Several churches in Trumbull and Mahoning County have gotten together to offer help to homeless families. The Family Promise of Mahoning Valley offers something other area shelters don't...a chance for families to stay together.
"Our program is unique to many of the others in the area because we don't separate the families," said Patty DiGiacobbe, of the Family Promise of Mahoning Valley. "They can stay together and we accept all different types of families, Mom and children, Dad and children, Grandma, daughter and grandchild."
The families will stay at the day center, housed at Girard First United Methodist Church, during daylight hours and then spend the evenings at one of the host churches. Each church will take a family for one week at a time.
Linda and Tom Hitmar have been busy the last couple of days getting rooms at the Howland Community Church ready for the families. Each family will have their own private room.
The program is run through volunteers, and host churches say they have had no problem finding people to help. "When we asked for volunteers, we had 140 people in church that day and we got 60 volunteers, just on that one Sunday," said Pastor David MacDonald, of Niles First United Methodist Church.
Family Promise of Mahoning Valley opened its doors Monday and hopes to begin accepting families this week. The shelter program can house up to 14 people at a time. Rev. Dr. Brian Bryne of Howland Community Church was instrumental in getting the program started in the area.
