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Families Moving Forward Essentials

Some Durham legends are returning to the table. And we're thrilled about it! Please welcome Matt Kelly of Nanas and Chris Garrett of Seraphine back to the Chefs for Change Gala! Both Matt and Chris have been longtime friends and supporters of Families Moving Forward, and we couldn’t be happier to have them in the kitchen for another night of incredible food and even better company. They’re also two chefs who have helped shape Durham’s food scene into what it is today. Between the MICHELIN Guide accolades, awards, and full dining rooms, we could probably write an entire post about what they’ve accomplished.👀 But we’d rather let the food do the talking. So consider this your latest breadcrumb: two highly acclaimed Durham chefs + more surprises to come + one very delicious Gala + supporting children & families = a night you won't want to miss! 🎟️ Tickets go on sale September 14, with Early Bird pricing available for a limited time. More chefs. More surprises. More reasons to save the date (11/5/26). #ChefsForChange #FMFGala #FamiliesMovingForward #DurhamNC #NanasDurham #SeraphineDurham

A little something sweet is coming… We’re thrilled to announce that Chris McLaurin of Lutra Cafe & Bakery is bringing his seriously incredible desserts back to the Chefs for Change Gala and Auction on November 5th! And if you’ve ever tasted Chris’s creations, you already know that “save room for dessert” is less of a suggestion and more of a survival strategy. If you haven’t discovered Lutra Cafe & Bakery yet, consider this your delicious nudge. Go. Try something. Thank us later. And if you want to experience Chris’s desserts alongside courses from some of Durham’s finest chefs, you’ll want to mark your calendar: Tickets go on sale September 14! Early bird tickets will be available for a limited time. Stay tuned. We’ve got more deliciousness to reveal before the big day. 👀 #ChefsForChange #FMFGala #familiesmovingforwardnc #DurhamNC #LutraCafe #savethedateideas

Do your part to help Durham lick family homelessness by visiting @theparlourdurham during the month of June! Gather your office mates for a midday break, round up your team for a post-game treat, or top off a night downtown by swinging by 117 Market St. And don't forget to order the special that supports the work of FMF! If there was ever guilt-free ice cream, this is it. Thank you to Yoni and Vanessa, aka Mr. and Mrs. Parlour, for helping make Durham a sweeter place for ALL families. #TheParlourDurham #familiesmovingforwardnc #ShopLocalDurham #icecreamtime❤️ #communitymatters #DurhamNC

Last week, our team wore purple to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month and stand in solidarity with survivors, families, and all those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence. More than half of the families we serve at FMF report experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. This is one of the many reasons a trauma-informed approach is so important to our work. Every family deserves to be met with compassion, dignity, and the support they need to build a safe and stable future. We are deeply grateful for our community partners, especially the Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC), who help ensure families have access to additional support, resources, and care when they need it most. To everyone experiencing or fleeing domestic violence, we see you, we stand with you, and you deserve safety and support. To those who have lost loved ones to domestic violence, we hold you in our hearts. May we continue to show up for survivors, strengthen the resources available to families, and work together toward a future where every person can feel safe at home. #DVAM2026 #WithSurvivors #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #SurvivorsDeserveAction #SafeHomesStrongerFamilies #BreakTheCycle #DurhamNC #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter

Mary Elizabeth Huneycutt is a Programming Intern at FMF this year. She is a first-year student at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Master of Social Work program and attained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology from UNC-CH in May 2026. Mary Elizabeth loves working with children and has a lot of experience in different settings with kids. She is excited to spend more time in the Durham area this year and learn at FMF! #socialworkstudents #socialworkinterns♥️ #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter #UNCSSW #2genapproach #FamilySuccess

The kiddos may have been heading back to school, but last week, the FMF staff decided we deserved a little fun, too! From silly socks and throwback decades to animal antics, school spirit, and favorite characters, we packed Spirit Week with plenty of laughs and questionable fashion choices. So, please enjoy these pictures of our staff embracing the creativity and a little competition! We take our work seriously. Our Spirit Week outfits? Not so much. #SpiritWeek #BackToSchool #FamiliesMovingForward #FMF #WorkplaceFun #familiesmovingforwardnc

Wanted: Individuals willing to... ✔ Make difficult decisions. ✔ Read budgets for fun. ✔ Dream big while keeping us grounded. ✔ Ask thoughtful questions. ✔ Protect our mission. ✔ Safeguard our financial future. ✔ Believe deeply that every child deserves a safe, stable home. That's quite a job description, especially when you're not being paid! Thankfully, FMF is able to recruit dedicated volunteers who are willing to do all those things and more, including pose for pictures. Today we're celebrating our incredible Board of Directors, whose volunteer leadership helps Families Moving Forward stay strong, stable, and focused on what matters most: helping families move from homelessness to home. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and hearts with us and the Durham community! #familiesmovingforwardnc #BoardAppreciation #ThankYouVolunteers #CommunityService #MakingADifference #DurhamNC #bullcity

You did it Durham! You RAISED THE ROOF last night for families experiencing homelessness, and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. It was a magical evening full of amazing food, infectious beats, and the palpable love of a community coming together for something truly meaningful. The result? Together we raised over $39,000 to help children and families in Durham move toward safe, stable housing! There are so many people and organizations to thank, we simply don't have the space here, but you can see many of their names on our website at https://fmfnc.org/sponsors?blm_aid=0. Thank you to all the chefs, sponsors, partners, board members and other volunteers, FMF staff, and donors who showed up to help break the cycle of homelessness. And to those of you who threw down on the dance floor last night, mad respect. It was quite a show! We hope you ALL recover. If you missed Raisin' The Roof, don't despair. Our Annual Gala and Auction is just five months from today! #ChefsforChange #ThankYouDurham #RaisinTheRoof2026 #FamiliesMovingForwardNC #StrongerTogether #DurhamNC

Relive some of the fun of Raisin' The Roof! Photos, courtesy of the talented Satsuki "Sunshine" Scoville, can be viewed at: https://fmfnc.org/photos. Thank you again for joining us and if you missed this one, we hope to see you at the Gala on Nov. 5th! #familiesmovingforwardnc #chefsforchange #retroblockparty #supportlocaldurham💙🐂 #discoverdurhamnc #dancingforacause

Olivia Rossman is a programming intern at Families Moving Forward this year and is excited to join the team. She is a first-year MSW student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and hopes to focus her future work on trauma and interpersonal violence (IPV). Olivia graduated from American University in 2025, where she studied communications and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. In her free time, she enjoys reading, music, and hanging out with her cat. #socialworkstudents #socialworkinterns♥️ #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter #UNCSSW #2genapproach #FamilySuccess

Srijan Makkena is a programming intern at Families Moving Forward, where he works to support and enrich the ongoing programming efforts with adults and school-aged children staying with us. Srijan is in his first year of the MSW program at UNC-Chapel Hill. He completed his undergraduate degree this May in Psychology at Rutgers University, NJ. During his undergraduate years, Srijan worked as an administrative intern at a local nonprofit that provided programming for low-income families that had children with disabilities. He is excited to be at FMF and learn as much as he can. In his free time, Srijan enjoys reading, working out, listening to music, and watching cinema. #socialworkstudents #socialworkinterns♥️ #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter #UNCSSW

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing men we get to walk alongside each day. To the dads in our shelter and those waiting to find safe space — your strength and love for your children inspires us every single day. To the pops who've made it into housing and are working hard to build something better — we see you and are so proud of you. To every man who has stepped in and loved a child who needed it; a grandfather, an uncle, a friend, a mentor — you are a father in every way that matters. And today, we also hold space for those who find this day heavy. For those grieving the loss of a father. For those whose relationship with their dad is complicated or painful. For those longing to be fathers or missing children they love. Fatherhood looks so many different ways, and today we honor all of it; the joy, the resilience, and the quiet hard work of loving someone with your whole heart. #HappyFathersDay #DadAppreciation #FatherFigure #SupportFamilies #familiesmovingforwardnc

We are looking to hire! The Early Childhood Services Coordinator is responsible for supporting families with children from birth through Pre-K and pregnant mothers. Programmatic responsibilities include developmental screenings, developing and overseeing volunteer-led workshops and activities, conducting volunteer training, and leading the agency in appropriate early childhood care practices. This work requires being onsite and working directly with families and children residing in the shelter, along with volunteers and staff. For more information, visit www.fmfnc.org/employment. #DurhamJobs #EarlyChildhood #NonprofitJobs #NowHiring #JoinOurTeam #familiesmovingforwardnc #ChildhoodServices

Dust off your boots and come dance for a good cause! Motorco is hosting a night of line dancing on October 15 at 7 p.m., and $4 from every ticket benefits Families Moving Forward. Grab your friends, learn a few steps, and help support local families on their way home! Visit www.motorcomusic.com/event/line-dancing-2 to kick up some tickets! #MotorcoDurham #triangledancers #LineDancingFun #DurhamLineDancing #LineDancingForACause #familiesmovingforwardnc #endfamilyhomelessness #SupportLocalDurham

We are thrilled to share that Cocoa Cinnamon has chosen to support us via their Wonder Menu Drink: "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvel of Travelling." Grab yourself this iced macadamia milk matcha latte with rose, honey & cardamom and $1 will be donated to FMF! Feel free to get one every day. 🙂 If you want to add to the fun, we are having an informal matcha klatch Sept 24 at all three Cocoa Cinnamon locations - so if you have questions about FMF or family homelessness, we'd love to see you! #cocoacinnamondurham #familiesmovingforwardnc #SupportLocalDurham #durhamfoodiespots #DurhamCoffee #DineOutForAGoodCause

WE DID IT! Our Comfort Crew showed up BIG. We set out to raise $30,000 to replace all 100 mattresses in our shelter, and you helped us make it happen. Every. Single. Mattress. We are overwhelmed with gratitude and a little bit in awe of what this community can do when we come together. Over the course of this campaign, we watched kids, neighborhoods, churches and faith groups, businesses, longtime supporters, first-time donors, and people giving $5, $50, $500 and beyond all rally around one simple idea: families deserve a safe, comfortable place to rest while they find their way home. And together, you turned that idea into $30,000 and 100 new mattresses for families at Families Moving Forward. This is what community looks like. This is what generosity looks like. Honestly, this is what dreams are made of. To every person who donated, shared a post, rallied your friends, hosted a collection, cheered us on, or simply believed we could do it: THANK YOU. You are part of this story, and we could not be more grateful. We’ve tucked this campaign in with a very happy ending, but there’s plenty more to do. Stay connected because there is no sleeping on what we will do together! #sweetdreams #AGoodNightsSleep #DignityAndComfort #CommunityStrong #GenerosityInAction #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter

When we ask for donations like comforters, cleaning supplies, and household essentials, it often means something worth celebrating is happening... It means families are moving into permanent housing! Every time a room is emptied, our team gets to work preparing it for the next family who needs a safe place to land. Right now, we're preparing for an increase in move-ins over the coming weeks, and our shelves need a little help keeping up. Our most urgent needs are: Twin comforters, Laundry detergent, Multi-purpose cleaning spray, Disinfectant wipes, Bleach, Toilet paper, Trash bags Your generosity doesn't just help us stock our supply closet; it brings comfort and community support to families. If you'd like to donate, send Maryn a message or visit our Amazon Wishlist. #InKindDonations #CommunityCare #stocktheshelves #familiesmovingforwardnc #DurhamNC #bullcitylove

Marissa Detwiler is a social work intern at Families Moving Forward working with the Rapid Rehousing and Aftercare programs this year. Marissa is in her first year of the MSW program at North Carolina State University. Before graduate school, she studied psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and completed research with the Trauma and Resilience Lab. She is originally from Asheville and enjoys reading, hiking, and going to the movies. #socialworkstudents #socialworkinterns♥️ #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter #FamilySuccess #ncstatesocialwork

Octavia Bell has joined the FMF team as the new Early Childhood Coordinator. She brings a deep passion for supporting families and children, backed by over 16 years of experience as an Infant through School-Age teacher in childcare centers. Her professional background also includes work within the Public School System and providing childcare for families throughout the Triangle. Octavia is currently finalizing her degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Family Relations at North Carolina Central University. Outside of work, Octavia cherishes time with her family, Whether they are heading to the beach or trampoline parks, going bowling, or enjoying a game night at home, she is dedicated to creating lasting memories with her loved ones. #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildDevelopment #InvestingInKids #familysupport❤️ #FutureGenerations #familiesmovingforwardnc #morethanashelter

👀 Okay, Durham. This one is a little bit special. We’re thrilled to introduce Alex Catotti & Erin Kobler, the husband-and-wife chef team behind Restaurant Cornelia and The Vintner and The Baker, opening in Durham in Spring 2027. The two met on the opening team at Bellemore, fell in love, and worked alongside the most successful chefs and restaurateurs in Chicago, garnering multiple MICHELIN stars. Having conquered the Windy City, they decided to bring their shared love of food and hospitality back to Durham. And now, we get to introduce their talents to you. We’re honored to welcome Alex and Erin to the Chefs for Change table and can’t wait for you to taste what they’re bringing home. Consider this another breadcrumb. We have a feeling you’re going to want to follow this trail. 🎟️ Tickets go on sale September 14, with Early Bird pricing available for a limited time. #ChefsForChange #FMFGala #FamiliesMovingForward #DurhamNC #RestaurantCornelia #TheVintnerAndTheBaker

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👀 Okay, Durham.