Hello All,

Last week we attended the groundbreaking for the new Family Promise Navigation Center. Thanks to your generous support, volunteer time, and thoughtful prayers, this is an exciting step forward for the Desert Spring Family Promise Team.

The new Navigation Center will provide direct support, training, a fully equipped kitchen, and several Bridge Apartments which are safe transitional housing units for Families who are on the path to beating homelessness.

Desert Spring has donated over $100,000.00 for two of the Bridge apartments and we’re so very happy to see this dream become a reality. The construction will be underway this summer. Some additional fund raising for furniture and accessories will continue to allow for a ribbon cutting and opening sometime next year. The Family Promise Las Vegas Team has overcome huge real estate challenges, liens, the usual government paperwork, and they have a solid partnership with a design and construction team that is experienced in this unique building goal.

As part of our Desert Spring Family, we know your response to this news will include both joy and also a “….How Can We Help?…” message. Desert Spring people are just like that.

Here’s what we are doing to support the Family Promise Mission:
“Just Neighbors” allows Desert Spring to adopt a Family and support that Mom and Kids with weekly food and family needs. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about one of dozens of Families in transition even when the Parent has never experienced this kind of direct support before. A weekly grocery list is sent to volunteers and (because we’re Desert Spring) our Team jumps up to grab a grocery list item and drop it off at the Church before Thursday 12:00pm. The groceries (or other items) are delivered the following day. If you’re not currently participating in Just Neighbors, just let us know and we will send you the weekly list. If you’re a Just Neighbors person already, thanks you so much for the quiet behind the scenes donations.

Family Promise continues to raise funds to make this Navigation Center a solid resource for changing the lives of Families in Las Vegas. At the groundbreaking we saw huge Corporate Donations, Congressional Delegation Representatives and the Clark County and City of Las Vegas support which has blossomed. The true strength of Family Promise comes from our historic connection with 20+ Faith Communities here in the Valley. We’d like to continue to have people of faith as a foundation for our support, and if you have an interest in making a donation for the interior furnishings of this Navigation Center, just make a note “Family Promise Navigation Center” on your check or on-line donation.

I’m meeting with Church Staff and the Special Kind of Christmas Team next week to name the two Desert Spring Bridge units at the new Navigation Center. If you have an idea for naming these apartments to document the agape love and faith practice behind our donation, please let us know.

When this building is open and operational, we could have some additional opportunities to be involved in Family Promise support. Many on our Family Promise Team remember fondly the dinners we served which gave us a chance to fellowship with our Families. If you’re interested in a dinner event, reading or crafts with kids, or just visiting with our clients who are looking for hope and understanding, we will be planning a Desert Spring trip to the new Navigation Center next year. Just let us know you’re interested and we’ll let you know when and where we will meet up.

Please join us in appreciating the many Desert Spring volunteers who have patiently and prayerfully waited for this next step forward. If you have any questions or ideas that would inspire even more Love and Support, please contact Beth Blackwood at bablackwood@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Bob Lathrop