The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County (IHN) provides shelter, meals, hospitality and support for homeless families. First UMC Springboro serves as IHN host four times each year. It is our single largest hands-on mission. We make our church home to up to five families for one week at a time at least four times each year. As many as 100 volunteers give their time during our IHN weeks at our church! There is information on how to volunteer on the mission table in Fellowship Hall.

Note from Sharon Joseph: Every guest who stays in our church through the Interfaith Hospitality Network receives a fleece blanket from our church. It means so much to our guests to have something new for each person. We'e heard that these blankets stay with them for a very long time. Now, it is time to stock our blanket supply again. Please leave fleece material donations (to have the sides finished by someone else) or completed fleece blankets with the sides finished off on the mission table anytime this fall. We need blankets that are 1 to 2.5 yards of fleece. Please see Sharon Joseph if you have any questions about this heartwarming ministry. Donations to purchase fleece for the blankets are also appreciated.

FUMC of Springboro supported the Interfaith Hospitality mission again in December for two weeks after Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who helped, especially our leaders Jim Bachus and Sharon Joseph.

Here is a note from Jim and Sharon:

“We had a very successful two weeks with our Interfaith Hospitality guests. In the course of the visit our church and our partner churches touched the lives of six families and a total of nineteen individuals. The success of this mission is only possible through the many members of our church who help care for our needy neighbors. Thanks to all of you who offered prayers, donated money, prepared meals and gave their time by volunteering to work with our guests. We received many positive comments from the Interfaith families saying that the food was delicious but most of all that they enjoyed staying at our church because of the caring and supportive people who helped them.”

Here are some photos from one of our Interfaith weeks earlier this year.