IHN-LOGO

Metrowest Interfaith Hospitality Network

IHN Update

For October News Letter click here

Since its founding in 1988, the National Interfaith Hospitality organization has helped establish 130 interfaith affiliates in 38 states involving upwards of 5,000 congregations of all denominations who have worked together to provide services to more than 130,000 guests.

Here’s how it works. In our Metrowest area, the 13 host congregations and five support congregations will work together to provide overnight lodging and meals for three to five needy families. The hosting responsibility will rotate among the participating congregations so that each church or temple hosts families for one week, three to four times per year. During their hosting week, the congregation’s volunteers set up the accommodations in appropriate sections of the church facility, prepare and serve dinner and breakfast, visit with the families, and then spend the night with the families at the church.

Our Natick Day Center , operated by the Network Director, will be available for guest families to use during the day to make phone calls, take showers, do laundry, and get organized.

The families served by the Interfaith Hospitality Network are the working poor. These are typically families in transition, who have suffered a major illness or setback, or low income families who do not qualify for homeless shelters or public assistance but can not find affordable housing. In addition to food and shelter, families are also helped to find suitable housing. In a typical Interfaith Hospitality Network, half of the guests are children, most of whom are under age six.

For further information about the Interfaith Hospitality Network you can visit their web site: http://www.nihn.org/. For more information on the Metrowest Network please contact Candace Sutcliffe, Metrowest IHN President and Board Chair.

To volunteer at the Federated Church of Ashland please contact Lavonne Krishnan at 508-881-1088..

[Home] [Return to previous page]

101609