Family Promise is going strong at the end of May. At the moment, two giggling little girls keep running in and out of my office, saying “Hi, Gloria!” “Good-bye, Gloria!” and “See you later, Gloria!”  Their smiles remind me every day why we do what we do.

When I think of all the amazing volunteers and congregations that cheerfully share their talents and houses of worship with our homeless families, I am truly humbled. I know that it isn’t always easy: sometimes giggling little ones turn into howling bears and sunny skies are replaced with May snow. Yet volunteers faithfully bring dinner, provide transportation, read to children, talk with adults about their struggles, stay overnight and help however they can. They help when it’s easy and when it’s hard. They help because they know it’s what people do when they are part of a community.

Let me tell you about one of our families. Mom and Dad have two boys, ages 1 and 3, and another one on the way. Both parents work full-time doing hard physical labor. After picking up the boys from daycare and eating dinner at the church, they go out to their soon-to-be new home and paint walls and make repairs until it’s dark. The home had flooded and been trashed by previous tenants. Mom and Dad have been working round the clock for a month. Their hard work is about to pay off with a home of their own and a better life for their family.

A call for help went out yesterday and already someone has volunteered to bring their dump truck and haul the trash away. I am hopeful that we’ll have a cleaning crew for Saturday, June 2nd. Larry, our Sunday Coordinator, can use the RCI Caldwell Banker moving truck to deliver free beds from Slumberland Furniture. Other furnishings are being donated. Working together, it is wonderful what can be accomplished.

— Gloria Edwards