KIN - CONNECT
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Start or Grow an Adult English Program
    • Volunteer >
      • LaMP
      • Embrace Program
      • Adult English Programs
      • 2nd Home
      • Occasional Opportunities
      • Translate/Interpret
    • Training >
      • Volunteer Adult English Teacher Training
      • ELL Volunteer Continuing Education
      • Cross-Cultural Communication Seminar
      • International Experience
      • Culture Orientation
    • Events & Festivals
    • Visit Businesses Owned by Local Internationals >
      • Restaurants
      • In-Home Medical Care
    • Finances & Donations
    • Personal Growth Resources
  • The Network
    • Partner Portal
    • Volunteer Portal
  • Resources for Local Internationals
    • 2nd Home for College Students
    • Immigration & Naturalization
    • Employment Assistance
    • Healthcare Resources
    • Driving Resources
    • Home Ownership & Money Management
  • Impact Stories
  • DONATE

A New Way to Welcome

3/25/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
2019 n06
Last week, a refugee family of nine arrived in Knoxville. It’s hard to find rental property to fit nine, so they had to wait in a hotel for a few days. 

Cindy Hood doesn’t want that to happen again.

PictureThe Hood family visited Welcome Houses in North Carolina.
For well over ten years, Cindy has worked (through Bridge Refugee Services and KIN) with refugees and other internationals in one Knoxville community. She and her family moved into the neighborhood three years ago. They found a house with a small apartment included, intending to provide a safe place for internationals to stay temporarily. But one apartment in one home won’t meet the needs.

In 2018, while volunteering with KIN, Cindy learned about Welcome Houses in North Carolina: a series of homes furnished to hold multiple families for short times at reasonable rates. She immediately knew Knoxville needed to join their network. 

After a series of meetings with KIN and other interested parties, Cindy began sharing her vision across Knoxville, raising money, and organizing a non-profit. She’s also looking for the right house. It needs to be in a safe and welcoming neighborhood but also close to public transportation, schools, and ministries such as a food pantry or clothes closet.

Cindy’s vision for Welcome House Knoxville exceeds meeting temporary housing needs. She sees it as a place where former guests return to encourage current residents and show them the possibilities for a good life here in Knoxville. She sees it as a place where interested locals can “dip their toe into” working with internationals: from dropping off a package of toilet paper to helping guests move into a more permanent home.

When Cindy works with refugees, she often thinks, “What if this were my family?” We would all want our families to have a safe, encouraging place to land in a new country. Welcome House Knoxville will make that possible.

READY TO BE INVOLVED?
Interested in Welcome House Knoxville? ‘Like’ their Facebook page, and/or reach out to Cindy at [email protected]. There are many ways to support this vital ministry, and Cindy would be happy to talk to you. 

​Editor's Note (9/2022): Welcome House Knoxville found a permanent location and is an official 501(c)3 nonprofit. They are now looking for a second location! You can still contact Cindy at the email above to tangibly bless Knoxville's very newest international neighbors.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    IMPACT

    Read the stories of Knoxville's local internationals and the volunteers who have impacted their lives. Get a first-hand view of what it's like to move here and/or to serve those who've moved here from other countries. Discover how KIN has impacted life and culture in metro Knoxville.

    Archives

    August 2024
    May 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018

    Categories

    All
    Accent
    Adult English Class
    Afghanistan
    Africa
    Asia
    Asylees
    Behind The Scenes
    Birthday
    Children
    China
    Christmas
    Citizenship
    Covid
    Culture Class
    Donations
    Driving
    ELL
    Embrace
    Families
    Field Trip
    Food
    Healthcare
    History
    Home Ownership
    Hospitality
    Immigrant
    Immigrant Heritage Month
    Intern
    Internationals
    INVEST
    Iraq
    KIN
    LaMP
    Library
    Mental Health
    Mentoring
    Middle East
    Multi-cultural Celebration
    Nations Next Door
    Partner Organization
    Reading
    Refugees
    Restaurant
    School
    Special Immigrant Visa
    Students
    Teachers
    Thailand
    Thanksgiving
    Transportation
    Tutoring
    Ukraine
    Venezuela
    Volunteer
    Volunteers
    World Refugee Day

    RSS Feed

About

Why KIN?
​Our Team
​KIN's History
Statement of Faith
Numbers & Need
KIN in the News

Contact KIN

865.235.1476​
[email protected]

Mailing
PO Box 31052
Knoxville, TN 37930
​
Office
6300 Deane Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919
A proud member of
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos from shixart1985, jonkriz, shixart1985, Jocey K, Rod Waddington
  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Start or Grow an Adult English Program
    • Volunteer >
      • LaMP
      • Embrace Program
      • Adult English Programs
      • 2nd Home
      • Occasional Opportunities
      • Translate/Interpret
    • Training >
      • Volunteer Adult English Teacher Training
      • ELL Volunteer Continuing Education
      • Cross-Cultural Communication Seminar
      • International Experience
      • Culture Orientation
    • Events & Festivals
    • Visit Businesses Owned by Local Internationals >
      • Restaurants
      • In-Home Medical Care
    • Finances & Donations
    • Personal Growth Resources
  • The Network
    • Partner Portal
    • Volunteer Portal
  • Resources for Local Internationals
    • 2nd Home for College Students
    • Immigration & Naturalization
    • Employment Assistance
    • Healthcare Resources
    • Driving Resources
    • Home Ownership & Money Management
  • Impact Stories
  • DONATE