Congregations Volunteering

IHN at Alpha House relies on a diverse network of almost 40 religious congregations and community organizations who take turns “hosting” at Alpha House throughout the year. These groups agree to provide meals, children's activities, volunteers, and/or supplies for Alpha House for a week or part of a week on a rotating basis. Host and Support congregations and organizations are vital to the important work we do and help make Alpha House a warm and nurturing place for families experiencing the crisis of homelessness in our community!

Host Congregations:

• Each Host Congregation identifies a Coordinator who serves as the main point of contact between Alpha House and the Congregation.
• Host Congregations commit to host 1-4 weeks per year
• Host Congregations agree to cover all meals and volunteer shifts during their host weeks. The families of Alpha House are counting on these volunteers and the food they provide!
• Host Congregations, to the best of their ability, provide supplies for the shelter during their host week. Supplies are collected using the Alpha House Inventory Supply List.
• Coordinators or Assistant Coordinators agree to be at Alpha House for part of each evening during their host week to help welcome and support their volunteers and ensure that things are running smoothly.
• Host Congregations can utilize Support Congregations and Organizations to assist in meeting the commitments of their Host Week. The IHN Volunteer Coordinator will facilitate these partnerships. Partnerships will be on-going for each Host Congregation's host week, and will match the needs of Host Congregations with the availabilities of supporting groups.
• The IHN Volunteer Coordinator is available to support Congregation Coordinators in many ways including helping train new volunteers, speaking during worship services, problem solving, providing assistance filling open shifts and more!

Support Congregations and Organizations:

• Each Support Congregation and Organization identifies a coordinator who serves as the main point of contact between Alpha House and the Organization.
• Support Congregations and Organizations may commit to hosting at Alpha House as little as one day, a few times per year, to as often as one day a month.
• Support Congregations and Organizations agree to cover all meals and volunteer shifts during the times they are scheduled.
• Support Congregations and Organizations will be matched with Host Congregations based upon the Host Congregation needs and the Support Organization's availabilities.
• The IHN Volunteer Coordinator is available to assist with filling open support shifts using the Emergency Volunteer List.

Host and Support Congregations

Ann Arbor Seventh-day Adventist Church

Beth Israel Congregation

Bethel United Church of Christ

Bethlehem United Church of Christ

Chelsea First United Methodist Church

Christian Motorcycle Association

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints    

Community of Christ

Dexter United Methodist Church

First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti

First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor

First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor

First Presbyterian Church of Saline

First Unitarian Universalist Congregation

First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor

First United Methodist Church of Saline

First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti

Grace Ann Arbor

Grace Bible Church

Hope Church of Ann Arbor

Huron Hills Church  

Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth               

Keystone Community Church

Korean United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor

Memorial Christian Church

Mosaic Church of Ann Arbor              

NorthRidge Church

Saint Andrew Catholic Church

Saint Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish

Saint Joseph Parish

Saint Mary Student Parish

Saint Paul Lutheran Church

Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church

Saint Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church

Shalom Community Church

Temple Beth Emeth

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Wesley United Methodist Church

West Side United Methodist Church

Zion Lutheran Church of Ann Arbor

Zion Lutheran Church of Chelsea

 

Interfaith Hospitality Network is a collection of diverse congregations and other organizations who know that TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of homeless families and their children! YOU are IHN!

• Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities: Check out our Volunteer Handbook and other important information about volunteer roles, responsibilities and expectations.
• Coordinator Times: Read current news and tips for Host and Support coordinators and volunteers.
• Calendar: See what is currently scheduled at Alpha House.

Join IHN!: Learn how your congregation or organization can partner with us.