Family Promise is a national organization that leverages local resources (faith communities/congregations and non-profit organizations) to provide temporary housing to unhoused families as they transition to permanent housing. Family Promise North Shore is based in Evanston and works with approximately 30 North Shore congregations, including Am Yisrael and five other synagogues. We encourage you to read more about the work of Family Promise: https://www.familypromisechicagons.org/.
All Am Yisrael members are invited to participate in this vital program. Our host weeks are typically Sunday to Sunday, the week of July 4th and the week after Christmas. You and your family can choose a shift – either serving and eating dinner with our guests, or spending the night at the synagogue. You can also volunteer to donate food and holiday gifts or provide financial support for the program.
As a Jewish community, we have spent the last few years feeling a range of emotions, including the fear and isolation that comes from rising anti-Semitism and also the hope and promise of our collective actions in response to unsettling threats. We urge you to consider getting involved in Family Promise now as a way to get to know our neighbors and as a way to build rich, diverse networks of community support.
Gerry and Claudia Linda brought Family Promise to Am Yisrael in 2013 and lovingly coordinated the program for 10 years. Our current site coordinators are Annette Doherty, Aaron Tam, and Elyse Tish. We have a loyal and reliable pool of volunteers, but gladly welcome new team members who want to be a part of this wonderful program.
