Volunteers are the heart of IHN of Greater Knoxville; without volunteers our network cannot exist. Volunteers interact with our guests and treat them with respect and compassion.

Volunteers

• provide food,
• serve meals,
• play with children,
• help with homework, and
• stay overnight.

Other volunteer opportunities include:

• Harley House support or maintenance (contact Ann O'Connor);
• spreading to word about Family Promise and asking others to consider a donation of time, goods and services, or money to keep our programs going;
• transporting guests to special appointments (e.g., doctors appointment, taking or picking a guest up from work) (contact Joyce Shoudy);
• grant writing and fund raising activities (contact Joyce Shoudy);
• public relations-newsletter, article writing, tv and radio spots, etc. (contact Joyce Shoudy);
• family mentoring (contact Joyce Shoudy );
• and other vital services.

Any talent you can share or gift you make makes a difference in changing the lives of our guests, and helping them become self sufficient.

Occasionally we find ourselves overbooked with client appointments and needing to be in three places at the same time.  If you have some spare time and would be willing to be available to help transport our guests to some of their appointments, please call the office and speak to Anne Umbach.  These volunteers must provide proof of vehicle insurance, submit to a background check and sign a confidentiality agreement.  We sincerely appreciate folks who are willing to help us on an "as-needed" basis.

Important Documents for Volunteers and Host Congregations

For more information on volunteering, please contact our Executive Director, Joyce Shoudy, or call (865) 584-2822.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities for IHN

The success of the Family Promise of Knoxville' core program, the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) depends on the efforts and enthusiasm of hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers perform the variety of tasks necessary to provide a safe and comfortable temporary home for our guests. Volunteers express their hospitality by interacting with guests, treating guest families with dignity and respect, and showing genuine concern for their well-being. Without volunteers, there would be no Network.

Each host week, the host congregation needs about 50 volunteers from the host and associated support churches to prepare meals, serve as evening and overnight hosts, coordinate activities, organize supplies, and assist guests as needed. Although most volunteers are adults, youth can participate too, particularly with arranging activities for young children and helping older children with schoolwork.

Volunteer Coordinators

Volunteer Coordinators support volunteers and serve as program/volunteer coordinators for their congregation involved in the Family Promise Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) program. Each host and support congregation has a primary coordinator with the responsibility for managing host week. In many congregations, several assistant coordinators manage specific responsibilities, such as meals, donations, supplies, and scheduling.

Coordinators serve as managers of the IHN program within their congregations. See the Guide For Volunteer Coordinators for more details on coordinator duties. They should communicate regularly with other volunteers to ensure that their host week runs smoothly. Volunteer hosts should report problems or unusual incidents to the primary coordinator for follow-up. Contact Joyce for the name of your church's Volunteer Coordinator.

Volunteer Host Opportunities

Volunteer hosts fill one or more of these roles during a host week. See the Guide For Volunteer Hosts for more details on the duties of host and support churches.

Dinner Preparers - 2 or 3 volunteers, in advance of 6:00 pm

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Supplies

Volunteers either purchase (using funds from the congregational budget) or coordinate donations of food staples, paper products, cleaning supplies, and other needed items.

Activities

Volunteers plan and organize special activities and events, such as arts-and-crafts projects, video parties, and outings for children and families.

Coordinating Donations

Members of the congregation often wish to assist guests by donating clothing, furniture, and household items. A volunteer collects and organizes the donations, which are distributed to guests once they are settled in permanent housing. Please contact Anne Umbach about your donations so that we can best target your gifts to those who need it most.

Laundry

At the end of each host week, one or two volunteers wash the guests' and overnight hosts' towels and sheets.

Setup and Takedown

Volunteer teams set up the accommodations on Sunday afternoon and help take down and move the beds the following Sunday.

Day Center

Volunteers are invaluable additions to the Network Day Center, In addition to providing coverage when the Network Director is out, they help guests and the Network Director with many daily activities. Please contact Ann O'Conner if you would like to help out at the Harley House Day Center

If you have skills in fund raising, grant writing, or would like to become a sponsor or patron of Family Promise of Knoxville, please contact 

Joyce Shoudy at jshoudy@familypromiseknoxville.org.