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

Bienvenidos Food Bank

The Bienvenidos Food Bank has been helping neighbors in-need for four decades. Our Mission is to provide emergency and supplemental food assistance in ways that promote respect and dignity. Our vision is a community equipped with the tools and resources to move beyond hunger and toward greater independence.

Volunteering Opportunities

For Individuals, Groups, or Families • Weekly or Reguarly • Various Times

We have various volunteer opportunities available, and volunteers are an essential part of our organization. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us (see below) to see what positions are available.

Donate Food

We gladly accept your donations of nonperishable and perishable food at several different locations. Click Learn More to get started.

Contact Information:

Greg Pratt
303-433-6328
director@bienvenidosfoodbank.org

Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope with a vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live. People in our community, and all over the world, partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers, and pay an affordable mortgage. With our help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Volunteering Opportunities

See “contact information” below to volunteer and learn more. Opportunities may include, but may not be limited to:

Construction

For Individuals, Groups, and Families • Various Commitments • Various Times

Construction volunteers make a tangible difference with each and every day they help build and repair homes. No construction experience is necessary.

ReStore

For Individuals, Groups, and Families • Various Commitments • Various Times

Our five Habitat ReStores support our mission by providing valuable funding to our programs. It’s retail with a mission!

Ongoing and Skilled Positions

For Individuals • Weekly • Various Times

Our weekly volunteers are the heart and soul of our Volunteer Program.

Donate and Shop at the ReStore

Shop ReStore for new and gently used appliances, furniture, cabinetry and more at huge discounts. Donate furniture, appliances, cabinetry, flooring, doors, windows, and more to be sold. All profits support Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program for low-income families.

Contact Information:

Laura McRell
lmcrell@habitatmetrodenver.org

Project Angel Heart

Project Angel Heart provides nutritious, home-delivered meals, free of charge, specifically prepared to meet the heightened nutritional needs of people living with life-threatening illness. They rely on a staff of volunteers who work six days per week under the direction of professional chefs to prepare, package, and deliver their meals. Up to 70% of client meals are modified to meet individual dietary needs.

Volunteering Opportunities

See “contact information” below to volunteer and learn more. Opportunities may include, but may not be limited to:

Meal Delivery Driver

For Individuals, Groups, and Families • Weekly • Daytime

Satellite Shuttle Driver

For Individuals and Groups • Weekly • Weekend Days

Distribution Assistant

For Individuals • Weekly • Daytime

Office Assistant

For Individuals • Weekly • Daytime

Kitchen Assistant

For Individuals and Groups • Weekly • Weekdays and Weeknights

Garden Assistant

For Individuals and Families • Weekly • Weekend Days

Bag Decorators

For Groups and Families • Variable Commitments and Times

Other Ways to Give

Support Project Angel Heart through Workplace Giving, Donating a Car, Donating Produce, Donating Half-Used Paper, and More.

Contact Information:

303-830-0202
volunteer@projectangelheart.org

Providence Network

Providence Network is a Denver faith-based, urban transformational housing organization that helps men, women, and families heal from addictions, abuse, and homelessness to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community. In addition to housing, their holistic program includes counseling, addictions recovery, vocational assistance, life skills development, and spiritual nurturing—all within a structured environment of 24/7 live-in staff who are dedicated to offering the support and accountability needed to transition from a difficult past into a bright future.

Volunteering Opportunities

See “contact information” below to volunteer and learn more. Opportunities may include, but may not be limited to:

Crew

For Individuals, Groups, or Families • One-time or Occasionally • Variable Times

We use “crews” of people for various volunteer opportunities around our homes: Childcare, cleaning, landscaping, event assistance, food preparation, home improvements, and donating new household items (see more below).

Donate Household Items

A great way to serve Providence Network is by donating new or gently-used twin bed frames, mattresses, linens and small “apartment-sized” furniture. Contat emilymaguire@providencenetwork.org to arrange a donation.

Contact Information:

Teresa Weesner
303-860-8404 ext. 23
teresaweesner@providencenetwork.org

Lutheran Family Services Refugee & Asylee Programs

Lutheran Family Services Refugee & Asylee Programs help people who have been uprooted by persecution and violence work towards self-sufficiency through essential resettlement services, including: housing, employment, English language, and cultural orientation. LFS works together with LIRS, and other churches, organizations, community groups, businesses, and individuals to provide the services and supplies necessary for refugees to become self-sufficient and integrate into their new communities.

Volunteering Opportunities

See “contact information” below to volunteer and learn more. Opportunities may include, but may not be limited to:

Cultural Mentoring

For Individuals, Groups, and Families • Weekly • Variable Times

Our Cultural Mentoring and Exchange program gives you the opportunity to work directly with the refugees we serve. This is a six month commitment in which you will work continuously with a family that has recently arrived into the U.S. During this time you will focus on four key points: Financial Literacy, Employment, Practical Life Skills, and Learning English. You will work on these skills to varying degrees depending on the interests and needs of the family.

On-Call Volunteer

For Individuals • Occasionally • Variable Times

Receive email correspondence about one time, or short-term opportunities to volunteer.

Office Volunteer

For Individuals • Weekly • Weekdays

We always need help around the office. We have opportunities to volunteer with our legal and immigration, case management, employment, and volunteer departments.

Transportation Volunteer

For Individuals and Families • Regularly • Variable Times

Getting around town can be tough. Volunteer to help refugees learn our bus system, or to drive refugees to appointments.

In-Home Tutoring

For Individuals • Weekly • Variable Times

Our In-Home Tutoring program matches volunteers in a one-on-one relationship with a high school aged refugee youth. This is a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with refugee youth who may be struggling academically due to previous limited schooling or gaps in education. Challenges range from basic literacy to subject competency, so the assistance you provide may vary based on need, yet is undeniably instrumental in their overall success in school. The minimum time commitment for this program is one hour/week for the duration of the semester. Experience working with youth or in education preferred, but not required.

Baskets & Bins Program

Constructing baskets and bins for newly arrived refugees is a fun and effective way to get involved. Without the help of our volunteers, refugee families would have to pay for these items on their own upon arriving in Colorado. Providing them with supplies they need immediately, helps refugees on a path towards financial stability.

Contact Information:

refugeevolunteer@lfsrm.org