About IHN

Rochester Area's Interfaith Hospitality Network

The Rochester Area's Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN) is a network of 36 faith communities (as of Dec. 2008) who provide food, shelter, and case management for this area's homeless families-families with children. Executive Director Nancy Elliott whose office is located at 34 Meigs Street heads RAIHN. Our local network is part of the national Interfaith Hospitality Network that is active in many cities around the country.

History

Third Presbyterian Church, a host congregation, and its partner and support congregation, New Life Presbyterian Church, have participated in 18 IHN rotations or service weeks (as of Dec. 2008) since RAIHN opened its doors in April 2004. Our two congregations have provided over 80 volunteers who give direct service, food and shelter, evening and overnight hosting, recreational activities, and indirect services such as supplies and food shopping, laundry, set up and tear down.

2009 Recap

2009 was a busy and successful year for Third Church's IHN team. In 2009 alone, Rochester Area's IHN served 28 families or 84 individual guests. Our volunteers logged over 2,000 hours of volunteer time. We can look forward to needing many fewer volunteers for set-up and take-down during our stays at Incarnate Word during construction.

Fund Raising

• RAIHN generally grosses over $1,000 from sales during Pittsford Plaza's "Shop-Till-You Drop" fundraiser.
• Holiday gift certificates to benefit IHN will be available at our Alternative Christmas Market in early December.