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Founding member shares his insights on 10 Years of service
Gratitude
Family Promise of Waukesha County would not be here today without all of those who helped start the organization. There is a wise saying, that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Meaning that we celebrate the achievements of our ancestors, their legacies, and how we continue to be connected to their work.
We are grateful to all those who were involved in creating a foundation for Family Promise of Waukesha County. There are many upon whose shoulders Family Promise stands today. One of those is Denney Zenge, one of the founding members of Family Promise of Waukesha County. He provided the memories and insights below into the early days until now.
How are/were you involved in Family Promise over the past ten years?
I was one of the founding members in 2012. Initially, I was the Vice President, Treasurer, a member of the Transportation Committee and of the Recruiting Team.
What motivated you to get involved?
I was previously involved in an Oconomowoc homeless assistance program run by one woman and a few volunteers. It folded after a few years.
What challenges have you experienced during your involvement?
My biggest challenge was as part of the Recruiting Team, I visited many churches and service organizations to give presentations on the need for Family Promise in this area. Convincing people in this wealthiest county in WI that there actually were homeless people around us who needed our help.
What successes have you experienced during your involvement?
We spent many months searching for a Center that was adequate for our needs and centrally located. The Wales location was a good start, but lack of transportation was a big hurdle to helping as many families as we could. I am so proud of the success of the Waukesha Center and the work being done there!
What are the highlights of your connection to Family Promise over the years?
Seeing how willing people are to donate their time, talents, household goods and clothing and, of course, their money, to help families in need who they never even met before.
Please share a story that captures the essence of Family Promise
The early monthly group meetings to create a strategy for what we hoped to accomplish was attended by a growing number of people from surrounding communities. There was surprisingly little disagreement with this mix of volunteers, which attests to the desire and commitment of all of us to do what we could to alleviate the hardships of our homeless neighbors.
What are your hopes for Family Promise of Waukesha County for the future?
I am so proud of the success that Family Promise of Waukesha County has become. It started out small with good intentions, and thanks to Joe and all of his staff, it has been what I consider to be a great endeavor to help the homeless in our area.
We invite you to share your stories. You can do so by completing the form online, or send us a note (info@familypromisewaukeshawi.org) answering any of the questions below.
How were/are you involved in Family Promise over the ten years?
What motivated you to get involved?
What are the highlights of your connection to Family Promise over the years?
What challenges have you experienced in your involvement?
What successes have you seen?
Please share a story that captures the essence of Family Promise
What are your hopes for Family Promise for the next ten years?