I am writing this commentary as a member of the Board of Trustees of Family Promise of Cape May County in order to make the residents of Cape May County aware of what Family Promise is and the great things that all who participate in this organization do for our community.
Family Promise is a nationwide organization with several local chapters including our chapter in Cape May County, which is based in the Town Bank section of Lower Township. The mission of Family Promise is to provide food and shelter to homeless families, whether it is a single parent or two-parent family. The only criteria is that there are children involved and that the parents entering the program are drug and alcohol-free.
Because Family Promise is a faith-based organization, it has an affiliation with 17 host churches and 21 support churches throughout Cape May County. When a family has fallen on hard times and as a result has become homeless, Family Promise will accept them into the program and provide daily activities at its day center on Townbank Road in North Cape May and will provide overnight sleeping accommodations at one of the 17 host churches on a weekly rotational basis. These families stay in the program until the parent or parents are able to re-establish themselves, find gainful employment and permanent housing, all with the assistance of the tremendous staff and volunteers that make up the Family Promise organization. It is spearheaded by its Executive Director, Laurie Johnson, and its Family Advocate, Kathleen O’Neill, who work tirelessly in making sure the objectives of these families based upon the policies established by the parent organization and local board are satisfied.
In an effort to raise funds as well as community awareness, Family Promise under the leadership of Laurie and Kathleen, and through its 15-member board presided over by Kelly Keller, and its numerous volunteers has made this a community-based organization with participation at various levels. Family Promise is funded solely by donations from members of the community and all of the money received fund the Family Promise programs.
Most recently, Family Promise held a Cardboard Box City event at The Lighthouse Church which attracted approximately 100 participants who spent the night in cardboard boxes to raise awareness of the homelessness that is prevalent in our county, especially with respect to children. As a result of this event and through the participants as well as sponsors, Family Promise was able to generate significant funds that will go a long way in meeting its objectives.
In addition, Family Promise hosts various events through the year in different communities throughout Cape May County, including its annual golf tournament to be held at the Wildwood Golf and Country Club the week after Labor Day, its annual gala which will take place in the fall, as well as many other community events throughout the year which garner significant support and participation.
Laurie summed up the mission of Family Promise in an interview with the Herald in January 2016 as follows:
Our strategy is to tackle the problem from all sides, not only providing emergency food and housing but going further and deeper, to address the root causes of homelessness. Fortunately, homelessness is typically a temporary situation for the families we serve. Our network offers a lifeline, a connection to caring volunteers and community services that can help drug-free families work through their temporary crisis toward hope, improved circumstances, and ultimately, independent living.
I would ask that anyone interested in learning more about this organization visit our website at www.familypromisecmc.org, our Facebook page at Family Promise of Cape May County, or to contact Laurie Johnson at the Day Center at 609-846-7862. As the Bible teaches us: The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8
ED. NOTE: The author is chairman of Family Promise Development Committee.
