History
THE BEGINNING
Karen Olson was rushing to a business meeting when she passed a homeless woman on the street. On impulse, Karen bought her a sandwich.The woman, Millie, accepted the sandwich but asked for something more — a chance to be heard. Karen stayed with Millie and listened. What she heard made her understand that homelessness brought profound feelings of diminished self-worth and disconnection from society. Soon after, Karen and her two sons began delivering lunches to homeless people on the streets of New York.
1986: THE FIRST NETWORK
When Karen learned that homelessness was affecting families right in her own community in New Jersey, she knew she had to do something. But this was much more than giving sandwiches. She brought together people in need and people who wanted to help. Existing community resources could provide shelter, meals, and housing. Volunteers could use their skills, knowledge, and compassion to help their homeless neighbors find employment, reconnect with society, and restore their dignity.
She approached the religious community. Congregations offered hospitality space within their buildings. The YMCA provided showers and a family Day Center. A car dealer discounted a van. The first interfaith hospitality network opened on October 27, 1986.
1988: THE NETWORK GOES NATIONAL
As word spread, more New Jersey congregations formed a second network. Other congregations were inspired to develop similar programs. In 1988, we formed the National Interfaith Hospitality Network to bring the program nationwide. In addition to shelter, meals, housing, and job-seeking support, our Affiliates began developing programs for transitional housing, childcare, and homelessness prevention. Nationally, we added programs like Just Neighbors and Family Mentoring.
1992: POINT OF LIGHT
Family Promise was awarded one of 21 Points of Light, out of a field of more than 4,500 nominees, by President and Barbara Bush, signifying Family Promise as one of the top volunteer agencies in the country. The award recognizes how one neighbor can help another, and calls upon the nation to take action in service to our fellow citizens.
2003: WE BECOME FAMILY PROMISE
We changed our name, from the National Interfaith Hospitality Network to Family Promise, to reflect our broad range of programs and our vision of ending family homelessness. The name refers to the promise, in the sense of commitment, which communities make to families in need. But it also refers to the promise, the potential, inherent in every family.
SHENANDOAH COUNTY AFFILIATE HISTORY
2014 & 2015: GETTING STARTED IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY
June - First Community meeting at Wakemans Grove COB. First Baptist Church officially donates 15 passenger van to FPSC.
July - First FPSC brochure available and website created.
August & September - Valley Pike COB, Saumsville Christian Church, Wakemans Grove COB St. John's UMC, Strasburg Christian Church become host congregations.
October & November - 501(c)3 status received.
St. John Bosco Catholic Church and Lebanon Lutheran Church become host congregations.
​
​
January 2015 - All Souls Anglican Church and Restoration Fellowship become the 9th and 10th host congregations.
Designs begin for the Family Center.
February - Camp Caroline Furnace becomes 11th host site.
March - Hospital Site officially named as new Family Center location.
April - Mt. Hermon UMC becomes 12th host congregation.
Grant received from Shenandoah Community Foundation.
May & June - Assembly of God becomes the 13th host congregation.
Presentation to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital about Family
Promise.
September - First Network Coordinators meeting.
November - Sherry Arey hired as the first Executive Director.
​
2016: FAMILY PROMISE OF SHENANDOAH COUNTY OFFICIALLY OPEN
January - Family Center receives its final inspection approval and officially opens!
FPSC is named the Affiliate #200.
Delivery of 16 beds and staff begins to expand with a van driver hired.
February - Admitted our first family.
March - Grand opening celebration.
First Steak Dinner Fundraiser.
June - Staff expands again with an administrative assistant hired.
FPSC becomes a partner with United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley.
October - First Family Promise Week celebrated.
2017 - 2021: FAMILY PROMISE OF SHENANDOAH COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW
The first case manager is hired at the beginning of the year of 2017. Family Promise of Shenandoah County continues to grow and is busy with grants and fundraising events. A playground was completed thanks to grants from Shenandoah Community Foundation and Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren as well as many volunteers. FPSC also joined Valley Health's "Our Health" network.
2018, FPSC signed a lease for a house for transitional housing for our families.
2019 brought new growth with a second transitional housing unit acquisition and a second family moving through the program. A donation of a teeny tiny house was provided by Dennis and Pam Bowers.
2019 brought the first Golf Tournament at Bryce Resort and is still an annual fundraiser until this day.
​
2020 Covid-19 hits and brings a new set of obstacles which includes the halting of the rotational shelter program. However, it does not stop the mission and the third and fourth transitional housing units are added and families move in. In October FPSC hosts the first "socially distanced" Night without a bed event.
​
2021 Spring of 2021 FPSC partners with United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley and Faithworks to assist families through the National Emergency Food & Shelter Program.
A virtual "Night without a Bed" event and H.O.P.E. emergency food pantry is added to our programs in June. In August, FPSC partners with People, Inc. and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for the "Summer Kids Pack" programs.
September 2021, FPSC evolved again and adopted the "scattered site" shelter model in conjunction with Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter and Response, Inc.
2021 closes with FPSC was adopted by Leadership Shenandoah Class for Christmas. and Strasburg High School builds and donates a playhouse for one of our homes.
​
2019
2025
2022 - 2025: FAMILY PROMISE OF SHENANDOAH COUNTY'S CONTINUED PROGRESSION
2022 and 2023 brought more growth and new faces to the Family Promise of Shenandoah County office.
A new case manager, Holly Taft, was brought on in March 2022.
Kelly Storey moved up to take on the Executive Director role in April 2023. Kelly had been with Family Promise since 2020.
​
2022 and 2023 brought more growth to the Family Promise of Shenandoah County office.
A new case manager, Holly Taft, was brought on in March 2022.
Kelly Storey moved up to take on the Executive Director role in April 2023. Kelly had been with Family Promise since 2020.
2023/2024 Family Promise of Shenandoah County was awarded not just one but two large grants from the Virginia Department of Health. The Rural Health Partner Mobilization Mini Grants of $150,000 and $75,000 were awarded to support our unique scattered shelter programs. This program was new and unique to our rural community.
​
2025 - Financial influx continues with a grant from United Way. Family Promise was granted $25,000 from the United Way Impact Grant.
December 2025 - FPSC was awarded the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year Award by the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce.
