Box City 2011 A Great Success!

Thank you to everyone that supported Box City 2011! $9000 was raised for Family Promise in the first year of this event. Eighty-six participants attended from 14 organizations (plus 36 volunteers) and many slept outside, despite the rain. People of all ages and faiths joined together to help homeless families. We think the event was a great success and thank Hockessin United Methodist Church for use of their facility!

The program consisted of:
• Comments by Senator Chris Coons, Representative John Carney, and Secretary of Health Social Services Rita Landgraf. They talked about the importance of what Family Promise does. NCC Council President Tom Kovach attended as well.
• Entertainment provided by Ray Seemans and Ross Troy, Kiki Marshall, and Lori Citro. Kiki is in 9th grade and attends Presbyterian Church of the Covenant; her peers were dancing the whole time she was singing!
• The youth of Grace Lutheran leading a worship service with a candle lighting ceremony and everyone saying their version of the Lord’s Prayer together.
• Awards given for the box decorating contest and the group that raised the most money. Congrats to Hockessin United Methodist for raising the most money! The individuals that raised the most money were Jon and Nicole Coady of White Clay Creek Presbyterian. They were named the Mayors of Box City!

By 11:00pm the rain had stopped and although our boxes and bedding were a little soggy, we braved the night. When we told Claas Ehlers of Family Promise national about our weather he said that inclement weather is the best way to experience a Box City! Although most Family Promise clients haven’t slept outside in a box, many have slept in their car or the floor at the houses of friends and family. It goes without saying that we are all more thankful for our warm, dry, quiet homes and soft beds. We hope you’ll join us next year to bond with others in God’s family and “Give up your bed… to change a child’s life.”