Austin's Place - An Emergency Shelter for Homeless Women in the Champaign Urbana Area

Again this winter season, beginning December 1, 2011,  and running through March 31, 2012, Austin’s’ Place will provide emergency overnight shelter for women.  This will be the fifth winter that Austin’s Place has been open.  Austin’s Place is the only emergency shelter for single women in Champaign County. 

Austin’s Place operates solely on volunteer effort. Last year we had nearly 100 volunteers who stayed overnight at the shelter, who drove the van transporting women, who did laundry, who made phone calls, and who solicited and collected donations. Austin’s Place does not happen without volunteers. So our prayer this season is twofold -- first, that homeless women in Champaign will find a warm, safe place to stay in Austin’s Place, and second that God will provide us with volunteers needed to keep Austin’s Place open each night during the coldest part of winter.


Rev. Mary Brady
Associate Pastor of Discipleship
Austin’s Place Adviser
FUMC

 
“In a time when so many churches choose to serve communities located in rural or suburban areas, I am inspired by First United Methodist’s local outreach commitment to serving the Downtown Champaign community. Serving this community has proven to be needed, and accepted, by those we serve.” 

Cathy Koerber,  Austin’s Place
Volunteer Coordinator 2007-2009

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First United Methodist Church (FUMC)
of Champaign, Downtown

210 W. Church Street
Champaign, IL   61820

Phone 217 356-9078, 
Fax 217 356-9270

www.champaignfumc.org