Community Initiative
Family Promise understands the needs of vulnerable families. So, we offer innovative programs — such as tenancy preparation, financial literacy, and virtual career pathway training — to address them in a cost-effective, targeted approach.
Community Initiatives
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology, has a very successful club program, which traditionally has been a free after-school initiative for girls in third through 12th grades. Through the program, girls learn to use computer science to positively impact their community, join a supportive sisterhood of peers within their Club, and connect with a network of 90,000 alumni across the United States. This year, Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is launching a virtual version of Girls Who Code, where female students who already participate in 21st Century Community Learning program will be allowed to sign up for a club. During their virtual meetings, the young women will engage in fun and simple online tutorials to learn a number of different programming languages and build community with each other through interactive activities. Each session also includes a “Women in Tech” spotlight to teach girls about inspiring role models in the industry and show them what’s possible in the computer science space.
Virtual Learning Academy
Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is offering a solution to families who are struggling to facilitate their children’s virtual school lessons, mandated due to the spread of COVID-19, while juggling the demands of work. For parents who work long hours and cannot leave their children home alone but are still striving to provide a safe and healthy academic environment, Family Promise is creating a Virtual Learning Academy. It is open to families currently enrolled in Family Promise’s program as well as families who have finished the program and transitioned to permanent housing. Space will be limited to 7-10 students maximum, depending on staff capabilities. Family Promise is looking for volunteers who can assist by monitoring the students during the day as they complete their work. Volunteers will not be educating students but merely assisting students with needs.
Forever Home Learning Series
​Family Promise of the Coastal Empire, along with Habitat for Humanity and Community Housing Services Agency, offers a virtual homeownership training series for Family Promise graduates once per quarter. The series consists of three classes, and each class will feature a different expert guest speaker from one of the partnering organizations. Participants can expect to learn about the information and steps required to responsibly and knowledgeably become homeowners. The first lesson in the series typically is hosted by Habitat for Humanity and Community Housing Services Agency (CHSA). The second session focuses on credit with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Savannah. For the final training, participants hear testimonials from families who have gone through the program and are successful homeowners.
Garden Club
The Garden Club members will help with sprucing up the property at all three Family Promise day centers (in Savannah, Bryan and Effingham counties) through small-scale landscaping and beautification projects, planting and maintaining a vegetable garden that Family Promise families can work in, planting flowers and arranging house plants, watering vegetation, etc. Volunteers will facilitate projects inside and outside of the Family Promise buildings. No horticulture experience is necessary to volunteer for this club.
Handy Helpers Club
Handy Helpers Club volunteers will assist at all three Family Promise day centers (in Savannah, Bryan and Effingham counties) with small construction projects, painting, maintenance inside and outside of the building, putting together furniture and playsets, and small repairs, such as fixing doors, windows, etc. Handyman or building experience is helpful, but not necessary to volunteer for this club.