Homeless, Hungry & Helping Hand

“In a world so hungry for healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, and most of all unconditional love, the Church must alleviate that hunger through its ministry. Wherever we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the lonely, listen to those who are rejected, and bring unity and peace to those who are divided, we proclaim the living Christ, whether we speak about him or not.  It is important that whatever we do and wherever we go, we remain in the Name of Jesus, who sent us. Outside his Name our ministry will lose its divine energy.”
—  Henri Nouwen
Contact serve@epiphanydayton.org to serve or to learn more about any ministry.
Epiphany is an official drop-off site forClothes That Work

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Green County

Providing Temporary Shelter for Displaced Families

Schneider House of Hope

124 S. Detroit St. in Xenia    
Xenia, Ohio 45385
(937) 372-0705
 
FrontFacility2
 
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Epiphany takes an active role in ministry with the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).  The IHN is a nonprofit organization working with congregations across the country to help displaced families due to uncontrolled circumstances. Their mission is to reach out as messengers of God, reflecting His unconditional love with compassion and acceptance, providing help, hope, and a safe haven for our guests while they seek permanent employment and affordable housing. Epiphany rotates with other congregations one week at a time to provide meals, shelter, and God’s love to them. The IHN organization works to help families find permanent housing, employment, and parenting classes. Over 90 percent of the families are placed in their own homes and 80 percent are placed in new jobs.  

How You Can Participate           

Epiphany serves two weeks during the year to serve as hosts, providing meals and staying overnight.  In addition, IHN periodically calls us to serve when they need additional hosts. One family, or several people, can sign up for a specific day of the week to serve.

Prepare and Deliver a Meal: What’s Involved?

What Kind of Meal? The meal can be as simple as Sloppy Joes, chips, salad, and cookies or whatever you would like to prepare.  

Who Delivers the Meal? If possible, we ask the meal preparers to deliver the food to The Schneider House of Hope (Xenia) by 5:00 p.m. on the day they have chosen.

Who Serves the Meal? It is not necessary to stay to serve the meal, but it is very rewarding to stay and share in fellowship with the families. All of the plates, utensils, and beverages are provided by the facility.  

Bedroom SmallPicWebStay Overnight as a Host: What’s Involved?

What Would I Do? The choice is yours! You can spend some time with the families, play with the children, help with homework, or stay in your room.

Where Would I Stay? Hosts stay at The Schneider House of Hope, a historic hotel in Xenia remodeled by volunteers to provide a very clean and pleasant home for these families. Hosts enjoy a nice, private, clean, safe, and secure room with two twin beds, TV, and a sitting area with your own half bath.

How Long Do I Stay? From 7:00 PM until 7:00 AM the next day.

Project Blessing

Serving lunch for the homeless

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Project Blessing, an outreach of St. Paul Lutheran Church, provides a hot meal on Mondays and Wednesdays to the homeless, impoverished, those needing temporary help in making ends meet, or simply in need of fellowship with others. Epiphany helps prepare and serve lunch six times a year. Meals are served by faithful volunteers from numerous local churches. Clothing needs of those served are also met.

How You Can Participate

  • Prepare and serve lunch
  • Prepare cookies 

Day of Caring Pancake Breakfast

Annual breakfast supporting homeless shelters & food pantries

 

Epiphany Lutheran Church

Far Hills Campus

Last Sunday in February
www.dayofcaring.us

Epiphany disciples and community neighbors gather to provide much needed support to the homeless shelters and food pantries of the Miami Valley and at the same time enjoy a wonderful meal at the annual Day of Caring Pancake breakfast brunch. Established in 1991, Day of Caring is a grass roots organization made up of volunteers committed to increasing personal awareness and involvement in confronting the ever-increasing plight of hunger and homelessness. Epiphany remains one of the largest sites serving the Day of Caring Brunch in the Miami Valley.  All proceeds benefit local Emergency Hunger and Housing Coalitions which fund food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in the Miami Valley.

How You Can Participate

•    Prepare and donate home-made egg casseroles
•    Donate food or beverage products for the brunch
•    Cook sausage and pancakes
•    Serve breakfast (buffet line) and hospitality
•    Event set up and clean up

Habitat for Humanity

Building Houses in Partnership with God’s People in Need

 

Site Location Varies by Year
www.daytonhabitat.org

The Dayton, Ohio Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, volunteer-driven Christian housing ministry dedicated to providing decent, affordable housing to families in need.  In partnership with God and people of faith and good will, Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate sub-standard housing in Montgomery County. Epiphany disciples donate their time and talent to help renovate and build affordable houses in safe communities that will strengthen individuals, their families, and their neighborhoods through home ownership.

How You Can Participate

This ministry seeks volunteers, trained and untrained, to complete the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Service days are typically on weekends. When the project is underway, crews will be scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The following are specific volunteers and skills needed for this ministry:

•    Coordinate volunteers
•    Food service
•    Carpentry
•    Concrete work
•    Electrical
•    Plumbing
•    Roofing
•    Siding and drywall installation
•    Painting
•    Wood trim and
•    Carpet laying