This week I saw a post on social media from another Family Promise affiliate that included a quote from Anne Frank. “No one has ever become poor from giving.” Those words gave me pause as I thought of the myriad of ways we can each be enriched by giving. Talk to any Family Promise volunteer and they won’t tell you about a drain on their resources or their time, they will blossom as they tell you the ways they are blessed by serving the families in our program.
One question I get most often when out in the community is, “How can I help Family Promise?” There are lots of ways I answer that question. Financial support is obviously critical to the continuation of our programs, as we cannot sustain Family Promise without funding, but one 
additional way you can help Family Promise is to give of your time. There are only so many hours in a day, so what you choose to do with those hours can say a lot about the things that are important to you. We are truly grateful for the thousands of hours our volunteers give to Family Promise each year. Did you know that if all of the Family Promise volunteers nationwide were counted as employees, Family Promise would represent the 31st largest employer in the nation. That is an enormous impact on our communities. What a gift!
So how can you help right here in Blount County? Currently, one of our biggest volunteer needs is at our new Thrift Store. The proceeds from the store are directly benefiting our programs. Sorting donations might not seem like a way to help families experiencing homelessness, but I assure you, it makes a difference.
I also encourage you to consider volunteering as a family. School-aged children can help sort donations while middle and high school-aged children can help run the cash register and interact with customers. There are tasks for a variety of ages and skill levels. If you are interested in signing up to volunteer, please click on this link. You can select the Thrift Store as the area you wish to volunteer, or you can choose to share your time in other ways. No matter your age or ability, there is a way for you to give back and support Family Promise of Blount County. We have a place for you! And to those of you who are already volunteering, we are truly grateful for the impact you have on our programs and the difference you are making for our families. Your gift of time enriches us each and every day.
