For years, Friendship House Roanoke has been a haven in the middle of Roanoke for our neighbors. Located on Elm Avenue in the Old Southwest Neighborhood, it is typically bustling with activity where neighbors come face-to-face with local Christians who love them through meeting spiritual, physical, and educational needs.
Four afternoons a week, dozens of children from the neighborhood attend Friendship House’s after-school program. Kids from all walks of life and circumstances descend on Friendship House each day. Regardless of their background, the children are seen as children made by the Lord, their Creator and are loved as fellow image-bearers. Each day the children are assisted with homework, given a safe place to play, provided healthy food options, and are given instruction in “labs” taught by community partners, such as local banks and the city library.
But more importantly, the children are taught the Word of God each day. They are prayed for. They memorize God’s Word. The staff at Friendship House point them continually to God and his great character and the saving work of Jesus in the gospel.
Additionally, for three years Friendship House has provided a fully-furnished, safe apartment for families who are fleeing violence from around the world through our temporary refugee housing program. While staying with us, their children are welcomed into the after-school program while we help the family get acquainted with Roanoke. Volunteers from various local churches are quick to reach out to the families to welcome them into their homes for meals and offer English language tutoring.
Finally, Friendship House seeks to love its neighbors through a weekly food pantry where boxes of food are given out to families and individuals in need. Prayer and pastoral counseling is offered to participants through a partnership with Blue Ridge Christian Counseling. Typically, Friendship House provides 40 boxes of food per week.
When COVID-19 began to spread quickly in March 2020, things changed quickly at Friendship House as well. The after-school program had to be suspended due to public health concerns and at the direction of our federal, state, and local officials. While the after-school program temporarily closed, the food pantry quickly tripled in size! On average, 120 boxes of food are being handed out or delivered to shut-ins each week as the need within the community grew. People are losing jobs and needed food and support, so Friendship House is standing fast to remain a haven for them. God has graciously provided for this increase in need through surprise donations of food from new sources. We haven’t had to turn anyone away so far. As the crisis continues, we are in need of more partners in prayer, in-kind donations to help keep the pantry shelves full, and financial assistance to support the staff as they work hard to meet the needs of our neighbors.
As the world around us continues in a time of turmoil and uncertainty, Friendship House Roanoke is determined to be a constant presence for those in our community. We offer comfort in a time of distress. We strive to provide food for the hungry. We continue to point to the Lord as our help and our deliverer. As we work to faithfully serve the surrounding community with the grace, mercy and teaching found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we invite you to join us! For more information, please continue looking through our website. You can also find us on Facebook here or email us at fhroanoke@gmail.com.
