Aug 306 min read

FP FIVE: TRIVIA NIGHT

The Family Promise Five is a weekly update that focuses on the FIVE topics, issues, events, volunteer opportunities or needs of Family Promise Waukesha County. This communication will update, inform and advocate for families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Here is the Family Promise Five for August 30, 2024.

Our mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.

PLEASE NOTE:

OUR OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED

ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 FOR LABOR DAY.

The Family Promise Five for August 30th are:

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF AND FAMILY PROMISE
FAMILY MEAL NIGHTS
REFLECTION ON TEN YEARS
TEN YEAR CELEBRATION
INVISIBLE PEOPLE

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Staff and Board Members attended the Campaign Kickoff for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. (L-R Jibirl Odogba, Justin Colon, Maria Mundt, Joe Nettesheim, Claire Bessette, Lynn Marsh and Ed Butte.)

POLL OF THE WEEK

Are you planning to attend our 10 year anniversary celebration on October 25?

1. UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN EVENT FEATURES FP

FP receives funding in support of the Family Homelessness Prevention Program

Fund Development

United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties has been a committed and generous supporter of the Family Homelessness Prevention Program. In June 2020 Family Promise of Waukesha County was awarded our first Safe and Stable Homes Grant. This occurred shortly after we started the program. Their support gave this new program credibility and allowed us to serve 296 families since the program started.

The United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties Campaign Kickoff was this past Thursday. We are honored to be one of the organizations that was recognized for the impact we are making in the community. They showed this video about one of our clients Crystal, a mom who received financial assistance due to a health issue and Courtney, our Family Services Director.

We are humbled by the impact that our program makes in our community, the inspiring families we work with, a great staff, and generous partners like United Way who change the lives of people experiencing financial hardship.

READ ABOUT CRYSTAL

2. FAMILY MEAL NIGHTS

Partner groups needed to help make and serve meals.

Program

We continue to seek groups willing to provide the meal. Your family, congregation, business, or civic group can sign up once or multiple times! Here is some basic information:

Groups bring 2-3 volunteers to serve the meals to and eat with families.

Groups are asked to arrive at 5 PM and be set up to serve at 5:30 PM.
Usually the evening ends at about 7 PM. (Evenings with a seminar might be a little longer)
All volunteers must go through a criminal background check and are encouraged to complete the online training. At least one volunteer present has to have completed the training.
Bringing a craft or game is not required, but adds fun to the evening.
Volunteer groups plan and make the meals of their choice. Meals should arrive hot and ready to serve.
The numbers of people present fluctuate so we touch base with you a week before your meal.
Leftovers are given to the families - bringing some tupperware they can use is helpful.

Questions? Contact Maria: maria@familypromisewaukeshawi.org

3. REFLECTION ON TEN YEARS

Founding Chair, Sue Konkel shares her perspective

Mission

What motivated you to get involved?

The closing of Pennies and Nickels Center Inc in Oconomowoc

What challenges did you face?

Community insistence that we didn't have homeless in Oconomowoc.

What were the highlights?

Watching a group of committed, determined people make something happen.

What is a story that captures the essence of Family Promise?

At the closing of Pennies and Nichols Inc, I was part of a meeting of their board and my husband, Pastor Stephen Welch to brainstorm what to do next. Someone at the meeting mentioned "Family Promise" so I went home and looked it up, studied it and brought it to the next meeting that included Pastor Welch and Pastor Nansi Hawkins. The three of us decided to take the first step (A community informational meeting) and see what response was out there. They sent out invites through the Western Waukesha County churches and the meeting was well-attended (150?), so we decided to take the next step: The First Core Group Meeting.

Before the meeting, Pastor Hawkins, Pastor Welch, I and one other pastor met for supper with the Family Promise Representative from National. He said we needed to go into the meeting with the Chairperson already named and it couldn't be a pastor. Hmm, that pretty much narrowed down the choices, lol! So, I signed the paper, and the next year of my life was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.

Watching it all unfold was a spiritual experience. Honestly, I reluctantly became involved with no idea of how Providence would move to create all sorts of open doors and things I could never have dreamed would manifest.

What are your hopes for Family Promise in the future?

To keep serving families in this area in the loving, committed, compassionate way they have always done

Thank you to all who help develop the foundation for Family Promise of Waukesha County.

POLL OF THE WEEK

Are you planning on attending the 10th Anniversary Celebration on October 25?

0%Yes, would not miss it!
0%Unfortunately this date does not work for me
0%Yes, I love trivia and Family Promise!

4. TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Mark your calendar for October 25

Community

Mark your calendars now and plan to join Family Promise of Waukesha County as we celebrate our ten year anniversary on Friday, October 25 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Oconomowoc with trivia night! The evening will also include stories from founders and families, food and drink, and looking forward to the next ten years. Registration will be available soon. In the meantime start planning your attendance. Some highlights of the event will be:

A fun trivia competition - plan your team of six
Game Master and MC Doug Jarecki
Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Michelle Miller- a former guest who now has her own business.
Wine, beer, soda and water
The presentation of our first ever Founder’s Award
Brief testimonials from former clients and volunteers
A look ahead to the next ten years!

Hope you are able to join us!

5. INVISIBLE PEOPLE

Support Families by Helping with Some of the Items on Our Wishlist

Accompaniment

While our focus is on supporting families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness, we came across this story posted by Invisible People on Instagram. Invisible People is a group who advocates for those experiencing homelessness by sharing the stories of those who are on the street. The story of this man is an illustration of the impact that grief and trauma can have on an individual leading to losing everything, including their home.

Too often those who are experiencing homelessness are judged without ever knowing their story or their background. Invisible People wants to tell the stories of those experiencing homelessness.

It is their belief that, “There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, a living wage or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.

We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.”

FIVE PLUS

SUPPLY DRIVE

Would your community consider holding a supply drive? We are in need of