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From Our House to Yours
January 2019
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Day-by-Day...A Note from our Executive Director
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The past several months have been a blur at the
Dorothy Day House.
Staff members worked on wreath sales, provided Christmas for 31 families, processed hundreds of financial and in-kind donations, sent Christmas honorariums, moved a family out of the DDH, cared for seven additional families and continued to attend to countless other responsibilities.
What a happy problem!
We are amazed again and again at the generosity of those who support us in a million different ways and we are growing in excitement as we approach the start of renovations on our third house. You are making miracles happen.....bless you!
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Many Thanks
We're sending BIG THANKS to everyone who helped us make the holidays such a joyous time here at the Dorothy Day House.
We saw your generosity through Halloween party volunteers, donated turkeys and groceries, Wreath and Garland Sales, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, and the numerous Sunday Prayer volunteers and Monday Meal volunteers. We could not have done it without you and we know that the DDH families had a wonderful holiday season knowing that there are so many people in their city who care about them.
#peoplehelpingpeople
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We are happy to report that as of January 25, 2019, we have raised $2,654,810.00 toward our Capital Campaign goal of $5 million.
That amount enabled us to do the following in 2018: provide housing and support services for 14 homeless families, hire an additional house manager and a development coordinator, renovate/furnish/open a new home at 1178 Peabody, complete the design and construction drawings for a new house at 1161 Peabody.
2019 will surely be exciting as we prepare to renovate and open our third house, Joseph's House, to honor St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus who sought housing for his wife and son. Dorothy Day had a special devotion to St. Joseph so it seems especially appropriate to entrust our next house to his care.
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ThyssenKrupp Elevators, Inc.
In the fall of 2017, ThyssenKrupp Elevators, Inc. chose the Dorothy Day House as their charity-of-choice for 2018. This selection was due, in large part, to the encouragement and effort of Alison Powers, a ThyssenKrupp employee and our former DDH board chair. At the time, we weren't exactly sure what that would mean, but it became very clear as the year unfolded.
We visited their office in Germantown and their factory in Middleton, TN several times during the year, speaking to their employees and becoming more and more aware of how they were planning to raise money for the DDH. We knew that they were having various fundraisers and we even had the DDH children select the cutest pet pictures from those submitted by employees to be included in their 2019 Pet Calendar.
All of their efforts came to fruition on December 14th when we accepted a check from the ThyssenKrupp employees for $40,600. Needless to say, we were overwhelmed and they were rightly very proud of their efforts on our behalf.
Our special thanks to Wendolyn Payne and her committee for all their work throughout the year and James Darrell Bolin, president, for supporting such wonderful charitable work among ThyssenKrupp employees. And of course, our thanks to Alison Powers, who set all of this in motion.
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Lucy J's
As we get into the swing of 2019, we hope you will continue to enjoy the sweets that are available at Lucy J's Bakery. The past few mo
nths have been busy for them as they welcome more and more people to the bakery and take more and more special orders by phone.
Since the bakery is a not-for-profit venture, they have launched a Go Fund Me page, hoping to secure some additional funding to help them through the "lean months" (because everyone is on a diet) of January and February. Please check it out and consider a gift to help them help homeless families. Click Here to visit LucyJ's GoFundMe Page.
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Christmas Honorariums
| In your name we sent over 400 honorarium Christmas cards in December 2018. What a wonderful way to recognize friends, family and clients and at the same time benefit homeless families. Thank you. |
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Our thanks to all those who send donations to the Dorothy Day House in memory of a deceased loved one. We are happy to notify the family of your gift to us. We have recently received memorial gifts in honor of:
Carolyn Adcock - Rev. John Atkinson - Carolyn, Dennis & Cameron Burdsal -
Dr. Mary Battle - Sandra Davidson - Gerard (Jerry) Fleischut - Helen Joan Dinkins - Joan Marie Campbell - Juanita Moore - Margaret Anne Marshall -
Mrs. June McCormick - Helen Powers - Malvolia Smith - Peggy Steffan -
Philip Slavick - Virginia & Art Zinselmeyer - Mary Zinselmeyer -
Mildred & Quad Baldelli - William M. "Billy" Byrd
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Retiring Board Members
Our sincere thanks to Lea Carr, Susan Mealer and Brenda Solomito-Basar
for their years of service on the DDH Board of Directors.
We are grateful for the time and talent they shared with us.
We can pinpoint the many ways they each helped us to grow.
Stay in touch, ladies!
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Welcome to Young Anderson
On December 1st, 2018, the Dorothy Day Staff welcomed Young Anderson as our new house manager at Dorothy's House, 1429 Poplar. Young came to us after extensive experience with the Youth Villages Foster Care Program. Her previous work with parents and children, along with her gentle spirit and compassionate heart, make her a wonderful addition to our team. Welcome, Young!
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Thank you to the following recent volunteer groups for being so generous
with their time and talent:
- McAdams Group LLC -- Maria Montessori School
- Immaculate Conception Confirmation Class - Dominican Laity - Hope Worldwide
- NEXUS Leaders Inc. - St. Michael's Youth - UT Health Science Center BSA
- Apartment Association of Greater Memphis - Service Challenge
- Christian Brothers High School - Longview Planning Partners -
Catholic HIgh School
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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 DDH to hear about our ministry to homeless families, tour the house, and enjoy a free lunch.
Our next Lunch and Learn sessions are Tuesday, February 26, 2019 and March 26, 2019.
Please contact
Sidney Dennis at 901-726-6760 if
you or someone you know would like to attend.
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| "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 and express our compassion and concern for issues affecting our community. 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 through Volunteer Compass here or contact Sidney Dennis 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. Event starts at 5:30pm and usually ends around 7pm. If you would like to volunteer to bring a meal for a future date, please register through Volunteer Compass here or contact Sidney Dennis at 901-726-6760. |
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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
Lauren Ready
Chair of the Board
- Jerry Schwartz
- Robin Riggins
- Laura Paylor
- Denzel Briggs
- John Cannon
- Mike McCormick
- Jacqueline Oselen
- Larry McBride
- Julie White
- Dick Wager
- Steve Hieatt
- Brandy Parker
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Our Ministry Team
S. Maureen Griner
Executive Director
- Josh Burgess
- Tracy Burgess
- Young Anderson
- Michael Kauffman
- Angela Pieroni
- S. Margaret A. Zinselmeyer
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Our Staff
Tracy Burgess -
Director of Development and Communications
April F. Draine - Development and Communications Coordinator
Young Anderson -
House Manager at 1429 Poplar Ave.
Angela Pieroni -
House Manager at 1178 Peabody Ave.
Sidney Dennis -
Volunteer Coordinator
S. Margaret Ann Zinselmeyer -
Bookkeeper
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