Interfaith Hospitality Network has the cure for the summertime blues...

All big kids (age 6 to 12) attended daytime summer camp provided by our partner, Project Connect. Camp included swimming, basketball, crafts, games and a special trip to a Red’s game. Watching two 8-year-old-girls exchange homemade friendship bracelets makes you realize these are the sorts of memories you only get one chance to make – and we’re so grateful that our kids got their turn this summer.

Other kids (and grownups) spent their summer vacation volunteering at IHN’s Day Center. They cleaned, did yard work, built a compost bin, provided childcare, gardened, painted, and then cleaned some more. It was hot and dirty work, but this was their summer to experience the transformative power of service.

Our garden grew and grew and grew. . . right along with the IHN kid’s knowledge of where food comes from. Quote of the summer. . . “I had no IDEA that carrots came out of the ground!” (J, age 5).

2012 was the summer when 20 families with repeated stays in homelessness finally found the hope that they need – through IHN’s new Permanent Supportive Housing Program! Rental assistance and on-going case management is provided to ensure that families can stay in one place long enough to stabilize their families. And the results have been tremendous! Participants in this program are connecting with mental health services, finding and keeping jobs, and returning to school. Best of all? The cycle of homelessness is broken before it can carry on to the next generation.

Your gift is the seed that helps us all grow – please consider a special summertime gift of $100 or more in honor of sunshine, swimming suits, mosquito bites and ball games.

With gratitude,

Georgine Getty
Executive Director

P.S., like us on facebook to get up to the minute pictures of cute kids in the IHN garden! Find us at www.facebook.com/IHNGC.