This summer, three students cared for people in need of hope and renewal here in Spokane by interning at Family Promise through the Office of Church Engagement’s Summer Fellowship Program. Family Promise of Spokane, a nonprofit with a mission to end family homelessness in Spokane County, employs several Whitworth alums, including Lucy Pearson ’24. After serving as an OCE Summer Fellow at Family Promise herself a few summers ago, Pearson served as the site supervisor for this year’s fellows, Annah Wibel ’27, Celeste Depew ’27 and Vivyetta Hirschfelder ’26.
Wibel, a theology major, assisted on the organization’s Get Housing team. “One of the most rewarding parts of working at Family Promise has been having my heart and my eyes opened to the reality of homelessness in our city in a way that feels so incredibly personal, human, unique and hopeful in the sense that there is a way out and there is a way forward,” she says. “The Lord is making it abundantly clear to me through my time and the people at Family Promise how close he is to those who are going through really difficult things.”
Depew, a double major in psychology and English, served on Family Promise’s Keep Housing team. “I’m learning many things that I think will apply later wherever I go – trauma-informed responses, navigating the stresses of a nonprofit, working with a team…” Depew says. “The experience in group meetings with Lucy has influenced my faith walk through talking about justice and God’s abundance.”
For 12 years, the Summer Fellowship Program has offered an opportunity for Whitworth students to consider connections between faith and vocation while serving at ministries and nonprofits locally and regionally. This summer, 18 students in total participated in the program at a dozen sites in Washington, Idaho and California. We thank the donors to the Summer Fellowship Program who continue to help make these fellowship positions sustainable!
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