Meet Jane

(originally published on February 4th, 2021)

Our volunteer profiles return today! Learn more about Jane Lurvey who has been the Volunteer Coordinator for Delafield Prebysterian since the inception of Family Promise of Waukesha County!

“People helping people” has always been an unofficial motto of Delafield Presbyterian Church. We have done many mission projects ranging from helping people in the south after Hurricane Katrina, making little dresses for Africa, serving meals for Loaves and Fishes, implementing Human Traffic Awareness and supporting Delafield’s low-income housing with school supplies and Christmas gifts. So, in 2013 when the opportunity presented itself for our church to explore the possibility of helping homeless families in Waukesha County, I volunteered to find out what our church could do. After about a year of dreaming and planning Delafield Presbyterian became one of the first host churches to sign on to this extraordinary project. I could not think of a better way to carry out the mission of helping people in need.

I retired in 2014 to devote my time to get Family Promise hosting started in our church. I offered to be the Volunteer Coordinator along with Liz Furse as co-chair with me, to attend meetings, recruit and train our 50 volunteers, schedule the 4 times a year guest week, collect much needed supplies, answer questions and send out communications. After a couple of years, we were lucky enough to have The Evangelical and Reform Church from Waukesha become our support church. We welcomed their 25 volunteers and Sue Kuhtz, as co-chair, into our partnership.

As we look forward to a safe and healthier 2021, my hope is to reconnect with all our volunteers and welcome new families. Until it is safe, we will help support the Apartment Shelter Program and the Alumni Program through supplies, gift cards and meals. “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world” is the guide I have tried to live by. When you can connect with a smile, kind words, or lend a helping hand, that is the reason to continue doing your best to help each Family Promise family in need to help regain and retain their independence. It also says that we care!