As the chill of winter begins to set in, we are reaching out to you this Giving Tuesday to invite you to be a beacon of hope for those who need it most – those individuals in our community experiencing homelessness. Every night, we open our doors to provide a safe, warm, and dry haven for those who have no place to call home. The impact of your generosity can be immeasurable in the lives of our residents on their journey to finding the way home to homes of their own. With the festive season upon us, now is the time to make a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Your donations ..read more

Welcome back to another installment in our “Meet Our Guests” series! Today, we’re delighted to share the inspiring journeys of Alan and Duane as they rebuild their lives, one step at a time. These stories were written by our Director, Harrison Holtkamp, and originally shared via email with our friends and supporters. If you’d like to join our email list, fill out the form here.  At the end of this article, you’ll find links to previous stories in this heartfelt series and learn how you can help. So, without further ado, let’s meet Alan and Duane. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts ..read more

When it comes to charitable giving, recurring donations are a bit like the superhero of the nonprofit world. They offer steady, reliable support that allows organizations to plan ahead and make a lasting impact. But did you know that monthly giving is beneficial for donors, too? Let’s explore why recurring donations are truly a win-win for everyone involved. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) What Is a Recurring Donation? First, let’s make sure we’re on the same page by explaining what we m ..read more

Communities thrive when every member is cared for and valued. The concept of ‘creating communities that care’ is rooted in ensuring that every individual’s needs are met, from basic necessities to emotional support. In this piece, we’ll discuss the crucial components that make a community stand out as supportive and inclusive. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1) Entry-Level Jobs Entry-level jobs open doors. They provide opportunities for people just starting out (or those getting back on their feet) by offering a reliable paycheck and a stepping ston ..read more

Hello again, and welcome back to our “Meet Our Guests” series! Today, we’re excited to share some examples of the creative ways our team helps our guests–with valuable support from community partners. It’s all about coming together to find solutions, one person at a time. For more inspirational stories like these, check out our previous “Meet Our Guests” posts: Rita and Jimmy and Olivia and Steve. You can also get more heartwarming stories just like this in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. Now, let’s meet Adam and Oscar!  For the body does not consist of one member but of many ..read more

What goes into running a homeless shelter? For most of us, the day-to-day operations and challenges of managing such an important community resource go unseen. At the heart of Interfaith Community PADS (ICPADS), a great deal of responsibility falls on the shoulders of our Director, Harrison Holtkamp.  From administration to hands-on work, his dedication and commitment to the shelter keep it running smoothly and efficiently. Harrison’s typical day is filled with endless responsibilities, each vital to the well-being and safety of our guests.  In this interview with Harrison, we invite ..read more

When we hear the word “home,” we often picture a physical structure. We envision walls that shelter us from the elements, a roof overhead, and rooms filled with our possessions.  It’s true that a home involves a physical location, but it doesn’t end there. Home is a profound aspect of the human experience. It stirs up emotions like security, independence, pride, and connection.  At Interfaith Community PADS, we provide temporary shelter to guests. In the process, we work hard to evoke that sense of security, independence, pride, and connection.   And when we help our guests ..read more

Welcome back to our “Meet Our Guests” series! Through these posts, we aim to offer you a glimpse into the real lives of the guests we serve at Interfaith Community PADS. In our first article, we had the pleasure of introducing you to Olivia and Steve, two incredibly strong individuals navigating their unique journeys with resilience. Now, we’re excited to introduce you to two more inspiring guests: Rita and Jimmy. By sharing these personal stories, we aim to foster deeper empathy and understanding within our community, and to shed light on the struggles and triumphs that our guests experience ..read more

Did you know that so far in 2023, we have served almost 10,000 meals to guests at our shelter? Where does all that food come from? And what does it take to make it all happen? The answer to both questions is simple: COMMUNITY SUPPORT!  As we will show in this article, it takes the entire community to feed our guests every day. We will explain six ways Interfaith Community PADS gets food and what it takes to put together nutritious meals every day. But first… An Important Caveat An important factor in the food that we can accept at ICPADS is that any prepared food we receive must be made i ..read more

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, you may notice more individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. Maybe they’re sitting on a park bench, seeking shelter under a tree, or holding up signs at busy intersections. Seeing these scenes, a question might pop into your head: is homelessness a choice? While it sounds straightforward, it’s actually a complex issue that doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. At Interfaith Community PADS, we meet people every day who have different stories about their path to homelessness. In this article, we’ll share what we’ve learned fr ..read more