Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network
Help us make a difference in the lives of local families!
RAIHN
Contacts: Dean Brown 461-9137 deansteve@frontiernet.net
or Grace Carswell 271-8327 gcarswel@rochester.rr.com
First Unitarian hosts local homeless families, who are our guests for one week. Every 15 weeks, we provide sleeping space in five classrooms in the second floor, and a common hospitality room in Gilbert Hall where guests relax, socialize, do homework, and enjoy leisure activities and conversation with church members. Guests arrive via minibus at 5:00 PM each afternoon and stay overnight until 7:00 AM the next morning.
The RAIHN network is composed of 36 local congregations, with a Day Center and Director who provides supportive services with the goal of getting families "back on their feet." Other services which offer help are segregated by sex and often do not serve single fathers with children and same sex couples.The average family stay in RAIHN is 35 days. From the Day Center children go to schools and adults care for younger children and search for employment and affordable housing.
This volunteer program at First Unitarian is for all of us - singles, couples, families, elders, teens, classes and small groups. Our next hosting opportunity will be October 21 to 27, 2007. Please contact either Dean or Grace if you are interested in helping.
RAIHN Volunteer Opportunities at First Unitarian:
- Help gather supplies for the needs of the week
- Prepare part of a meal and join the guest families for dinner at 6:00
- Spend two hour giving company and support to families 5:00-7:00 PM
- Be an Overnight Host, sleeping in the building to assist guests
- Help do shopping for the needs of the RAIHN week
- Plan on-the-go breakfasts for the mornings
- Make welcoming gift baskets for the five families
- Help do laundry after the group leaves
- Volunteer at the RAIHN Day Center
August 24 2007