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Luncheon offers promise of hope to homeless
Tonya arrived in Conroe to start a new job with her 16-year old son from Dallas in hopes that her leased apartment was ready for her. Unfortunately, the owner was no where around on move-in day. Without cash, a home, and no friends to assist her in a new town, Tonya lost her job and faced homelessness.
Tonya was referred to Family Promise, a local non-profit serving 4 homeless families at a time in rotating faith communities in a collaborative mission to increase their job readiness, and stability to enable them to be self-sustainable. Approved families with children are given a 90-day personal plan to reach attainable goals with a case manager. Topics include parenting skills, stress management, family safety, and budgeting. Families are provided meals, hygiene items, clothing, childcare, transportation, and shelter through partnering churches in the community.
Church partners set up bedding accommodations on Sunday afternoon for a week long stay through the following Sunday morning. Volunteers with the church provide a morning breakfast for the guests and evening meals. Each family must leave each day to seek work, get children to school or daycare, or work on their goals at the Family Promise Day Center located near downtown Conroe. Church involvement is critical to the success of Family Promise. The Day Center is where the families conduct job searches, receive case management, cook mid-day meals, do laundry, and store most of their belongings.
Currently there are 11 churches sharing the hosting responsibilities for a week at a time. Without church support Family Promise must pay approximately $562 per week for food and lodging in a hotel for each client family.
“Family Promise has personally changed my life and each day we’re changing many more by being a foundation of hope for families and their children facing the crisis of being homeless”, stated Executive Director, LaToya Carter. “Many do not know we exist, but most know of someone in need. We really need more people to know about this organization, we need even more to support it.”
Family Promise of Montgomery County will hold their 4th Annual Luncheon on Tuesday, April 17 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Wesley Hall of The Woodlands Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands. Karen Olson, Founder and President Emeritus of Family Promise is the guest speaker. Tickets are available for $55 online at www.FamilyPromiseofMC.org or at the door. Presented by Cowboy KIA of Conroe, the luncheon offers an online raffle for $10 a ticket for each item.
Since 2001, Family Promise of Montgomery County has served 350 families; including 600 children, to secure a stable housing, provide for their families, and contribute to the community. Additional programs include ROC Program (Reaching Our Children): counseling and supportive services for children, KAR-GO (Keeping Autos Reliable – Gas & Oil) Program to pay for repairs, tires, registration, and gas.
“Attending the luncheon, sponsoring or participating in the raffle are just a few initial ways to get involved”, said Shawn Johnson, Board Member and Committee Chair of the Family Promise Luncheon. “There are homeless families, children here in Montgomery County that need a program such as Family Promise to turn their lives around! Only with the support of the community will Family Promise continue to be that answer.”
All donations directly assist families with needs of obtaining their driver’s license, meeting medical needs, paying rental deposits, providing families with gas cards, and covering childcare amongst many other essential services. Additional costs for the organization include maintaining the Day Center and supplying household supplies to support approximately 20 families a year.
Find out more about Family Promise of Montgomery County by visiting www.familypromiseofmc.org and visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FPMCT Call (936) 441-8778 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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