Sign In Forgot Password

Interfaith Hospitality Network

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County (IHN) provides emergency shelter and a host of other support services to homeless families through a network of houses of worship throughout Essex County.  For many years, Bnai Keshet has hosted guests from IHN at Red Gables for one week each summer. Although we have taken a break from hosting, there are many ways members of our congregation can continue to support IHN.

Shomrei Emunah hosts twice a year (the last week in December as well as a week in the summer) and BK has always helped them fill some of the slots on their volunteer grid.

At times when there is no host congregation available, families are housed in a hotel for a week.  When this happens, dinner providers are needed.

We also support IHN by contributing to their Thanksgiving food drive, holiday gift card drive and back to school supplies drive.

IHN runs an after school tutoring program at their office (46 Park Street) for children in their program. If you or your teen are interested in tutoring, contact IHN to learn more.

Consider donating your old car to IHN.  Having transportation to get to work makes a huge difference to a family emerging from homelessness.

Visit IHN’s website at www.ihnessexnj.org to learn more.  Follow IHN on Facebook to keep up with activities and events.  During the past year there were several fundraisers, including a night of Broadway songs performed by Broadway actors who reside in Essex County, as well as a 5K Walk/Run. 

IHN holds an annual fundraising breakfast at Mayfair Farms in West Orange in October. It is an amazing, inspiring event that lasts just one hour. If you’ve never been, please go. Admission is free but they hope you will contribute and help spread the word about their work.

If you would like Bnai Keshet to resume acting as a host congregation in the summer of 2019, help us find BK’s next IHN Coordinators!  There’s a notebook of information and lists of tasks to be done.  Former coordinators Beth Fuqua, Anne Gelman, and Jill Jeszeck are available for support and guidance.

To be added to Bnai Keshet’s IHN Volunteer list, please email Beth Fuqua at QUABEL4@aol.com.

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784