Our next IHN week - Aug. 29 to Sept. 4

Memorial UCC will buddy with St. John's Lutheran in Oregon to host the IHN families through the Labor Day weekend, Sunday August 29 to Saturday, September 4th. Memorial has responsibilities for:
•    Sunday, August 29 for activities;
•    Friday, September 3 for dinner, activities, and overnight; and
•    Saturday, September 4 for breakfast.
A sign-up sheet is in the narthex, or volunteers can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For the new volunteers who have not yet had a chance to volunteer, Bobbie will be happy to discuss the different volunteer slots and the responsibilities that go with them. Please call This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and she can meet after the worship service on August 15, or 22.

Since the Friday overnight is difficult to fill, we are seeking four groups of 2 people so every pair would only do one overnight a year.  Pair up with someone you want to get to know better and have a “sleepover” and do service for IHN families at the same time.  Contact Bobbie if you like to be a pair to do overnights.

About the Road Home Dane County

The Road Home Dane County serves homeless families by mobilizing religious communities to provide shelter and meals, by working with families to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and by raising awareness of social justice issues. We help in two ways -- with providing volunteers several times during the year to help host families at our buddy church, St. John's Lutheran in Oregon and through raising money for the Housing and Hope Campaign.

Housing and Hope Campaign
Memorial UCC is in the second of a five-year commitment to provide $10,000 to the Road Home for the Housing & Hope Campaign – an effort to create 30 units of decent, safe, affordable housing for our families. This is off to a great start.

The first two eight unit apartment buildings were purchased by the Road Home and now provide 15 low-income families with affordable housing, a community room, and on-site case management. The apartments are a mixture of one, two, and three bedroom apartments including a totally-accessible one-bedroom apartment.

The first building was ready last November and four families had a place to call home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The second building was completed in March and eight more families received keys to their new apartments.  

Our 2010 fund drive kicked off on April 25 with children making murals of homes that you see around the entryway. That Sunday, Bobbie Beson-Crone of our Outreach Committee provided an update on the Housing and Hope Program.

You can pick up special Housing and Hope envelopes at the dollhouse in the entryway or you can just make a note on your check that the money is for the Housing and Hope campaign. Our goal is to raise $1,000 by May 9 and dedicate the offering at our worship services that day.

The Shelter Network
The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) shelters homeless families with children through a network of area churches and synagogues. Volunteers from these congregations provide overnight shelter, three meals per day and evening activities for the families. Daytime shelter and case management services are provided at The Road Home office and day center. Families staying in shelter must work with a case manager to seek housing, employment and other community services and attend educational workshops. Transportation between locations is provided by The Road Home. If you would like to know more about how you can help with this, contact our coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .