FPM Volunteer Brochure

VOLUNTEERING
NETWORK
Family Promise Metrowest provides essential services to families
facing homelessness throughout the Metrowest region by
partnering with a diverse and dedicated network of volunteers.

WHO WE ARE
Family Promise Metrowest’s mission is
to transform the lives of families with
children that are facing homelessness
by mobilizing a diverse community to
provide shelter, education, and
comprehensive support.
We serve families that:
are without a permanent home or
are facing eviction
are low- to moderate-income
have at least one child under the
age of 18 living with them
are Massachusetts residents
Our approach to addressing family
homelessness and housing instability is
simple: We believe motivated families
can move themselves out of poverty
and establish stable, sustainable homes
if given the resources, guidance, and
encouragement to set and work toward
goals.
Family Promise Metrowest is working to
unite our community under a common
vision to transform lives. Together, we
help our families imagine a new future,
and then offer the connections and
support they need to bring their
dreams to fruition.

OUR PROGRAMS & IMPACT
Our programs offer a continuum of services for families at all stages of
housing instability:
The Shelter Program offers safe shelter, meals, and supportive coaching to
families with children that have lost their housing.
The SAIL Program (Sustaining Achievements for Independent Living)
provides subsidies and ongoing coaching to shelter graduates that have
moved back into apartments to ensure their successful transition.
The LIFE Program (Local Initiative for Family Empowerment) offers
homelessness prevention and shelter diversion support by providing funding
for back rent or security deposits in conjunction with family coaching.
The Steps to Success Program offers education and employment support to
adults and teens, and provides scholarships to individuals that are pursuing
higher education.
In 2022, our graduating families achieved the following accomplishments:
100% 67% 100%
of Shelter families moved
from shelter into
affordable apartments
of SAIL families
reached their debt
reduction goal
of LIFE families avoided
shelter entry and
remained in their homes
100%
of Shelter families
secured safe,
affordable childcare
75%
67%
100%
82%
of LIFE children with
academic needs received
support services
of Shelter families
reduced their
overall debt
of adults in the
SAIL program were
employed
of LIFE families
increased their income
while in the program

OUR VOLUNTEER NETWORK
Our diverse community of volunteers comes from a diverse array of sources;
Congregations, our founding volunteers,
which provide essential shelter support
Local businesses, which offer skilled
volunteers and supportive resources
Partnering organizations, which provide
support for our families and events
Schools & universities, whose students
offer energy, enthusiasm, and new ideas
Individuals & families, who offer endless compassion, responsiveness, and generosity

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Shelter Support: Volunteers fulfill various
roles in the shelter, including room
preparation, childcare, and grocery shopping.
Weekend Coverage: Weekend volunteers
offer a warm and helpful presence to shelter
residents while our staff is off-duty.
Meal Preparation: Individuals, families, or
groups of all sizes prepare dinners for shelter
residents or evening workshop participants.
Academic Tutoring: Volunteer tutors offer
in-person or online academic support for
both children and parents.
Professional Education: Volunteers help
teach family classes in financial literacy, good
tenancy, and other essential life skills.
Event Support: Volunteers help us plan,
execute, and staff our spring walkathon and
our fall gala.
Donation Drives: Volunteers coordinate
drives for clothing, toiletries, or gift cards at
their workplaces, congregations, or schools.
Day of Service: Groups come to the Day
Center to help with several projects in one
day, such as a Spring or Fall Yard Cleanup.

NEXT STEPS
Volunteer Training
We require all volunteers who will
work directly with our family members
to complete our online volunteer
orientation. All other volunteers are
strongly encouraged to also complete
this, but not required. This training is
available at:
www.tinyurl.com/FPMvolunteer.
Register on CERVIS
Once you have completed orientation,
you will be asked to register on
CERVIS, our online volunteer portal. In
CERVIS, you will find all open
volunteering opportunities and can
register for those that fit your interests
and schedule. CERVIS is available at:
www.tinyurl.com/FPMCERVIS.
CORI Check
We also require all volunteers ages 18+
who interact with our family members
to have a current CORI background
check on file with us. This can be
completed in a very short visit to our
Day Center.

NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
We encourage local congregations, organizations, businesses, and schools to
become a "member" of our volunteer network by making a formal
commitment to our families and organization. This help us build consistency
and reliability in our volunteer program, and offers our families familiar and
friendly faces across our programs. Our levels of membership are as follows:
Lead Member
Fulfills key shelter roles including meal prep, food shopping, and
room set-up for 1-4 weeks per year
Participates in our annual community-wide events
Displays and/or distributes FPM information and announcements
Hosts one FPM speaking engagement per year
Makes an annual monetary donation to FPM
Support Member
Provides prepared dinners and/or volunteers to support a Lead
Member's shelter week(s)
Participates in our annual community-wide events
Displays and/or distributes FPM information and announcements
Makes an annual monetary donation to FPM
Outreach Member
Participates in and/or promotes our annual community-wide events
Displays and/or distributes FPM information and announcements
Makes an annual monetary donation to FPM

WILL YOU JOIN US?
For more information about joining our volunteer network or
offering other support to our organization and families, please
contact info@familypromisemetrowest.org.
Family Promise Metrowest
6 Mulligan Street, Natick, MA 01760 | 508-318-4820
info@familypromisemetrowest.org | www.familypromisemetrowest.org