Family Promise sites across the country support families through a community-based response. Local volunteers play a significant role in that response. Two recent volunteer outings in Tennessee and North Carolina had a particularly big impact.
Last month, Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga and Family Promise of the Triangle welcomed members of Zeta Phi Beta (ΖΦΒ) and Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), respectively. Both sororities are part of the “Divine Nine,” a group of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities.
“Zeta Phi Beta reached out to me because they had ladies who were interested in helping families,” said Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga’s executive director, E’tienne Easley. “I gave them a tour of our Affiliate and they learned more about Family Promise. The next thing you know, they asked if they could plan a volunteer event to support us and help their members learn more about our mission.”
While this year was Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga’s first time collaborating with a Divine Nine sorority, Family Promise of the Triangle welcomed back a Divine Nine member who volunteered their services in 2024.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha’s chapter president reached out to us because they enjoyed their experience with us so much last year,” said Family Promise of the Triangle’s program director, RaShawn Stanley. “They volunteered on MLK Day in 2024 and wanted to do the same this year.”
Family Promise of the Triangle has shelter apartments, so the AKA volunteers donated a host of items to make those spaces as comfortable as possible for families. They brought cleaning supplies, blankets, comforters, and paper goods before cleaning the apartments. They even created a maintenance checklist for Family Promise staff members who prepare the apartments when families move in and out.
“With how fast the shelter units turn over, having volunteers support with cleaning was a huge help,” Stanley said.
The volunteer event that Zeta Phi Beta hosted at Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga featured 20 volunteers. The ΖΦΒ ladies supported Chattanooga’s prevention program by donating funds for utility and rent payments and supported the shelter program by bringing sheets, pillowcases, food, and dinner gift cards.
“They were excited to support us,” Easley said.
Like many Family Promise sites across the nation, many people served by Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga represent the BIPOC community.
“The significance of the Divine Nine volunteering is that you’re seeing other people who look like you, supporting you,” Easley said. “And to be honest, most of the volunteers had never heard of us, because Divine Nine members weren’t members of the churches that have volunteered for us in the past. This was a point of entry for them.”
It was a welcome introduction because both Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga and Family Promise of the Triangle rely on the generosity of community members for financial and in-kind donations.
The support from Zeta Phi Beta and Alpha Kappa Alpha has been truly transformative, ensuring that vital resources are available to help families in need. Family Promise is honored to have members of the Divine Nine as valued partners in this mission. Together, they are empowering families in crisis to overcome challenges and rebuild their lives.
