28 Jan Thank you to the congregations of the Interfaith Hospitality Network
You provide rooms for families in our emergency shelter to sleep. Food to eat. Transportation. And support…of all kinds. Volunteers from our partner congregations go above and beyond to help families feel safe and comfortable during their stay with us and we could not be more grateful. A November volunteer shared his unique experience:
Last Sunday night, I agreed to stay overnight [at the church as a chaperone] and to drive [families back to Hope Gardens] Monday morning. One of the residents is a young woman named J, who was 9 months pregnant and four days past her due date! I was worried that she’d have the baby that night while I was there. She assured me that (even though this was her first) the baby would not come before the morning.
Thankfully, she was right, and, relieved, I drove her over to Hope Gardens at around 6:30am. On the way, I asked J how she was getting to the hospital when the time came. She calmly said, “I’ll call a Lyft or take a bus.” That didn’t seem like a good plan to me, so I gave her my cell number.
Sure enough, Wednesday morning at 5:22 am I got a text that read: “Good morning. I’ll take that ride ASAP if possible. Let me know.” I drove her to the hospital, and later that day she gave birth to a baby boy (7 lb, 4 oz, 20 inches). She was so calm! Meanwhile, I’m running red lights and then pacing around like an expectant father, boiling water and passing out cigars! Mother and child are doing fine.
A ride to the hospital is not hard to give; it’s one of a hundred ways that we can reach out to help others. You all have similar stories; I know about some of them. I am proud to serve with you all.
We are so thankful for all our volunteers and 2019 Network partner congregations:
Ambler Church of the Brethren
Ambler Mennonite Church
Bethlehem Baptist Church
Citylight Church
Congregation Beth Or
Congregation Kol Ami
First Baptist Church Lansdale
First Presbyterian Church of Ambler
Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell
Gwynedd Friends Meeting
Jarrettown United Methodist Church
Keystone Fellowship
New Beginnings Community Church
Or Hadash
Sanctuary United Methodist Church
St. Anthony of Padua Parish
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh
Supplee Presbyterian Church
Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Lutheran Church Fort Washington
Upper Dublin Lutheran Church
Zion Baptist Church