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A former Board Member challenged the others to spend five minutes a day thinking of ways to help Family Promise. I started thinking if everyone who received this newsletter did the same, our community would be a much different place. I know you are all very busy so let me give you a few ideas to start with:
- If you own a company or work for one, find out if your company supports local organizations and suggest Family Promise of Bergen County. One of our Community Partners donates the proceeds from one day of services each month and we are so grateful. Since our focus areas are families, homelessness, poverty and hunger, our efforts align with the missions of most corporate foundations.
- If you have a special skill or area of expertise, consider sharing it with Family Promise. This year, a local lawyer and also a dentist offered their services pro bono to the families. We are currently looking for graphic artists, web developers, writers for the newsletter and videographers.
- What you tell your friends about the homeless families you’ve met volunteering is extremely powerful (without sharing personal information, of course). You know that the parents in our programs want better jobs and to work more hours so they can be self-sufficient again. Use your vote in support of initiatives that will lift up working poor families and assist them in areas that will make working possible like universal preschool and childcare subsidies.
- Be present for “The Promise of the Future,” the annual Family Promise gala on October 23rd as we announce our plans for future programming. Expect to be moved to tears as former families talk about their personal journeys through homelessness.
In a recent article about corporate giving in The Record, Dr. Larry Kaplan, a dentist from Totowa was quoted saying, “If you take care of other people around you, you will have a great life”. Take five minutes today deciding how you will help Family Promise take care of the homeless families in our community and….
Have a great life!
Kate