'Family Promise' Works to Ready Day Center for Homeless Families

Volunteers from the First United Methodist Church of Brandon were to join with others today in Brandon to help get in shape the "Family Promise" day center "that will ultimately be the epicenter of this community outreach to homeless families," according to an FUMC Facebook post.

The July 7 work day for the Family Promise Day Center was scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 201 East Morgan St. in Brandon, just two blocks north of Brandon Boulevard, behind the First Presbyterian Church.

The First United Methodist Church of Brandon is one of the center's host churches. The center is to provide a base for homeless families "to seek employment, housing, and other resources to help them regain their independence," according to the Facebook post.

Other churches involved in the effort are Bay Life Church, Brandon Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, First United Methodist of Brandon, First United Methodist of Seffner, Limona Village Chapel United Methodist Church, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church of Brandon.   

The Family Promise of Greater Brandon Web site showcases a picture of the Family Promise Day Center and describes Family Promise as "a non-profit organization of local Christian churches committed to helping homeless children and their families within our community achieve lasting independence and escape the cycle of poverty."

Noted is the group's goal to raise $90,000 to launch the program in 2012. "These funds will allow us to cover start-up expenses and provide working capital to run the program for an estimated two years," the announcement notes. Tax-free donations can be made online through PayPal. As of April 12, the group had raised $12,630, according to the Web site, which notes the need for funds to finance the salary of a director; day center utilities, upkeep and insurance; a van (purchased or donated) and its gas, insurance and upkeep; and a trailer, bedding and other supplies.

Additional host and support churches are invited to join the effort.

Noted on the Web site is a link to a TBO.com report about Skip Wilson, a retired Tampa Electric Co. executive, who works with the Family Promise ministry and its effort to help meet the needs of homeless families with children.

"We've got a big problem in Hillsborough County," he is quoted as saying in the Dec. 14 TBO.com report. "The school board reported 3,600 homeless children last month, and that's up from 1,700 two years ago."

Family Promise reportedly began in the the Northeast in 1988 and has 170 affiliates in 41 states, pooling the resources of more than 5,000 congregations, according to the TBO.com report.