Request for help from
Memphis Interfaith Housing Network
(Note: MIHN normally provides temporary emergency housing for
homeless families, by asking houses of
worship to provide spaces for one week at a time.
Frequently churches set up temporary dividers in' a social hall
or similar space.
MIHN provides most of the needed "housing" supplies, but the
host organization recruits volunteers
to bring in meals and provide some company, security,
supervision.)
Dec 13, 2011
Good
Afternoon faithful friends of Memphis Interfaith Hospitality
Network!
This
email is being sent to a specific group of people, and you
are included in this email because of the heart you have shown
to folks in Memphis/Shelby County who are less fortunate than
yourself. Some of you received an email from me yesterday
and some did not, so I am recapping our situation.
Our
family emergency shelter is faced with a unique situation the
first two weeks of January, 2012. We don’t have a
congregation to host our families either week. However,
Second Baptist Church has graciously agreed to house our
families the first week in January. We have “feelers” out
to a couple of remaining housing possibilities to house our
families the second week in January but nothing has been
confirmed yet. We are continuing to move forward in faith,
knowing that God’s Holy Spirit will go before us to make right
the way to provide housing for our network.
That
being said - we are seeking faithful and/or willing
volunteers to help us host our families the first two
weeks. “Many hands make light the work!” We
need dinner/evening hosts, overnight hosts and weekend
hosts. No position is too time consuming – two or
three hours out of your schedule can keep our guests sheltered
during the first two weeks of January. Additionally, we
will need grocery items, toiletries and laundry supplies.
Further, we will need volunteers to help with the transfers –
moving beds and luggage as needed. The time is short to
send out multiple emails and make a lot of phone calls asking
folks to help out (I call these my “Do it for Jesus” calls! J) –
so if you are moved by God’s Holy Spirit to help us host our
families, please act on His prompting. Don’t wait for
someone else to do it, because odds are that He wants YOU to do
it! (At least that’s been my experience… J)
We’re
using VolunteerSpot (an online sign up and reminder tool) to
schedule our upcoming hosting. Please sign up to help
- here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:
1)
Click this link to go to our invitation page
on VolunteerSpot:
http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/44234563422815408
2)
Enter your email address. (No
registration required!) Please note: VolunteerSpot does not
share your email address with anyone or send spam
emails.
3) Sign
Up!
Note: If you have trouble accessing the site or prefer not
to enter your email address – please email amybarnes@mihn.org
and I can sign you up manually.
If
you know of others who may be interested in volunteering,
please forward this email to them as well.
I will provide a short training for those who have never
volunteered before.
Many
thanks to you in advance for volunteering to keep this program
running 24/7/365. I am already excited to experience the
outpouring of love God has in store for our network, our
families and each person who steps forward. Don’t forget
to sign up!!
With
the very warmest regards,
Amy L. Barnes
Amy L. Barnes
Executive Director
Memphis Interfaith Hospitality Network
200 E. Parkway, N.
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 452-6446
amybarnes@mihn.org
www.mihn.org