To the Editor,
First Presbyterian Church, Verona, recently provided housing at our church for three families that were temporarily without a place to live because of financial hardship. These three families comprised 13 people and nine children.We would like to thank the Church of the Holy Spirit and Congregation Beth Ahm, as well as Eight Hill Caterers, Hobcaw, and the Fred Hill Sports Academy for their generous support of these families.
The families stayed under the auspices of the Interfaith Hospitality Network for the Homeless of Essex County (IHN). IHN is a wonderful program that provides many services for homeless families, including temporary housing. The families are housed in a network of churches and synagogues throughout the county, spending a week at each facility. Children continue to attend their own schools and parents continue to work or to search for housing.
We are fortunate at First Presbyterian to have room for three families as well as showers and clothes washer and dryer, but it is a labor-intensive ministry. We will be hosting families again in November. If you would like to assist in this program by preparing meals or offering hospitality, please contact the church or e-mail me.
Pastor Erik Spencer
