Family Promise of Effingham volunteers are sporting new t-shirts to get the word out that "falling asleep in church is such a blessing."

An order form for the shirt is posted at http://effinghamfamilypromise.org/t-shirts. A donation of at least $15 to Family Promise is requested.

Several churches, the United Way, the Effingham County School District and local volunteers have formed an Effingham chapter of Family Promise to help the county’s homeless. Family Promise of Effingham County has been meeting monthly since January and is in the process of raising money.

The t-shirt slogan refers to a key element of Family Promise: having churches serve as hosts for homeless families as they get back on their feet. Family Promise of Effingham has commitments from several local churches so far, and is looking for more.

Churches will host families, up to 14 people at a time, from Sunday evening to the following Sunday morning. The church serves the family dinner each night and gives them a place to sleep, with Family Promise providing the beds.

The families are not at the host church during the day. The children attend school and the adults spend the day at work or at the Family Promise day center.

To get involved with Family Promise or for more information, call Julie Dickey of the United Way of Effingham County at 826-5300 or email jdickey@uwce.org. To learn more about Family Promise, visit www.familypromise.org.