Mission at RPPC

Roland Park Presbyterian Church supports many local, national and international mission projects through its active Mission Committee. RPPC is pleased to be part of a network of local congregations supporting the Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network (BIHN), a hands-on mission project aiding homeless families.

Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network (www.baltimoreihn.org)

Imagine being part of a family without a safe, warm place to sleep, eat, and care for your children; living without the security of familiar people and belongings – this is homelessness.
The loss of one’s home, the most basic element of stability, is a profound crisis for anyone, but especially for families. Parents endure the heartache of being unable to provide a secure environment for their children. And children, who now make up 25% of our nation’s homeless population, are deprived of a fundamental requirement for healthy development – a safe and permanent home.

The Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality Network (BIHN) is organizing 13 congregations in the North Baltimore area to work together to help homeless families. The Roland Park Presbyterian Church has pledged to become a hosting congregation and provide overnight lodging and meals for 3 to 5 families for one week every 3 months on a rotating basis. Elder Carol Bishop will be the resident Coordinator for RPPC. Congregation Beit Tikvah has pledged to be RPPC’s “buddy congregation” and provide volunteers and supplies. Janet Felsten is the Coordinator from Beit Tikvah.

During our hosting week, homeless families, or guests, will stay at RPPC from 6pm to 7am, will eat a delicious dinner prepared by and shared with congregation volunteers, stay overnight in our Sunday school class rooms, arise at 6 am to eat a continental breakfast, then travel by BIHN van to the Day Center at All Saints Lutheran Church on Loch Raven Blvd. At the Day Center, they will meet with the Network Director, care for preschool children, look for housing and employment, or go out to school or work. Full bathing facilities are located at the Day Center.

Volunteers are the foundation of the Network. There are many ways that you can volunteer to help. As a BIHN volunteer, whether you provide a hot meal, read to a child, help a parent write a resume or stay overnight with the guests, you will make a differences in the lives of families that have suffered the loss of their homes. Here is a brief description of the many volunteer opportunities:
Dinner Preparation & Hosts: Each of the seven evenings, 2-3 people or 1-2 families will prepare a large dinner, serve, and dine with the guest families. Menu suggestions will be provided. Time commitment: 5:30 – 7: 15 pm plus food purchase and dinner preparation.

Evening Hosts: Each of the seven evenings, 2 people will be needed to be with the guest families during the evening. Activities could include helping with homework, reading to children, playing board games, talking with & listening to the adults. Time commitment: 7:–9pm.

Overnight Hosts: Each of the seven evenings, 2 people will be needed to spend the night at the church. Lights out by 10 pm. Time commitment: 8:30 pm – 7:00 am

Breakfast Preparation: (May be combined with Overnight Host duties): Each of the seven mornings, 2 people will be needed to prepare continental style breakfast for guest families and assist with their preparation to depart to the Day Center by van at 7am. Time commitment: 6:00 – 7: 30 am.

Sunday Set-up: At the beginning of our host week, 2-4 people will be needed to set up the cots, prepare the rooms, organize supplies and generally get the church ready to host the guest families for the week. Time commitment: 12:00 – 2:00 pm.

Sunday Take-down: At the end of our host week, 2-3 people are needed to pack up the cots to be picked up for delivery to next host site, gather sheets and towels to be laundered, and return the class rooms to their regular state. Time commitment: 8:00 – 9:00 am

Laundry: The Mission Committee is proposing to fund the installation of a washer and dryer in the church facility. At the end of our host week, 1 person will be needed to wash and dry the sheets and towels and store for the next hosting week.

Purchase supplies: Prior to our host week, 1 person will be needed to review the breakfast, cleaning and sundries supplies and restock.

Doctor or Nurse On-call: In an emergency, it will be helpful to know a doctor or nurse within our congregation could be called upon for advice or assistance.

Family Mentor: The guest families will be so fortunate to have someone to talk to and receive ideas and advice during the evening hours.

Help Children with homework: If you have this special talent, the children’s education can be greatly enhanced with some additional attention.

Organize recreational activities: Perhaps pizza and movie night on Friday or Wednesday board game night, an everyone-cooks pancake breakfast on Saturday morning, or special craft project during a holiday season…you are only limited by your imagination.

Organize donation drive: Once the Wish List is finalized, 2-3 people are needed to seek donors for the needed items. This will be a coordinated effort with Beit Tikvah.

Assist with overall organization: 1-2 people are needed to assist RPPC’s Coordinator with the many organizational tasks before and during the host week.

Thank you for your support!

To volunteer, please contact the Church Office.