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From Our House to Yours
June 2016
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| Welcome to those who are receiving the Dorothy Day House eNewsletter for the first time. We hope you enjoy learning a little bit about the daily happenings in the DDH and that the eNewsletter will be a regular reminder of our need for your prayerful and financial support. |
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Day-by-Day...An Update from Sister Maureen
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Over the past month, we have talked to a number of DDH visitors about our expansion plans. As they looked at the posted pictures of the four houses we hope to buy, their reactions have been varied:
"How exciting!"
"How in the world is that possible?"
"Isn't that too ambitious?"
"Let me know what I can do to help."
"How can you do that?"
We have those same reactions (all of them!) nearly everyday! At moments, our plans seem absurd...and at other moments, they make perfect sense.
We know that we had those same reactions back in 2004 when we first began to talk about a transitional home...a ministry created with the charism of Dorothy Day in mind. The dream seemed too big; the venture seemed like an impossibility. And yet here we are, ten years later, celebrating a ministry to homeless families and grateful for where we have come.
Reaching this moment in time has only been possible through God's grace and the hundreds of people who have walked the journey with us. It is those two things that will make our new dream possible!
How can you help?
Please introduce your family, friends and co-workers to the DDH. Tell them about our outreach to homeless families...help us grow our network of supporters.
Pray for us. We have a saying posted next to the pictures of the four houses. It says, "Let your faith be stronger than your fear." That's a real challenge, but one we must face every day.
If this new dream is going to come true, we need your support and prayer!
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Chandler Schneider is off to Graduate School
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For the past year, Chandler Schneider, a VISTA member, has served as the DDH Volunteer Coordinator. He has helped keep us on track with the hundreds of people (nearly 250 just this year!) who help in the house and with our fundraisers. We are happy, and yet unhappy, to announce that Chandler's time with us will end on July 22nd. Now that his year of VISTA service is over, he will be begin a graduate program at the University of Memphis.
Thank you, Chandler! Thank you for always working on any project that needed to be done. Your generosity and dedication connected hundreds of people to service through the Dorothy Day House. We will miss you.
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The Dorothy Day House will be a little mismatched for a short time. We announced our new logo and color scheme in early May. However, we still have letterhead, envelopes, etc. with the sketch of the house logo that we will use until it is gone, so we are not wasteful. Please bear with us as we transition to our new look.
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Nike Volunteer Project Day
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At the DDH, the families who live here take care of the day to day cleaning, but service groups like Nike's help us take care of big projects. This group of women from Nike worked so hard for us. They painted the back porch and deep-cleaned the house. Thank you to Annie A., Dorothy A., Jennifer M., Mona G, and Theresa S., and thank you to Toni B. for coordinating this time of service.
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DDH is Charity Spotlight of Memphis Redbirds Game
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A chance of a lifetime...the opportunity to throw out the first pitch for a Redbirds game. Larry McBride, our Board vice-chair, enjoyed that challenge when the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club selected us as their Spotlight Charity for the Redbirds game on June 3. In addition, LPBC provided a number of game tickets to the DDH, and we were featured with several announcements and a video about the DDH before the game and
between innings. Thanks LPBC for helping to spread the word about the DDH.
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| Each last Tuesday of the month, we host a "Lunch and Learn" event. It is an opportunity for people who are unfamiliar with the DDHH to hear about our ministry to homeless families, tour the house, and enjoy a free lunch. Our next Lunch and Learn is Tuesday, July 26th. Please contact Lea Carr at 901-232-2421 if you or someone you know would like to attend. |
| "Sunday at Six" is a casual opportunity for volunteers to serve at the DDH. This ministry was formed by prayer, and we feel it is essential to provide an occasion where we can come together, pray, and join in fellowship (and enjoy dessert)! We gather with volunteers, board members, donors, DDH families, and friends at 6:00pm. We pray around 6:20 and then enjoy a dessert that is brought by a volunteer. The evening wraps up around 7pm. Come as you are, bring a friend, bring your family, and children are welcome. If you would like to volunteer to bring dessert for a future date, please sign up online here or contact Chandler Schneider at 901-726-6760. |
| Each Monday, the Dorothy Day House has a family supper provided by individuals, families, or small groups. Volunteers have an opportunity to provide a simple meal and hopefully join us to enjoy time around the dining room table. If you are interested in volunteering for a future date, please sign up online here or contact Chandler Schneider at 901-726-6760. |
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From the Teachings of Dorothy Day
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"Does God have a set way of prayer, a way that He expects each of us to follow? I doubt it. I believe some people-- lots of people-- pray through the witness of their lives, through the work they do, the friendships they have, the love they offer people and receive from people. Since when are words the only acceptable form of prayer?"
~ Dorothy Day
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- Small bottles of Pine-Sol
- Kroger gift cards
- "Forever" stamps
- Paper towels
- Diapers, size 3 and size 6
- Pull-ups for boys, size 4T-5T
- Baby wipes
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Pasta and sauce
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Our Mission
Rooted in the tradition of the Gospels and inspired by the vision and passion of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement, the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality provides temporary housing and support services for homeless families in Memphis, TN. Working with other local agencies, staff members and volunteers provide families in need with a safe environment and the means to re-establish their independence. All guests are welcomed as Christ with no discrimination.
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Our Board
Alison Powers
Chair of the Board
- Lea Carr
- Barbara Higgins
- Pierre Landaiche
- Larry McBride
- Mike McCormick
- Karen McManus
- Brenda Solomito Basar
- Lauren Squires Ready
- Michael Synk
- Carol Walker
- Josh Whitehead
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Our Ministry Team
S. Maureen Griner
Executive Director
- Judy Gray
- Paul Gray
- Michael T. Kauffman
- Peggy Steffan
- S. Margaret Ann Zinselmeyer
Tracy Burgess
Director of Development and
Communications
Chandler Schneider
AmeriCorps VISTA Member
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