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Article published Jan 15, 2008 Target date of Aug. 1 set for start of Family Promise program
By Joel Davis of The Daily Times Staff
Volunteers have set Aug. 1 as the target date to get a Family Promise program up and running in Blount County. “That’s what we’re shooting for,” said Jeanna Stewart, who has been one of the volunteers instrumental in organizing the effort. The program would allow local churches to network together to provide overnight accommodations and meals for homeless families on a rotating basis. There is a shelter in Blount County that serves men and women separately, but there is no place that takes families as a whole. Members of churches from around the county attended an informational meeting about organizational efforts for the program Monday at Sycamore Tree United Methodist Church, 1830 Clydesdale St., Maryville. One of the people who spoke at the meeting was Ted Williams, of the Maryville Fire Department, who detailed fire code requirements that would have to be met for sleeping quarters at any of the participating churches. “It’s either sprinkler systems or a door with direct access to the outside,” he said. This did not deter Jeremy Ladewk, associate pastor with Fairview United Methodist Church. “I believe God has given us this opportunity,” Ladewk said “He’s bigger than sprinklers and outside exits. If we go with him, it will happen.” Six of the 13 churches needed to get a Family Promise program up and running in Blount County have signed on, said Dick Cox, chairman of the Host Congregation Recruitment Committee. “We have a couple other churches we’re working on,” he said. “We need seven more. Our goal is to do that by July 30.” The six churches who have agreed to participate are Fairview United Methodist Church, Monte Vista Baptist Church, Maryville First Baptist Church, Maryville First United Methodist Church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Sycamore Tree United Methodist Church. The effort began on Oct. 1 with an informational meeting that drew representatives from 16 area churches. It would take about $100,000 and about a year to set up the Family Promise program in Blount County. If 13 churches participated, each church would host from three to five families for a week each quarter. Budgets for each church would be between $200 and $250 each week. The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Monte Vista Baptist Church, 1735 Old Niles Ferry Road.