all of our amazing volunteers.
While we may never know the impact our love makes, our actions could turn around a day, or even a life. I challenge each of you to practice love as a verb intentionally each day. Together, we can turn this world around!
Loving on you, Linda Smith Executive Director
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| | WELCOME NEW STAFF
Recently Family Promise of Butler County welcomed new staff members and a summer social work intern. We are blessed to have a wonderful team serving our guests.
STAFF Linda Smith, Executive Director Tommy Hurrell, Driver Keshab Acharya, Driver/weekend staff Shalonda Morris, Weekend staff Grady Cunningham, Driver Brianna Batts, Student Intern
Open Position:
Family Service Coordinator
Yes, we are hiring a Family Service Coordinator! This person will primarily work with our guests to develop care plans, address barriers to independence, and provide needed community resources. He/she will provide support and training to host coordinators and volunteers. Follow the link to view full job description.
Board of Directors Jennifer Withrow, President Roderick Mills, Vice President Lakmé Kodros, Treasurer Ed Theroux, Secretary Randy Stearns Larry Brueshaber Afreen Asif Kathy Wagonfield
Open Position:
We are currently seeking new Board members to begin serving January 2020. We are interested in individuals with a passion to help children and their families who are struggling with homelessness. Family Promise of Butler County has a working board, requiring members to be actively involved. If you would like more information, please contact us at 513-444-2033.
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Host Congregation Spotlight |
| | One of Christ the King Lutheran’s core values states, “We serve and care for those within and outside our walls as we face life's challenges together.” Before becoming a host congregation, members of Christ the King Lutheran were looking for additional opportunities to serve those in need. There were some initial concerns whether they could support the Family Promise ministry with enough volunteers, but they took a leap of faith and committed to hosting families for a week at a time, four times a year. Sue Ratto, host coordinator, says they “fell in love with the families and it is now one of our most prized ministries.”
Like other smaller congregations, Christ the King Lutheran partners with another congregation to support their host week. Volunteers from the Greater Cincinnati Islamic Center donates meals twice a week. Ratto states, “What a wonderful partnership this has been! We get to sit and chat with families from another faith and make new friends in addition to the families we are hosting.”
Ratto shares a memory of special moments with the children and families. “Many of our volunteers, especially those who stay overnight, mention very meaningful and private conversations that spontaneously occur with the guests. The personal stories of struggle always touch hearts. These private conversations are meaningful to us because Jesus gives us an opportunity to love and encourage that particular guest when they are feeling low. Personally, I fall in love with the children and it is always hard for me to say goodbye when they get in the van to leave for the next host church. The very first time we served, the group included a little boy about 4 years old who loved to clean, of all things. I remember helping him put on his shoes. He was giving me the strangest look. I finally realized I was putting his shoes on the wrong feet. I said I am not going to be a very good grandma if I cannot put on a child’s shoes. He looked at me with the sweetest expression and said, “No, you will be best grandma,” with the most sincere expression on his adorable little face. Love him and all of them!!” |
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DOT DASH 5K...Connecting the Dots so Every Child has a Home!
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| Family Promise of Butler County is having its 1st annual Dot Dash 5K untimed walk/run. This is a family event held on June 8th, 2019 at Marcum Park in Hamilton, OH.
Time 7:30 am - Registration begins
8:20 am - Contest for teams of 5 or more at RiversEdge Amphitheater (see info for Team Contest details below)
9:00 am - 5K run/walk begins (on bike path)
Cost
$30 per person (ages 13+) - t-shirt included
$15 per person (ages 6-12) - t-shirt included
Free (ages 5 and under)
$20 sleep-in donation without participation
Teams of 5 or more are encouraged to register as a team
Team Contest
Every team of 5 or more can enter additional contests which will take place at 8:20 am on the amphitheater stage. Please register by 8:10 for one of the two contests. There is no fee to register for these competitions...but there is a $100 CASH prize for the winner of each contest.
Contest 1: Best team name with tagline!
Contest 2: Best team cheer!
First place teams will win $100 per competition!
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| | Family Promise of Butler County is a 501(3)(c) non-profit charity. Donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your continued support!
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