Development Timeline

In Spring 2007 the Blount County Ecumenical Action Council began discussing the need and importance of helping homeless families in the Blount County community.  In October 2007, Family Promise National came to Blount County to do an assessment and found that there was a need for an interfaith hospitality network.  In that same month, the first community-wide meeting was held for people interested in the program.  The national representative said that it was the most attended meeting he had ever seen in his tenure with Family Promise.  In Winter 2007, Family Promise received a generous donation of a 15-passenger van for transporting guests.

In Spring 2008 the Day Center Committee began visiting possible sites for the Family Day Center.  In June 2008, Family Promise received a United Way Venture Grant as a start-up agency in Blount County.  The next month, Jeanna Stewart, who had led our efforts since the beginning, passed the torch to our current board chair, Susan Hughes.  During Summer 2008, the board was developed, and the first board meeting was help in September 2008.  In November 2008 Green Meadow United Methodist Church became the future site of our Family Day Center.  And finally, in December 2008 Family Promise of Blount County's 501(c)3 status was approved!

In March 2009 renovations began at the day center site, specifically to make the restroom facilities universally accessible.  That same month, Family Promise of Blount County hired its first Executive Director, Mandy Stinnett Adkins.  Throughout Spring 2009 host and support congregations continued to come on board, and our first round of volunteer trainings occurred.  On June 21, 2009, Family Promise of Blount County opened its doors to homeless families in our community!!