Family Promise: Danos GIVES Update

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. The king will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25: 36-36, 40

As I reflect on our Foundation’s guiding principles, it almost seems like our 2021 grant recipient Family Promise of Odessa was formed to fulfill the promise of this scripture. It’s funny how God aligned the Danos Foundation and Family Promise of Odessa. Maybe it was serendipity, but I like to think God always has a plan. And this partnership had been planned for a long, long time.

Family Promise of Odessa exists to enable homeless families with children to achieve lasting self-sufficiency by providing temporary shelter, meals and access to existing community social services. Their program is long term and families may stay for up to a year. Family Promise’s vision is a community in which every family has a home, a livelihood and the circumstances to build a better future together.

As you may recall, Danos GIVES gave Family Promise a grant for $50,000 for their Transition to Independence Program which helps families to break the cycle of homelessness. The program allows these families to save their earnings while Family Promise provides food, day center supplies, medical care, transportation, childcare and personal items. Families set weekly goals, save 80% of their salaries and learn to budget. Financial literacy training and personal counseling are required as well.

I remember the day that we visited this organization in Odessa, Texas. Their volunteers gathered in the New Day Center to greet us. They didn’t know much about who we were or even how much money we were giving them.  All of the volunteers come from different churches and religions, but they come together for one common purpose – to serve others and live Family Promises’ vision. I remember the check popping out the cake (our method of check delivery) and the tears falling. The volunteers were incredibly thankful and emotional over our gift to them. They told us stories about their experiences with the organization and touched our hearts forever.

Here are a few pictures from Family Promise.  We truly are helping to build strong families in our communities.