Join us for food, drinks and music during our annual fundraiser benefiting families experiencing homelessness! Generously sponsored by Sammons Financial Group and R&R Realty Group, the Summer Celebration and Silent Auction will be held rom 7 p.m. - 9:30 pm. on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Giovannetti Center in Urbandale. Always a fun time to gather and hear from our guest families, the Summer Celebration offers great auction items, a relaxed atmosphere and a time to celebrate our support from our volunteers, donors and friends.
FPGD Board of Directors acknowledged LaToya Scott for her 11 years of valued employment at their meeting in March.
Family Promise Case Manager Celebrates 11 Years Supporting Families
Helping others paves the way for a new career

When LaToya Scott visited the downtown YWCA on a rainy day 11 years ago, she never imagined it would change the direction of her life. As she headed into their food pantry, a woman with a young son approached her to ask about the bus schedule. LaToya told her where to stand to catch the bus and headed inside. An hour and half later, she came back out and noticed the woman still there.

“It was cold out, and her son was crying,” she said. “So, I offered to give her a ride.”

During the ride, LaToya learned the woman had five children and was staying at a homeless shelter called Family Promise of Greater Des Moines (FPGD). “I had no idea there was a shelter so close to my house,” LaToya admitted. After hearing the woman’s story, and her struggles with transportation, LaToya offered to give her a car she had in her driveway. That decision turned out to pave a new future for LaToya.

When LaToya returned to the shelter to give the woman the car’s title, she met Jim Cain, executive director of FPGD. “I told Jim I was looking for a job in human services. I had just graduated from DMACC with an associate’s degree and couldn’t find a job in that field,” she said.

Jim said he originally hired LaToya as the FPGD Day Center supervisor, but just six months later, she was promoted to case manager where she has remained ever since. In 2017, LaToya graduated from Upper Iowa University with her bachelor’s degree.

“LaToya is a real asset to Family Promise of Greater Des Moines and the families we serve,” said Jim. “In her time as case manager, she has assisted more than 140 families with finding permanent or transitional housing and more than 100 parents with finding employment.”

As a mother of four kids under the age of 16, LaToya understands the pressures of juggling parenthood and work. She said the lack of affordable housing for low-income families creates even more challenges for the families she helps.

“Watching these families struggle when I know they’re working hard, and seeing they’re still getting denials, is difficult,” she explained.

But LaToya’s dedication to the guest families is fueled by her lifelong desire to help other people. “I enjoy working with the [FPGD] families and helping them. I get to witness their excitement when they accomplish their goals and find housing,” she said. And the countless notes of thanks from past guests that decorate her desk illustrate that she’s undeniably good at it. “This is what I feel I was called to do.”

Thank you, LaToya, for your service, your passion for helping families, and for your dedication to Family Promise of Greater Des Moines! Please feel free to send LaToya your notes of thanks and appreciation at latoya@familypromisedm.org.

Thrivent Financial Choice Dollars®
Direct Choice Dollars by March 31

Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have available Choice Dollars can direct them to Family Promise of Greater Des Moines to help support our services for families experiencing homelessness. Don’t miss this opportunity to recommend that Thrivent Financial provide outreach funding to our organization. Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more. Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
Kim Roby is the FPGD coordinator for Walnut Hills United Methodist Church.
Congregation Review
Every year, we meet with our host congregations to discuss their experience with Family Promise of Greater Des Moines (FPGD) and hosting our families.

We recently met with Kim Roby, FPGD coordinator for Walnut Hills United Methodist Church, to learn how their congregation feels about helping families experiencing homelessness and how their support aligns with the congregation’s missions and values.

In the past year, how has your congregation benefited by being a part of FPGD?

We have been a part of Family Promise for so long that we cannot see ourselves not involved. Volunteers who are involved tell others about the program! Last year we started having kids in Sunday school use the last 20 minutes of their class time to set up the rooms [for guest families]. Kids are asked, “if this was your space for the next week, how would you want it to be set up?” They are able to put themselves in others’ shoes. Our congregation continues to believe in the mission of FPGD and takes pride in being a part of the program.

What strengths do you see in the program?

The families are safe. Our congregation is here to take care of them. Our congregation also likes that families can stay together and there is an aftercare program. It’s important that people feel others still care about them.

What role does this ministry play in your overall service/social justice strategy?

Involvement with FPGD is one of the largest programs the church supports. We take pride in being one of the congregations associated with FPGD since its inception. Social justice is one of the tenets of the church, and we feel we are making a difference in the lives of the families in the FPGD program.

If you know of a church that would be interested in joining as a host congregation, please contact Jim Cain at jcain@familypromisedm.org for more information.  
Board Spotlight
Doug Richard
As a father of three and the president of Midwest Alarm Services, Doug Richard is no stranger to juggling a full schedule. But now that his two sons are in college and his daughter is in high school, Doug has more time to spend running, reading and serving as a new board member for Family Promise of Greater Des Moines.

Doug joined the organization because he values the assistance it provides to families who need a lift in life. “I love the principle of helping those who have so little in order to give them a chance to save up and become independent,” Doug explained.

“What I find so humbling is the stories of those who are down on their luck and the support and thoughtfulness of the church communities and the board who are willing to spend their time and money assisting these families,” he added.

We are thankful for the contributions of volunteers and board members like Doug who help our guest families in their greatest times of need!
Your Change Creates Local Change
Operation Rice Bowl
Every year, the Diocese of Des Moines collects donations during the Lenten season through the Catholic Relief Service Operation Rice Bowl Program. Of the donations collected, 25 percent remains in Des Moines to support local efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty, such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries. Family Promise of Greater Des Moines has been a recipient of these grants, which help support our services to families experiencing homelessness.

Please prayerfully consider participating in Operation Rice Bowl this Lenten season – your change creates local change in the lives of homeless and low-income families in our community!

Donations

In addition to financial gifts, in-kind donations are also extremely important to the success of our organization. Please drop off any of the following items at: 
Family Promise of Greater Des Moines
4114 Allison Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50310
7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
  • Silverware
  • Baby dolls
  • Men's deodorant
  • Combs/brushes
  • Games for Xbox 360
We also have an AmazonSmile Wish List for easy ordering and delivery with just a click of your mouse!
Make an online financial donation here!
Thank you for supporting the families we serve!

Our Mission:
To mobilize our community to help homeless families achieve stable housing
and income through compassionate care, hospitality and 
professional support.
The 2017 Family Promise of Greater Des Moines annual report is available to download online!
• Silverware
• Baby dolls
• Men's deodorant
• Combs/brushes
• Games for Xbox 360 
For more information, visit www.familypromisedm.org
Host Congregations:
• Aldersgate UMC
• Ankeny First UMC
• Faith Lutheran
• First Unitarian
• Holy Trinity Lutheran
• Lutheran Church of Hope
• Our Lady’s Immaculate
  Heart
• Plymouth United Church
  of Christ
• Ss. John & Paul Parish
• St. Stephen Lutheran
• Urbandale United Church
  of Christ
• Walnut Hills UMC
• Westminster Presbyterian
• Windsor Heights Lutheran
Support Congregations:
• Holy Trinity Catholic
  Church
• St. Pius X Catholic Church
• St. Theresa Church of
  the Child Jesus
• West Des Moines
  Christian Church

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