ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL HOST WEEK
Wow, what a busy two weeks. First, a big THANK YOU to Amy Chavez and her team of volunteers at New Life Church for hosting FPAC guests last week and a big THANK YOU to Pam Schlemmer and her team of volunteers from Grace Evangelical Free Church for hosting this week. During these busy two weeks, we had three families transition out of FPAC and two new families entered the network. Thank you to both coordinators and congregations for your flexibility.
 
Next up…Redeemer Lutheran Church-Coon Rapids campus

FPAC FUNDRAISER 
The TPC ROSE Fall Gala is just around the corner. This event is scheduled to take place on October 29^that TPC-Twin Cities in Blaine. We would love to see you there. If you have questions, visit their website at www.tpcrose.com.
 
FPAC TURNS 1 YEAR OLD
Did you get a chance to see the two articles about FPAC in the paper? The Star Tribune published the article on September 27, 2011 and the Shopper published the article on September 28, 2011. Both were fabulous articles and we received many, many calls from the community inquiring about FPAC and how they can become involved. Some of the calls were from community members that want to volunteer at the day center, small groups that stopped by and donated household supplies, teachers calling to inquiry about tutoring opportunities and a licensed cosmetologist inquiring about offering free haircuts at the day center once a month. We are so grateful for the continuous support we receive. Our first year was a huge success and based on the ripple effect from the article, we are off to a great start for our second year.
 
PUMPKINS ANYONE?????
Another ripple effect from our coverage in the Shopper was from a local Andover business owner, Chris Beberg of Beberg Landscape and Supply. Chris read our article in the paper and gave me a call and said that he and his team want to learn more about FPAC and find ways that they can help out. The first thing that they want to do is donate the proceeds from his Pumpkin Patch sale to FPAC. How great is that? A business owner seeking us out to support us! So, if you are in the market for any pumpkins this fall season, stop by Beberg Landscape and Supply. You will be able to pick out your pumpkin and support FPAC in one stop. Beberg’s is located in Andover.
 
2011 FPAC HOSTING CHANGES
Andover Christian Church & Oak Haven Church will host FPAC Oct 23-30, 2011 at Andover Church.
New Brighton Christian Church will host FPAC Nov 6-13, 2011. They are well on their way as they prepare to host FPAC families. 
 
COORDINATOR’S MEETING
Thank you to everyone that attended our coordinator’s meeting. It was a great working meeting and I think we accomplished a great deal through our discussion. Earlier this week, I emailed a draft of the FPAC Coordinator’s Manual. Please review and let me know your thoughts or suggestions as we move to finalizing the manual. I tried to capture the processes that we currently have in place and also adapt processes from other Family Promise affiliates. Now that the first draft of the manual is complete, I will compile the highlights and struggles and solutions from our meeting and get that information out to you in the next week or so. It has been a pleasure working with each of you during this important first year and I know we have even greater things in store for us as a team and as an organization.
 
FPAC GUEST UPDATE
We are always happy to celebrate with a family that successfully transitions from experiencing homelessness to a life of independence and their own place to call home. We recently celebrated with a mom and her two year old daughter when they moved into their own apartment. After one day away from FPAC, she sent the following email to us:
“This is the first time in a loooooong time I've cried some happy but yet sad tears....as bad as I wanted my own I didn't think about having to say bye to people who've some what grown on me and my baby....imma manage to keep in touch and stay in touch because god had blessed you people in my life for a reason....I really see it as a blessing for me to come here with nothing and get blessed with something.....”

WORKPLACE CHARITABLE GIVING
Most employers are holding their annual charitable giving campaigns, which encourages employees to consider supporting local nonprofit organizations. In addition to the charitable gift offered by the employee, many employers will match your contribution to your chosen nonprofit organization. This of course is a great opportunity for you to financially support the work of organizations that directly impact your community in an easy and affordable way.
 
Please consider directing your 2012 charitable contribution to Family Promise of Anoka County. As a small nonprofit organization, we rely on the support and generosity from our friends and supporters just like you. It’s very easy to direct your workplace giving dollars to FPAC. Simply write in our full organization name: Family Promise of Anoka County, fill in our address and phone number: 10341 Ibis Street NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433/763-568-7349, and provide our agency tax-id number: 27-1151848. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send an email.
 
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, October 10, 2011
7:00p-9:00p (note time change)
Volunteer Training at Andover Christian Church 
 
Thursday, October 20, 2011
6:00p-8:00p
Volunteer Training at New Brighton Christian Church