This is the Creative Ideas page.

Welcoming

- Create small goody bags for each family to give them when they arrive.  You can fill the bags will small hotel soaps/shampoos, stickers for kids, a piece of fruit, etc.

- Have your congregation's youth prepare welcome signs for each sleeping area/room with the names of the family members.

Here's our congregation's sign-up board:

Carole Marple, Pilgrim Church, figured out a way to print small magnets (pictured here) using a Publisher template on magnetic paper.  She prints a set of magnets for each day of the hosting week so that when volunteers sign up on her volunteer board, they take a magnet with them, reminding them of their date, to put on the refrigerator back at home.  What a clever idea!  See the Images and Files page for a copy of Carole's template or email Carole directly for more information:  Carole Marple.

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At the Hills Church, we are very excited about our upcoming first hosting week.  At a recent training, I noticed a certain anxiety level among volunteers about the logistics of hosting, so we are holding an orientation for our volunteers, one week prior to our first hosting, in an informal q&a format to answer questions such as "where will overnight hosts sleep?" and "what bathrooms will be used?"  We'll also have a walk through to show volunteers where supplies are kept, sleeping arrangements, etc.  Laurie Otten, acting coordinator, WHCC

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Watch this space for pictures of the quilts designed and made by the Wellesley Hills Church quilters for our MIHN guests.  Five will be ready for first hosting, and another 5 are in process!