Family Promise

Holy Trinity's next hosting week is October 15-22, 2023. 
Our partnership with Family Promise of Greater Des Moines could be summed up by the words of Jesus: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Matthew 25:35).

​By providing food and shelter to families who are working to be freed from the burden of homelessness, we answer God’s call to provide for our neighbor. There is, however, more to it than that. By offering hospitality and compassion to people who are struggling, we enact the love of Christ. By serving those who are often ignored, we grant them dignity and show them love.  

We invite you to answer the call of our Lord to love, serve, and offer compassion and hospitality to children of God who are in need. 
There are many ways you can help:
​
Meal Provider – A Call to love by providing service and hospitality.  
  • Time commitment: 1.5-2 hours on site plus prep time for meal. 
  • Meal Providers prepare an evening meal for any day, Sunday through Saturday, or provide a Saturday morning breakfast. 
  • The evening meal is delivered to the church by 5:45 PM. The meal is to be served at 6:00 PM. Meal providers may either drop off meals or are welcome to stay to help serve and eat with the families.
  • Saturday morning breakfast should be ready to eat by 8:45 AM. Breakfast can be brought in or prepared at the church. 
  • You can prepare the meal by yourself or with a team you gather.  
  • Menu suggestions can be provided by the Family Promise Committee. 
  • Detailed information will be provided the week prior to hosting relating to family composition, food allergies, special dietary needs, etc. 
  • Typically, food will need to be provided for about 15 - 18 people including the families and the volunteers. 

Evening Host – A Call to love by offering hospitality and compassion. 
  • Time commitment: 3 hours. 
  • Evening Hosts arrive at 5:15 PM and serve until about 8:30 PM. 
  • Hosts will set up the meal provided by the Meal Provider(s) and clean up after the mealtime has passed. The meal is served from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. 
  • Put leftovers away in provided containers. Make up a plate for guests who could not arrive during mealtime.  
  • Be available to help with the needs of parents and children in the program.  
  • A background check will be required of adults if you haven’t had one in the last two years. It is done by email. 

Overnight Host – A Call to love by offering hospitality and compassion. 
  • Time commitment: 11-13 hours – overnight. 
  • Overnight Hosts who serve Sunday through Thursday and Saturday night serve from 8:15 PM – 7:00 AM. 
  • Those who serve Friday night to Saturday morning serve from 8:15 PM – 9:30 AM. 
  • One volunteer is required. Two are welcome. 
  • Coordinators will be on call and available if assistance is needed or an emergency arises. 
  • Air beds are provided. Please bring your own bedding. Recliner chairs in Café Koinonia can be used. 
  • Lock the south door at 9:00 PM. 
  • Wake guests at 6:00 AM except on Saturday. Wake guests on Saturday at 8:00 AM.
  • Set out continental breakfast using food supplied by church/Family Promise, Sunday through Friday. 
  • Assist with meal set up and clean up Saturday morning. 
  • A background check will be required of adults if you haven’t had one in the last two years. It is done by email. 

Van Driver – A Call to love by serving with compassion. 
  • Time commitment: 1-1.5 hours per trip. 
  • Transport the guests to and from the Family Promise Day Center, located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue, Beaverdale using a Family Promise-supplied 15-passenger van.  
  • There are two trips made Monday through Saturday. In the morning, guests are taken from the church to the Day Center so that they arrive by 7:00 AM.  In the afternoon, guests are picked up at the Day Center by 5:00 PM and brought to the church.  
  • The following is a list of drop off by times and pickup by times at Westminster Church (Day Center).  There is a possibility during the school year that the drop off time may be earlier in order to meet school bus schedules.  Morning drivers will be notified if there is a deviation required from the schedule below.  Both Sunday trips require a second driver and chase vehicle since the van is either being picked up or dropped off. ​
  • You can sign up for one or both trips. If you sign up for both trips in a day, the van may be driven to your work.  
  • A background check will be required via email if you haven’t had one in the last two years. 
  • Holy Trinity will require (via email) a driver’s license check if one has not been done within the last two years. 
  • Family Promise will perform a driver's license check annually. 

Setup Team – A Call to love by offering hospitality and compassionate service. 
  • Time commitment: 1-2 hours. 
  • The set-up team serves in the week before host week getting the spaces ready for guest families. 
  • Prepare guest rooms.
  • Set up air beds. 
  • Put on sheets, blankets, and pillows. 
  • Place a nightstand, lamp, flashlight, Kleenex, and alarm clock in each room. 
  • Cover windows if necessary 
  • Set upstairs bathroom shelf with supplies provided by church/Family Promise. 

Take Down/Cleanup Team - A Call to love by offering hospitality and compassionate service. 
  • Time commitment: 1-2 hours. 
  • In the days following a host week, the team cleans up rooms, takes down mattresses, and stores supplies. 

Laundry Servant - A Call to love by offering hospitality and compassionate service. 
  • Time commitment: 1-3 hours. 
  • The Laundry Servants launder the towels and bedding used during host week. These are typically available after the second service on the final Sunday. Laundry may be done and returned at your convenience. Laundry detergent with bleach provided. 
Watch the video below to see how this partnership works and why it is important for us all to support the work of our congregation and Family Promise.