We're Growing!
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2014 ANNUAL REPORT We’re Growing! We made it! Our second year of operation is in the books and thanks to Absolutely none of this could have been possible without each and every one of you, we have seen tremendous your on-going support. Our network of volunteers work growth in our program. We’ve added host and support selflessly to make sure our families have what they need, congregations and held more training sessions; adding are set up for success and can focus on getting back on everything up to a powerful network of 45 congregations! their feet as quickly as possible. We’ve added a violin enrichment program for the kids, gained community volunteers from the YMCA, Gordon From the bottom of our hearts: College and Beverly Hospital and we’ve partnered with community staples like the Beverly Rotary Club. But, most THANK YOU! important, we’ve helped families regain sustainable inde- pendence. Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen our 3rd Annu- al Taste the Promise event and our 1st Annual Walk to End Homelessness bring together community members, spon- sors and partnerships to help us continue the necessary work on the North Shore. We’ve helped 10 different fami- lies find shelter, employment, needed services and most importantly HOPE for a better future. Another 4 families (15 individuals) have found sustainable housing this year. Kids’ education has remained stable and organic support networks have been established. We’ve added an additional 300 volunteers this year, who consistently offer our families home cooked meals, Dolls by Lisa Press (www.phoebeandegg) ...puppies a friendly face and support as they face this period of are next! transition in their lives. In Our Second Year: Our staff and volunteers served 10 families...11 adults and 22 children The average age of the children served was 7 The average length of stay was 188 days Four families were placed Donate at http://FamilyPromiseNSB.org or send a check to 330 Rantoul Street, Beverly, MA 01915 2014 Network Congregations: Visit our website: www.FamilyPromiseNSB.org Director’s Letter Family Promise NSB ...or contact us: 330 Rantoul Street Day Center: Beverly, MA 01915 What could be a better example? 330 Rantoul Street, Beverly 978-922-0787 At the time of this writing (May 2015), we Host Congregations: have trained 300 new volunteers, each of Christ Church in South Hamilton “Ending Homelessness, one family at a time” Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, Danvers whom expands our network. And as more and Community Covenant Church, Peabody more people from the community hear of the As we look back on our second year of Endicott College, Beverly great work you are doing, they want to reaching out to families experiencing First Church in Wenham become involved. It’s truly amazing what we homelessness, there is a lot that has First Congregational Church in Essex transpired. The most snow in history certainly all have been able to accomplish together in First Congregational Church in Rockport tops that list and is fresh on everyone’s mind. two short years. First Parish Church in Beverly Despite that record, we’ve served another 10 First Presbyterian Church-Ipswich families over the year: 33 individuals and 22 But, sadly, there is more work to be done. Immanuel Congregational Church, Beverly children! Despite the barriers our families Every day, on average, 5-10 families are North Shore Community Baptist Church , Beverly face, they persevered and were able to do so unable to pay their rent and need to look for Second Congregational Church in Beverly because of folks like you...dedicated, shelter. Rents continue to rise, but income Universalist Unitarian Church of Marblehead passionate, caring volunteers. Whether it’s a stays low. We get calls daily from those friendly face at dinner, setting up rooms, needing shelter. Support Congregations: playing with kids, or organizing the weekly Annisquam Village Church in Gloucester events of a host week, your effort and work We will continue to serve up to 4 families at a Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich has provided HOPE. Is it always easy? No. Is it time, working hard to lessen the time they are Calvary Chapel North Shore in Danvers necessary? YES! Has it been successful? YES! in shelter and get them into sustainable Church in the Cove in Beverly housing as quickly as possible. We remain Endicott College in Beverly Take Heather and Josh for example. Their committed to a sustainable program for First Baptist Church in Beverly young family of 5 were living in their van families on the North Shore to have access to First Baptist Church of Rockport because of losing a job and not being able to in their time of need. Furthermore, we have a First Church in Ipswich afford rent. They came to us confused, scared desire for community partnerships and First Church of Rowley and worried about the future. Enter: Family collaborations to provide lasting, sustainable First Church in Salem, Unitarian Promise volunteers. From the very beginning income and housing for families. First Church of the Nazarene in Lynn of their first week at a congregation, 9 year First Congregational Church of Georgetown old Angelina told her mom, “I know we’re What makes us truly unique is the widespread First Congregational Church in Hamilton houseless, but we’re not homeless”. She community response to ending homelessness First Universalist Church of Essex nailed it. Heather commented, “Family on the North Shore. With your dedication, First Universalist Society in Salem Promise is like a diamond in the rough”. That’s partnership and support, we will end Garden City Church, Beverly the impact you have on our families. You homelessness one family at a time. Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church create a homelike atmosphere where our Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, Danvers families can receive what they need most: Yours in service, Immanuel Baptist in Ipswich rest, hope and a sense of control in their lives. Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Ipswich Heather and Josh are thriving in their new Russell W. Queen Pilgrim Church, Beverly home and are currently serving as volunteers Executive Director Rockport United Methodist Church for Family Promise North Shore Boston. St. Paul Lutheran Church in Gloucester St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox, Salem Employment St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, Marblehead Tabernacle Congregational Church UCC, Salem In the past year, 75% of the adults Temple B’nai Abraham in Beverly obtained or maintained employ- Temple Ner Tamid, Peabody ment while in the program. Temple Shalom in Salem UU Society of Rockport West Gloucester Trinitarian YMCA-Beverly From the President: P A G E 3 Family Promise North Shore Boston (FPNSB) is truly helping to Congregation Coordinators, Committee members and our end homelessness, one family at a time. numerous volunteers who give so selflessly of themselves. Recently, I was filled with such great joy as I hugged Janett I am pleased to announce that, at long last, our network will upon learning that she and her two sons (ages 8 and 5) were soon be subscribed with the needed 13 host congregations! moving into their own apartment in Salem. The look on her New host congregations...Unitarian Universalist Church of face made my day! I hope that every one of our over 1,200 Marblehead and First Church in Salem, Unitarian...are joining volunteers shares this joy. You are truly making a difference our over 40 host and support congregations. The dedication in the lives of families who experience homelessness. of our volunteers in providing meals, visiting with our guests, staying overnight in congregations, staffing our Day Center on At our second anniversary of opening our doors to families in weekends and serving on our committees is amazing! need, we rejoice that ten families (33 individuals including 22 Naturally, we will continue recruiting additional volunteers in children) have found safe, affordable housing and more congregations along with individuals in the community. employment. While ten families may not sound like much You do NOT need to be a member of a congregation to when we think of the rising tide of homelessness on the volunteer. North Shore, it means the world to those ten families! Twenty -two children now have a brighter future. Can anything be We are also extremely grateful to those who support us with more important? I truly believe that we are doing our part to their generous financial contributions. Many people are not eliminate homelessness. aware that FPNSB receives no state or federal funds. We rely heavily on your generosity; when you donate to FPNSB, At FPNSB, our staff are all hard at work guiding our guests, attend our fundraising events or donate goods and services to coordinating with over 40 host and support congregations in the organization you are directly helping our guests. our network and working closely with other agencies to address the extreme need for affordable housing and jobs on Best, the North Shore. I am very appreciative of their fine work. I am also thankful for FPNSB Board members, our Duncan Ballantyne, President Community Partners & Collaborators Audrey’s Flower Shop Chianti Tuscan Restaurant Johnson, O’Connor, Feron & Stephy’s Kitchen Azorean Restaurant and Jazz Lounge Carucci LLP Super Sub Casual Catering Beverly Bank Crane Fund for Widows and Manchester Athletic Club Supinos Children Beverly Community Council MassPay The Beverly Depot Depot Liquors Beverly Depot Mojo Mama Cold Brew The Book Shop of Beverly Dominos Pizza Coffee Beverly Main Streets Farms Emerson Inn by the Sea North Shore 104.9 Beverly Rotary Club The Hungry Fox Caterers Endicott College North Shore CDC First Congregational ChurchTuck’s Candies Beverly YMCA in Essex Eurostoves North Shore Community Col- Cabot Cooperative Turner’s Seafood Garden City Pub lege Cape Ann Brewing Whole Foods Market Habitat for Humanity North North Shore Taxi Cape Ann Whale Watch Shore Not Your Average Joes Capt.