MY FATHERS HOUSE A COMMUNITY SHELTER INC
I remember when God gave Cathe a vision for this shelter. I worked for Cathe at East Hill church as one of her many nursery supervisors. The other shelters in the city had limits on a child's age, so not all children in a family could go together to a shelter. If a child was 12 or older they would need to go elsewhere. It is very difficult for a family to go anywhere for shelter when rules limit a child’s age. Though shelters do this to protect children from sexual child abuse it offered little hope to whole families with older children. Cathe expressed to me she wanted to find a solution to the problem. From the duplex to the larger building, My Father’s House is growing and becoming what God planted years ago in Cathe and Dan's heart.
Both my husband and I volunteered for a short period of time. The beautiful orcastration God delivered in the organization of the shelter was solid, visual proof that a mighty God called for this to happen.
Years later I entered seminary and asked Cathe if I might intern for the shelters chapel. The shelter offers a church service on Sunday. I look forward to my time in a place where God's love is abundant and in a chapel where the Holy Spirit is moving in mighty ways…….
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
watching the lives of people changed and in assisting them to relocate to their own apartment to begin their new life.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
continue to ask people to support the shelter. This is a great place to donate and give to others....
I've always thought very highly of homeless shelters, but never went anywhere near them. I donated from afar, dropping things into boxes set up to be delivered to them. But last summer I met some kids from My Father's House at Eagle Fern Camp. The day after camp ended I visited for the first time. The building itself is beautiful, built specifically for the purpose and filled with uplifting artwork. The children have a large playroom with all kinds of toys and a large, fenced in play structure. I immediately signed up to volunteer. The staff continually thanks me every time I work. I do a four hour shift once a week, answering the phone and greeting visitors and volunteers. I knew before I ever met Cathe Weise that I would like her. I worked on her day off for quite a while so when I finally switched days and met her I told her immediately how impressed I was with her staff and how I knew that all the consistently positive attitudes I saw in her absence had to be coming from the top down. Working with her regularly has only confirmed it! Every time a staff person even begins to say something negative, they stop and correct themselves, stating the truth with hope instead. I've been there long enough to see the fruit of the ministry in the lives of the people who live there as they find faith, jobs, and hope. The building doesn't feel like a ministry, it has a heart like a church, but more like a home, because it is one.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the families who live there.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
replicate it elsewhere!
It is my great pleasure to help with My Father's House's quarterly newsletter. I always look forward to it. My husband and I also make occasional monetary and food donations, and we are adopting a family for Christmas again this year -- it really brings the spirit of Christmas to life for us. There are many ways to contribute to the success of MFH and their clients. MFH changes lives in our community, which makes it a better place for us and everyone else (including you!) to live.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
see review
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
see review
My Father's House is a privately funded shelter for homeless families that is meeting a huge need in our community. It is unique in that it allows families to stay together while helping them regain their independence. A core value of the shelter is that we don't do for our families what they can do for themselves so staff, volunteers and our board are all committed to treating our families with respect and dignity while helping them gain the skills and confidence needed to live independently once they transition out of the shelter.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I've seen first hand the impact of what we do for the families, especially the children, who live in the shelter as well as have had the opportunity to hear "first-hand" directly from several residents themselves about the impact and difference the work we do has made in their lives and that of their children.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find a way to provide a sustainable flow of operating funds so that the staff could concentrate 100% of their time on meeting the needs of the residents and not have to be concerned with raising funds to keep the shelter open.
This non-profit is the largest family shelter privately funded and fully supported by ordinary people like you and me. They help whole families and doesn't split them up. They give families help, training, support and tools to become successful in their community. The families that have gone thru the program, come back to give and help out when they can!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing families come out of their cars to have a warm safe place with food and tools to find work and provide for their families.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give them more money to help out where I cannot.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Why do I give to My Father's House? Because every dollar goes soooooooo far! Just 5 employees leverage over 240 volunteers every month who teach, train, and hold accountable these struggling homeless families. Thank you volunteers!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Every family that I have known personally has had a 'restart' at My Father's House. So many of them are now doing very well. This was the last shelter that they will ever need.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would love to see more people making regular contributions every month.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
How did you learn about this organization?
I was invited by a friend to contribute money.
What is this organization's top short-term priority?
Raising operating funds.
What is its top priority in the long run?
Expanding. Even though this is the largest shelter for homeless families in the US (that is not funded by government), we still turn away over 100 families every week! We need to open another building.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I LOVE this place! I work in the Donation Center and at the reception desk! It is SO AMAZING to see first hand what a blessing this ministry is to everyone involved here! Residents, volunteers and staff are all just awesome people and I am constantly in awe of what God does thru and for these people. Everyone who can - should somehow become involved - it will bless you as much (or more) as it blesses those you serve.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I'm there almost every day. If I miss a day - I REALLY MISS a day.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
recruit more volunteers!
Tell your story here and help others understand this charity My family was fortunate enough to have lived at the new building of My Father's House for about 4 months. The icing on the cake of instability was losing our housing situation in an unfortunate situation with our housemate. We spent about 3 months couch-surfing among relatives (me, my wife, and our 4 kids). I was still managing to hold down my full time job all the while. One day my wife mentioned something about this "father's house" place. I was willing to go see what they were about, so we set up an appointment with Sam. As our luck would turn out, it was probably the best thing to happen to us in YEARS. We are now over a year removed from our stay, and while the marriage is still on thin ice, we are definitely better off as people for having stayed at My Father's House. And as I swore to Cathe on the day we left, I will ALWAYS find some way or another to help out the shelter. And you should too! They just opened up their new apartment complex, and so the needs are greater than ever. But the help is burgeoning too. Cathe, Dan, Dougie, Heather, all the Staff, I love you guys and I won't ever forget what you've done for me and my family. Don S.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My own personal life.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find more people willing to help them find the things they need on a daily basis.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The effect on my personal life!
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
AWESOME.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Continue their vision, expand their mission, and help MANY more people who need it.
Ways to make it better...
I could find more people willing to give all they had to this organization.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
A lack of public knowledge of what they actually do.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I love this place. And while I may not have the cash to help, I will ALWAYS find some way or another to help Cathe. Just like I promised her, the day my family moved out.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Almost from it's inception, we have had the privilege of observing the unrelenting faith and determination that My Fathers House has displayed in their vision to make a difference in our community by reaching out to homeless families. As part of the prayer support for this work, we have been able to stay very informed of the trials and victories that this outreach has encountered and absolutely marvel at the depth of assistance that they provide, and victories in lives that they touch. This work has a very professional, solid and accountable foundation and at this point in it's ongoing development only needs finances to increase its good works and good fruit in our community.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
our community by observing changed lives in families that would not be families if it were not for the stability that this work provided in their time of crises.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Seeing families taken off the streets of our community and becoming productive contributers and solid families.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Compassionate and totally dedicated to the vision. A complete delight to work along side of.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand its vision to other communities that could make a difference in solid fruitful efforts to help those families that need it most i.e. the homeless become families with a foundation and contributers to thier communities.
Ways to make it better...
I had more time and resources to spend assisting this outreach.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Finances to expand this exceptional work in a very needed area in our community.
One thing I'd also say is that...
My Fathers House is the best of the best. Please do what you can to facilitate their vision and accomplishments.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I have been around this ministry since its inception and have found the commitment level to homeless families to be over the top. They have chosen to provide the tools that families need to succeed. Financial coaching, discipleship courses, relationship building, and above all accountability.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing some of their families come to our church and plug in to our church family.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
They have grown slowly over the past almost 10 years and have been able to learn as they grew.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Totally committed to reaching out to families in need.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
It would probably continue to develop their outreach at a slow steady pace in order to continue to provide the services they offer with complete integrity.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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