Search: Homelessness

FOOD

Brooklyn Rescue Mission (Brooklyn, NY)

Who They Serve: The hungry in Central Brooklyn

What They Do:  Community Hunger Prevention, Health and Wellness Initiatives, Family Mentoring, Referrals to Social Service Agencies

Brief Description:  The Brooklyn Rescue Mission not only feeds the hungry in central Brooklyn but also helps promote a healthy lifestyle by providing nutritional education and health information.  Through collaboration with Cornell University, they have developed a small city farm on which to raise fresh produce. They provide emergency food each day and fresh fruits and vegetables three times a week.  They also have a special needs food pantry for clients with special dietary needs.  Education for their clients includes nutrition, healthy food cooking, disease prevention, and sex education.  The Mission also provides clothing and household items to residents in need. 

Tip:  The Mission even provides farming instruction for those clients who wish to participate in the actual farming!

Lubbock Interfaith Hospitality Network (Lubbock, TX)

Who They Serve: Homeless individuals and families

What They Do: Lubbock IHN recruits and trains congregations to provide temporary shelter (one week at a time) for local homeless families

Brief Description:

The Lubbock IHN engages 14 host churches and 13 support churches whose volunteers provide all the services that homeless families need 24/7 by providing overnight accommodations in the host churches. Church volunteers also help with mentoring and teaching different classes such as money management, goal setting, and decision-making. LIHN provides day services such as laundry and shower facilities. Secular partners include Community Health Center of Lubbock, which provides medical and dental services; the South Plains Food Bank, which provides food; local Universities, which provide student interns to work at LIFN; and the Independent School District, which provides referrals and some adult education courses.

Tip: Interfaith Hospitality Network is a national project of Family Promise, which provides informational materials, resources, and training to help congregations and communities launch new networks. Visit them on the web here.