By Tim Pallesen
The ambitious charity that transforms South County churches and synagogues into emergency shelters for homeless families with children was timed perfectly for the recession.
Family Promise launched just as unemployment shot up and the housing market collapsed.
The interfaith response to a community crisis has been impressive in Family Promise’s first three years.
Twelve churches and synagogues take turns giving families food and shelter until the parents can find jobs and rental housing. Each congregation needs 50 to 70 volunteers to host four homeless families for a week. A typical family gets three months of help.
But now Family Promise’s board of directors is appealing for the public’s help because they say the South County’s lack of affordable housing is making it difficult for families to get back on their feet.
Rev. Andrew Sherman
“Anyone who has rental units, we’re looking to speak with you,” board member the Rev. Andrew Sherman said. “We need good Samaritans who want to be our financial partners.”
Sherman helped organize Family Promise when, as the new pastor at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in 2005, he realized that the county has no coordinated response or shelter for the homeless. More than 70 people came from several congregations for the first meeting.
After two years of planning, Family Promise began its mission in September 2008.
The 12 congregations that banded together to feed, counsel and temporarily house families are Advent Lutheran, B’nai Torah, Cason United Methodist, B’nai Israel, First United Methodist, Grace Community, St. Gregory’s Episcopal, St. Paul Lutheran, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Temple Beth El, the Chapel of St. Andrew and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
“The recession hit right as we opened,” said board president the Rev. Kathleen Gannon. “It was a confirmation that we had stepped out in faith with the right response.”
Sherman first thought finding jobs would be the charity’s most difficult task.
“But finding safe and appropriate housing is our bigger challenge,” he said. “We need a dependable source of transitional housing that people can move into after they have stabilized in our program.”
So Family Promise directors will ask owners of rental properties this year to form charitable partnerships in which they give reduced rents to Family Promise families.
A Nov. 9 invitation-only fundraiser at the Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach was the board’s first attempt to also raise money to buy existing rental units and build new ones.
“We’re looking to host several small gatherings this coming year where we identify those with a heart for this ministry and the capacity to be generous,” Sherman said.
The popular Miami-based choral group that performs at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton has been nominated for two Grammy awards.
Seraphic Fire celebrates its 10th anniversary concert at the church at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, by reuniting its audiences’ favorite singers from past years. The Firebird Chamber Orchestra performs with the singers.
A month later, the Grammys will be awarded. Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem is nominated for best choral performance while A Seraphic Fire Christmas is a nominee for best small ensemble performance.
Seraphic Fire began with churches in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Fort Lauderdale as its concert venues. St. Gregory’s was added last year when director Patrick Quigley sought to expand into Palm Beach County.
“St. Gregory’s believes that part of our role is to nurture the arts in our community,” the Rev. Andrew Sherman said.
“The classical music concerts are an opportunity for people to come into a sacred space to experience the goodness of God. That’s wonderful, too.”
Rabbi Ruvi New
Rabbi Ruvi New sings at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 during Moonlight Serenade at the Chabad of East Boca Raton.
The synagogue’s new monthly Moonlight Serenade services observe God’s role in the universe.
The Jewish people are likened to the moon, which waxes and wanes as they have through their history. Blessing the moon on its reappearance each month is a way of renewing the trust that the light of God’s presence will soon fill all the Earth.
The outdoor blessing is followed by the rabbi’s singing and refreshments in the synagogue at 120 NE First Ave.
Fonda Huizenga
Fonda Huizenga will urge Delray Beach business leaders and clergy to “Step It Up” to help the needy when she addresses the Mayor’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 10.
Huizenga founded a faith-based charity in Broward County that provides emergency foster care before adoptions. She and her husband, Wayne Huizenga Jr., recently moved back to Delray Beach.
“She has a very powerful message for the community to step up to help people in need instead of relying on government and welfare to help,” prayer breakfast organizer Nancy Stewart- Fransczak said.
The annual breakfast began 11 years ago as a way for business leaders and clergy to start the new year with a fresh message, she said.
Tickets for the 7 a.m. Chamber of Commerce event at Pompey Park are $25. Call (561) 279-0907 for details.
Tim Pallesen writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Email him at tcpallesen@aol.com.
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