Imagine walking through the streets with the weight of uncertainty pressing down your every step. Imagine finding a place where warmth, safety and hope seem unreachable. Now imagine looking down and finding a hand in yours. Your child, your responsibility, looking to you for answers you don’t have. This is the reality of 558 individuals in 2023 in Wilmington, N.C. identified by the Port City Daily in their article “Trespassing up as homeless population scatters: Officials differ on how to proceed.” It is estimated that this number has increased 60% in 2025. However, with the nonprofit Family Promise there is a place where this dream of security could come true for those struggling with poverty and homelessness. This organization not only offers shelter but a metaphorical light in the darkness to families that have been exposed to trauma and homelessness. Some of these benefits are affordable housing, meal donations, resources for trauma recovery and a belief in second chances.
The Original Promise
Family Promise started with a simple act of kindness. A women named Karen Olsen purchased a sandwich for another woman, Millie, outside of her office building in New York City. Millie wasn’t dressed up ready for a meeting like Olsen, she was instead bundled in blankets and bags surrounding her—one bag as a pillow, others filled with her last mementos. Millie accepted the sandwich with a smile but in return asked for something much more personal: company. They sat for hours, Millie giving insight into what it was like to live in the shadows of society and Karen asking how to help.
Karen created a connection with those who found themselves to be lost. She felt driven to find a way to give more than just sandwiches to those who were left cold. She rallied others who wanted to be a part of change and went door to door asking YMCAs to provide showers and a family day center. Then, with the purchase of a discounted van in 1986, the first branch was formed on Oct. 27.
In 1988, words began to spread and inspire. Many other regions began to make their own similar programs and branches. Then the first title was formed: National Interfaith Hospitality Network. Stated on their personal website, Family Promise – History, “In addition to shelter, meals, housing, and job-seeking support, our Affiliates began developing programs for transitional housing, childcare, and homelessness prevention.”
Nationally, they began to focus on families rather than just individuals, as they began to seek more care and were more in need of a greater quantity of resources. In 1992, National Interfaith Hospitality Network was awarded one of the “21 points of light” by President Bush, out of a competition of 4,500 nominees. This established the organization as one of the top volunteer agencies in the country. They finally declared themselves as Family Promise in 2003 to declare their message and sense of commitment to their promise.
Continuing The Promise Through You
I personally had the experience of volunteering for the Family Promise Interim Executive Director, Angie Hill. The church I attend, Venture Church , hosted an event for us to be able to come and bring service to the community. This is when I got to sit down with Hill and learn more about this non-profit. She began spreading the message of Family Promise and describing the processes of how they help these individuals. She stated, “We have a variety of single mothers, fathers, generational families like grandma, daughter and granddaughter, we don’t single out one type of family or one type of homelessness. We have a variety of people coming from couch surfing to straight off the street. We don’t want to discriminate or make anyone feel more alone than they might already.”
Hill also discussed the strain of having only two people on the staff board and the increasing amount of support the community can bring to this cause. When asked what locals can do to encourage the end of homelessness in Wilmington, Hill provided a list of ways to get involved and support their mission of helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. “We have people that do grand meal drops to the community center and different food drives,” Hill said, explaining different volunteer opportunities. “Each family in each unit also has a cooler that resides right outside of the entrance where citizens can drop off individual family meals. They can also give physical labor, like moving furniture and yard work.”
They also have an economic donation opportunity on their website. Within the money donations they have a challenge called “Family 1st Champions” where you donate a dollar a day ($30 a month) to the contribution of providing shelter, case management and food to their homeless families. Each complex comes fully furnished with a kitchen, dining room, restrooms and bedrooms. With Family Promise and their services, you can help be the reason someone gets a second chance to live happily and safely.
For more information about Family Promise’s mission visit their website.
