Open Door Ministries
Our mission is to show mercy, build community, and make disciples for Christ in urban Denver. Open Door Ministries exists to provide practical help and hope to people in urban Denver who are homeless or low-income. Our primary objective is to move people toward self-sufficiency by helping change the circumstances and life patterns that have held them captive to poverty and addiction. Through 16 distinct programs, we focus on tangible needs like food, shelter, access to education and employment training, as well as intangible needs such as friendship, hope, and Christian spiritual guidance. Since the issues faced by our friends tend to have many layers, Open Door has learned that the best way to help them succeed is to surround them with support, holistically empowering them to overcome obstacles, attain self-sufficiency, and thrive.
Volunteering Opportunities
See “contact information” below to volunteer and learn more. Opportunities may include, but may not be limited to:
Basic Needs
For Individuals, Groups, and Families • One-Time • Weekdays
Preparing and Serving/Delivering Meals
For Individuals, Groups, or Families • One-Time • Weekdays
Home Improvement
For Individuals and Groups • One-Time • Weekdays
Refinishing/tiling floors, installing irrigation system, electrical work, etc. For skilled individuals or groups/
Learning Center
For Individuals • Weekly • Weekdays
The Learning Center provides children ages 3-12 a quality education founded upon high academics and Christian character development. Various volunteer needs here.
Still Waters Housing
For Individuals, Groups, and Families • Variable Committments • Variable Times
Our Still Waters Housing program includes three homes for single women. Chayah House serves women being restored from homelessness, addictions, and abuse. Treasure House serves single moms with young children. Esther House serves women escaping the sex-trade industry. The below includes volunteer opportunities for Treasure House, Chayah House, and Esther House.
Family Room
For Individuals and Groups • Variable Committments • Weekdays
The Family Room provides a hospitable space for people to rest and access our resources.
Youth Center
For Individuals • Weekly • Variable Times
The Youth Center is a place for urban youth to belong and flourish through Bible studies, activities, and one-on-one relationships.
Women’s Homelessness Initiative
For Individuals and Groups • Variable Committments • Variable Times
Each week 20 women eat dinner at The Table and then are welcomed into the sanctuary at Open Door Fellowship where they spend the night. Overnight volunteers ensure a safe and welcoming environment for women and provide a refuge from the harsh street environment.
Open Door to Success
For Individuals • Occasionally • Variable Times
Open Door to Success is an employment training program teaching Christian work principles and holistically empowering people to move into the marketplace. The below volunteer needs are on an “on-call” basis and are only available when the need arises.
TRYAD
For Individuals • Variable Committments • Variable Times
TRYAD (To Reconcile You Able-bodied And Disabled) reaches disabled individuals through needed compassion and evangelism.
Cornerstone Home
For Groups • Regularly • Weeknights
Cornerstone is a long-term home for disabled men. Residents are taught to live life as a team, learning to help one another in day-to-day life. This allows them to contribute to the needs of others and subsequently, it affirms their dignity and lets them discover their importance.
Outreach
For Individuals and Groups • Regularly • Weekdays
Help pass out lunches and pray for homeless people: Noon-1pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Meet at the Einstein’s Bagels near the corner of 16th St. and California in downtown Denver.
Serve a Meal
For Groups and Families • Variable Committments • Variable Times
There are a few ways to serve through serving a meal: 1. Prepare and deliver a meal (that can be frozen for throughout the week) for Still Waters Housing residents. This needs to be enough to feed seven people. 2. Prepare and bring lunch for our TRYAD program. Every 4th Tuesday of each month, 11:30am-1:30pm. 3. Serve breakfast to the homeless on Saturday mornings 8-11am. For more info on any of the above meal-serving opportunities, contact us (see below).
General Opportunities
For Groups and Families • Variable Committments • Variable Times
Physical: cleaning, gardening, painting, etc. at one of our nine properties. Skilled work: construction, plumbing, electrical work, etc.
Contact Information:
Lindsay
720.975.0120
lhermayer@odmdenver.org
Megan
720.975.0103
megan@odmdenver.org
