Ashland November 2016

Page 6 Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com November 2016
INTERFAITH EFFORTS
continued from page 1
root causes of their homelessness,
while providing for their basic
needs for periods averaging six
months.
“We had been telling our story
over and over since 2003, and the
commitment of Ashland Federated
Church was key in helping us
to finally open our doors to families,”
Susan Crossley, director of
Family Promise Metrowest, said
The congregation has plenty
of help. In addition to its own
core of some 25 volunteers, the
Federated Church is now receiving
growing support from other
Ashland congregations, such as
St. Cecilia Catholic church and
the Sha’arei Shalom Jewish congregation.
In this interfaith effort,
volunteers not only donate,
prepare and serve meals to the
homeless families, but also work
and play with the children during
after-meal social time. Two volunteers
also spend the night.
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St. Cecilia volunteers put the finishing touches on a family meal at the Federated Church. L to r: Gwen Collins,
Janet Farrell, Jill Morazzini and Cindy Tokarz. (Photo/Ray Zambuto)
Mission of Outreach
“We are a mission-based
church, and this kind of community
outreach fits very well with
the core of who we are,” Linda
Russo, the lead coordinator for
the Federated Church’s Family
Promise efforts, said.
“It’s amazing how many volunteers
show up,” added Pam Dunham,
another Federated Church
member who coordinates meal
donations during the host week.
“In many ways, I believe our volunteers
get more out of the program
than the families do.”
Sarah Currie, St. Cecilia’s coordinator
for the program, said
her parish now prepares two
evening meals for families during
Federated’s host weeks. Along
with a rising number of St. Cecilia
volunteers, she cited the “gracious
support” of area businesses, such
as Framingham Bakery, Holliston’s
Outpost Farm and Ashland’s
Julie Z breads, which have provided
either generous discounts or
outright donations of food.
“It’s so rewarding to see the effort
that these families are putting
into getting out of their difficulties
and into a more stable life,” Currie
said.
Moving from host congregation
to host congregation each
week is no easy chore for these
families, observed Lisa Brown,
Family Promise coordinator for
Sha’arei Shalom, whose volunteers
also provide meal assistance.
“They are giving up control, but
many realize that they are investing
in their long-term future. In a
sense, they are getting the kind of
intensive, overall assistance that
you would receive from a very
supportive family.”
Income Lags Housing Costs
Family Promise Metrowest
Director Crossley explains that
the program, which receives no
government funding, targets the
working poor, whose incomes
are being far outstripped by the
Boston area’s soaring housing
costs. One of some 200 local programs
nationwide, the Metrowest
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Dec 3 & 4
chapter gets referrals from such
sources as schools, hospitals and
the Massachusetts Department
of Transitional Assistance.
Once a family is accepted into
the program, a Family Promise
case worker evaluates every aspect
of family need: finances,
housing, health care, transportation,
employment and education.
The case worker meets weekly
with families to examine progress
in addressing these issues.
For example, families set up savings
accounts and are expected
to bank 80 percent of earnings
after expenses. A new “steps for
success” program supports career
advancement through training
and education subsidies. With
such help, one young woman recently
earned her certified nursing
assistant (CNA) qualification
and is now considering licensed
practical nurse (LPN) training.
Family Promise Metrowest also
is expanding its efforts in affordable
housing, including construction
of a new duplex unit with
the help of grant money from
the Wellesley Village Church. It is
also seeking greater participation
from area businesses and organizations.
The Ashland Masons,
for example, have donated meals,
provided Christmas gifts for families,
and backed major fundraising
efforts, such as an annual 5K
“Walkathon” each April.
Still, the hospitality offered
every week by Metrowest congregations
like Ashland’s Federated
Church remain the foundation
of Family Promise’s strategy to
lift families out of poverty and
homelessness.
“We send families to these congregations
in good faith, knowing
that they will receive compassionate
care,” Judy Mongiardo,
network coordinator for Family
Promise Metrowest, said. “Ashland
Federated Church has been
with us from the beginning when
all we had was a theory, and they
should be proud of this program’s
growth.”
How You Can Help
Besides joining the volunteers at Ashland area congregations,
here are some other ways to support the Family Promise
Metrowest anti-poverty program.
• Donate online: https://goo.gl/nQkUAo
• Mail a Donation: https://goo.gl/u1GIqK
• Participate in the Nov. 5 food tasting
and auction fundraising event:
www.501auctions.com/fpm/tickets?type=3682
• Make your business or organization a partner:
www.familypromisemetrowest.org/community.html
• Contact Family Promise Metrowest staff:
www.familypromisemetrowest.org/contact.html
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