Notes from the Director

August 2011

“You get what you give”

-   Zac Brown Band

Our volunteers are simply an amazing group of people. Last Wednesday was our “Work Party” for the basement apartment at the Tim and Mary Barnard Family Day Center.  Folks showed up and rolled up their sleeves, cleaned the bathroom, painted, put together bed frames, and worked hard to make a basement into a home for a formerly homeless family with children.

Let me tell you about one of our volunteers. Her name is Dottie, and she is a peach. She’s 60+ (I’m not asking!); about 100# dripping wet and full of energy. Dottie stripped wallpaper last week, vacuumed up all our messes, and hauled in furniture she had bought at the Salvation Army. Dottie’s main hobby seems to be helping others and she does it with style. After everyone had left the work party Dottie came back with a picture for the wall she had just picked up. A day or so later she was back with a clock and flower pictures for the kitchen wall.

And all that is just a fraction of how Dottie gives. She also made fall/winter and spring/summer curtains for our Tim and Mary Barnard Family Day Center. Dottie goes to yard sales and thrift stores and is always looking for a bargain for someone else. The “Amazing Grace” plaque above our fireplace comes from Dottie. I think she has personally furnished about half of the 70+ families we have helped to get back on their feet.

If it’s true that you ‘get what you give’ then Dottie will never have to want for anything. She will be totally blessed – and meanwhile, we at Family Promise are totally blessed with her. Many thanks, Dottie!

Check out our video on this great team effort here!

Gloria Edwards

Executive Director