Volunteer Training Seminar

The next free Volunteer Training Seminar required before a volunteer can provide direct service for our guests will be held:

Saturday, June 28th from
9 a.m. to noon;
297 Bridger View Drive in
Belgrade (behind Fire Station)
child care provided
call 582-7388 to register;
Lunch following training
hosted by Belgrade LDS.
[map]

For more information, please call or email Brigitte Menard 582.7579 • .

Notes from the Director . . .

May 2008

It’s that time of year – the whole world is green and flowers are sprouting up all around town. I look out my window at Family Promise and see a garden of red tulips. Every spring it hits me: that need to dig my hands in the dirt and plant something. Planting seeds and watching them grow is about as good as it gets.. . . .[continued]

Be a Saturday Volunteer!

Family Promise of Gallatin Valley needs trained volunteers who are willing to help out on Saturdays. When a need arises, we will contact you with the shifts that are available.Most volunteering will take place at the Day Center. It’s a great, easy way to get involved. For more information contact Brent Wilson at or 582-7579.

Help Spread the Word!

We have a limited supply of FPGV posters intended for placement in windows of local businesses. If you would post one or two in your business or know one who will, please ask your coordinator or call Brent or Gloria to get one. Please be sure to have permission of the owner or manager in advance of posting it and let us know where they are posted.

Click here for larger version for viewing.

Celia Wood Raises $850
in Senior Olympics!

June 25, 2008 —  A heartfelt thanks to Celia Wood who participated in the Senior Olympics in Butte and raised $850 in pledges for riding her bicycle and completing the 5K. An active First Presbyterian Church member and Family Promise volunteer, Celia told us she wanted to do something “meaningful” and could think of no better cause than helping homeless families. Additionally, she is renown as the prizewinner for being the oldest participant to sleep in a cardboard box during the last Cardboard Box City. At "almost 79," Celia is living proof that you are never too old to have fun — or to find creative ways to help those in need.

Thank you to
Jump, Jive, and Jazzercise

June 25, 2008 — A big thank you goes out to Kim Broden and all the organizers and participants at the Jump, Jive and Jazzercise event held on June 7th. Although the weather was cold and rainy, over $270 was raised for Family Promise of Gallatin Valley.

FPGV Successes

May 14, 2008 — Family Promise continues to help our homeless families get back on their feet. With the help of our amazing volunteers, this program has become a success that benefits our entire community. read about our accomplishments.

Family Promise Celebrates Two Years and Over 700 Volunteers

March 12, 2008 — Bozeman, MT — Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, Inc., (FPGV) announced that as of their two year anniversary this month, they have 709 trained volunteers. “These volunteers from the 21 congregations participating in Family Promise as well as other concerned members of our community are the heart and soul of Family Promise,” stated Gloria Edwards, Executive Director of Family Promise of Gallatin Valley (FPGV). “In the last two years, our volunteers have supported the 25 families that have come through this program and the three families currently with us, staying with them overnight, providing home-cooked meals, and showing by their commitment and concern that this community truly cares about them.”

“Of course, our participating congregations provide the largest portion of our volunteers; however, we are welcoming an increasing number of volunteers who are not members of any congregation, or are members of congregations that do not participate in Family Promise,” noted Ray Ross, President of FPGV’s Board of Directors. “Our volunteers are living their commitment to helping the less fortunate in our community, giving our guests a priceless sense of self-worth that helps them get back on their feet.”

FPGV welcomes any adult member of our community to become a volunteer. Those wishing to volunteer with Family Promise attend a free, three hour training seminar before providing any direct services to guests. The training, designed by the national Family Promise organization, provides volunteers with understanding of the program as well as sensitivity to the needs and situation of the program’s guests.

Project Homeless Connect!

June 24, 2008 — Family Promise has collaborated with several other agencies in the Bozeman area in efforts to end homelessness in the Gallatin Valley. This summer that collaborative effort has resulted in an event: Project Homeless Connect.

Helping All Homeless

PHC is considered a best practice in efforts to impact homelessness. The event is a “one stop shop” for homeless, nearly homeless, and needy individuals. Consumers can attend the event to receive services in one location on one day. PHC has been successful in several cities in Montana, including two successful events in both Missoula and Billings.

Service Event

The Bozeman Project Homeless Connect will be held on July 12, 2008 from 10 am to 7 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 26 W. Babcock, Bozeman. Services will include food (served picnic style at Canterbury Park), hair cuts, vision screenings, dental screenings, HIV and pregnancy tests, immunizations, bike repair, pet baths and food, information leading to housing and employment, and so much more. The event plans to distribute vouchers for clothing at Salvation Army and Sack’s, personal hygiene items, bike parts and food.

Volunteers & Donations

If you’re interesting in volunteering or donating to the event, please contact Brigitte at 582-7579.

Fund Raising Event
at Wild Joe's Coffee

May 14, 2008 — Wild Joe’s Coffee is holding a Fundraising Event for Family Promise

Friday, May 16 • 5:30 pm–7:30 pm
18 W. Main

Come help Family Promise help homeless families! Join in the fun and show your support! Come and enjoy:

• Appetizers & Beverages
• Raffle items ($200 travel voucher, set of luggage,
• gift certificates for dining, books, and so much more!)
• Great music provided by Diamond

Tickets $25 at the door

Thank You
to Our Volunteers!
National Volunteer Week

April 15, 2008 — As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 27 through May 3, Family Promise would like to extend its warmest gratitude to all of volunteers who help make Family Promise a success. We are especially grateful to all of the host and partner congregations, their volunteer coordinators, pastors, and volunteers, and the many other volunteers from throughout the community. Thank you to all the dedicated and compassionate volunteers for your time and effort with Family Promise.

Family Promise of Gallatin Valley exists entirely because of its volunteers. Family Promise volunteers have provided over 20,000 hours of service to the community as well — providing countless meals, companionship, and support to our guests. The over 716 volunteers who have completed the training make it possible for Family Promise to offer "24/7" support to our guests.

— Gloria Edwards, Donna Krause,
     Brigitte Menard, and the Board
     of Directors.

Rockin TJ's Valentine Benefit Provides $5,000

April 15, 2008 — Bozeman, MT — The event held by Rockin TJ Ranch to benefit Family Promise resulted in a gift of $5,000 to us, for which we are deeply grateful! During the event, our board President, Ray Ross, spoke and described our work and our successes, and offered thanks to all who came out in support of Family Promise.

   We have heard from some who went specifically to support Family PRomise that they found the entertainment to be somewhat risqué, relative to what the event was supporting. To those people we offer our apology, but note that it was entirely a third party event and so completely out of our hands. We do intend to be more informed about and involved in future third party events to avoid such "surprises."

    Thank you Rockin TJ and all who attended for your support of homeless families in our community. With our economy less than optimal, our work is even more important to us all.