Volunteers put the “hospitality” in Interfaith Hospitality Network by creating a home-like atmosphere where guests can receive what they need: rest, hope, respect, confidence boosting and a sense of control in their lives. During the host week, volunteers prepare meals, play with children, help out with homework and offer a listening ear for parents after a long day.
* Monetary value calculated at the average dollar value of volunteer time for the state of Iowa of 16.77 per hour as determined by the Independent Sector (http://indpendentsector.org).
"Party in the garden" was the article posted on DesMoinesRegister.com. The annual fundraising garden party for the Des Moines Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (DMIHN) not only has become an established summer social event, but its efforts to increase awareness of the plight of local homeless families are paying off. Read the full article.
Five years has passed since the Des Moines Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (DMIHN) started hosting homeless families in area churches. While the number of families served has remained steady since the beginning, many key events have transpired to make the network the vital organization that it is today.
The following timeline is a recap of some of the key events that have occurred in the life of the organization:
Undoubtedly, the DMIHN experience has touched the lives of many guests and volunteers and positively impacted many congregations during the five years of active hosting. But here’s a few statistics from the first five years that demonstrate a true community response to homelessness:
Host congregations provide homeless families a clean, safe overnight shelter and nutritious meals for one week every three months.