About Us
• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
--Margaret Mead
--Margaret Mead
AmeriCorps
Capital High School
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Center for Spiritual Living
Cerrillos Masonic Lodge #19
Christ Church
Christ Lutheran Church
Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
Church of the Holy Faith
Eastern Star
Extension Homemakers of Santa Fe County
Faith at Work Community Outreach
First Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Habitat for Humanity
HaMakom Jewish Congregation
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
The Humanist Society
Interfaith Leadership Alliance
Light at Mission Viejo
Montezuma Lodge # 1
Rodeo Road Baptist Church
Capital High School
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Center for Spiritual Living
Cerrillos Masonic Lodge #19
Christ Church
Christ Lutheran Church
Christian Church/Disciples of Christ
Church of the Holy Faith
Eastern Star
Extension Homemakers of Santa Fe County
Faith at Work Community Outreach
First Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Habitat for Humanity
HaMakom Jewish Congregation
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
The Humanist Society
Interfaith Leadership Alliance
Light at Mission Viejo
Montezuma Lodge # 1
Rodeo Road Baptist Church
R. S. V. P. (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Santa Fe Street Ministries
Sathya Sai Baba Center
San Isidro-San José Parish
Santa Fe Friends Meeting
Santa Fe Preparatory School
Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community
TaHa Mosque and Islamic Center
Temple Beth Shalom
Thubten Norbu Ling
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
United Church of Santa Fe
Unity Church of Santa Fe
Upaya Zen Center
Venture Crew # 53 (Boy Scouts of America)
Veterans for Peace
Waldorf School
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Zia United Methodist Church
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Santa Fe Street Ministries
Sathya Sai Baba Center
San Isidro-San José Parish
Santa Fe Friends Meeting
Santa Fe Preparatory School
Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community
TaHa Mosque and Islamic Center
Temple Beth Shalom
Thubten Norbu Ling
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
United Church of Santa Fe
Unity Church of Santa Fe
Upaya Zen Center
Venture Crew # 53 (Boy Scouts of America)
Veterans for Peace
Waldorf School
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Zia United Methodist Church
Your assistance makes a
Difference
An initiative of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Faith Community
Faith Communities and Participating Organizations
Interfaith Community Shelter Group P.O. Box 22653 Santa Fe, NM 87502
Photo by Natalie Guillen.
Copyright © 2008 The New Mexican, Inc.
Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2008 The New Mexican, Inc.
Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.
We have nearly doubled the twenty two faith communities that participated in the Interfaith Community Shelter Group program in 2008/2009 by providing wholesome, hearty meals, volunteers to serve them and others who assisted in welcoming homeless guests through our intake process. Additional faith communities, schools, fraternal and service organizations have joined us this winter at the shelter. Participants include:
After numerous challenges—especially NIMBY (not in my back yard) concerns, the Group's Building Task Force found a facility with a nightly capacity of more than 100 persons needing shelter. With a requirement that it be located in a commercial zone that is in proximity to bus lines so homeless guests can get to the shelter with a minimum of difficulty, they succeeded in arranging a six-month lease, with an option to buy, at the former Pete’s Pets building on Cerrillos Road. Bright and cheerful, the large open space offers separate areas for male guests and women and children, as well as parking for volunteers.
The faith and secular communities again prepare meals offsite at their own locations and bring them ready to serve at the shelter. Guests are welcomed by the Intake Team beginning at 6 p.m. and, following a security check, are shown to their sleeping areas and given a place to check their belongings. After dinner, conversations abound in the lounge area, with card playing, chess, checkers and dominoes dominating the scene. As the evening wanes, guests, some of whom may have found employment and are very tired from a day of hard work, will make their way to bed. At 9 pm, the paid night staff arrives to relieve the volunteers who go home feeling they have been part of an effort to reach out beyond themselves to help their fellow man [and woman].
Some say they appreciate the opportunity to live out their faith. Others express their gratitude at realizing the stereotypes they have had about homelessness are now dispelled and they see our guests as people often not so different than themselves...with intelligence, humor, interests in the world around them, concern for others and a desire to be contributing members of society.
The faith and secular communities again prepare meals offsite at their own locations and bring them ready to serve at the shelter. Guests are welcomed by the Intake Team beginning at 6 p.m. and, following a security check, are shown to their sleeping areas and given a place to check their belongings. After dinner, conversations abound in the lounge area, with card playing, chess, checkers and dominoes dominating the scene. As the evening wanes, guests, some of whom may have found employment and are very tired from a day of hard work, will make their way to bed. At 9 pm, the paid night staff arrives to relieve the volunteers who go home feeling they have been part of an effort to reach out beyond themselves to help their fellow man [and woman].
Some say they appreciate the opportunity to live out their faith. Others express their gratitude at realizing the stereotypes they have had about homelessness are now dispelled and they see our guests as people often not so different than themselves...with intelligence, humor, interests in the world around them, concern for others and a desire to be contributing members of society.
Home | Mission | About Us | Board of Directors | Cold Winters! | News | City Support | Pictures | How to Help | Jobs