Although hungry for food, she had an even greater hunger for human contact. Karen stayed about 20 minutes with the woman, listening to her story. After that experience, Karen and her two children began to take food to homeless people on the streets of New York in the evening. That was the beginning. There are now 65 networks in 24 states.
Volunteers bring in the evening meal, while other volunteers visit with the families.
Two volunteers stay overnight with the guest families and make breakfast for them in the morning, as well as a sack lunch. Adults may leave for work, look for work, or go to other service agencies. Providing a supportive community church for dinner and whatever evening activities may be scheduled. Portable beds for the families are provided by the Network and are moved by volunteers on Sunday afternoons to the next church on rotation. A family loses its house to a fire.