​What Is A Support Partner?

A Support Congregation/Partner is different from a Host Congregation/Site in that it doesn’t open its facility to host families.  Instead the Support Partners are matched with a Host Congregation/Site and provides volunteers to help the Host Congregation/Site during their host week.  Many congregations/support partners choose to become a Support Congregation or Partner because of space limitations, size of the congregation or group or while adding additional space to their current facility.  This is a great option for these groups because their members are still able to volunteer and impact local families’ lives without having to commit their building. 

The following are the basic elements needed to be a Support Congregation:         

• Volunteers: A Support Congregation/Partner provides needed volunteers for their Host Site to help cover volunteer shifts during the host week. There should always be at least 2 volunteers present and generally not more than 6 at a time at the Host Site.  All volunteers complete training and orientation before they begin serving.
• The congregation/partner provides a person(s) to serve as the Primary Coordinator to recruit needed volunteers for the host week, attend scheduled meetings and act as the main contact for the congregation/group. 
• The congregation/group will consider providing financial support.
  
• The Support Congregation also commits to:
  

                  Make a minimum one year commitment in writing.
                   Publicize and promote the Family Promise Program within the congregation.
                  Promote and support fundraising events. 
To become a support congregation/partner contact Family Promise Metro East