The final day of my Volunteer Odyssey sent me to the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality, an organization that provides temporary housing and support for homeless families in the Memphis area. Living just a couple of blocks away, I have driven past this modest two-story Craftsman style home on Poplar
Today I was impressed by how much can be achieved when you believe in your ability to do something. Believing in a solution can lead to a solution, and that’s how I imagine Dorothy Day felt about poverty. In 2006, Memphis’ Dorothy Day House of Hospitality opened its doors to provide
I have probably driven past the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality at least once a week since I moved to Memphis. I’m sure I noticed the 100-year old house at least once, but I had no idea what a truly special place it is. Tonight I volunteered with Tracy Burgess,
Today was the last day of the whirlwind that is my Volunteer Odyssey. My final stop for the week was at the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality. Every week the shelter hosts “Sundays at Six”, where volunteers and families living in the facility meet for an hour of fellowship, plus
I first heard about Dorothy Day from my friend Eric. At the time, we were both volunteering with a nonprofit to host non-denominational worship services at Glacier National Park. Eric was a hitchhiking, train-jumping, crusty punk kid with a lot of tattoos and even more stories. He was a terrific storyteller
The Dorothy Day House The Dorothy Day House is a home that supports and provides a safe space for homeless families. This facility is the only place in Memphis that accepts entire families without separating the children and parents. The house can take up to three families at
Day 6. I have driven past The Dorothy Day House of Hospitality numerous times and never even knew it existed. The sign-less large gray house sits on Poplar Avenue with no indication of the wonderful organization that functions inside. Dorothy Day was an activist for people acquiring jobs and places
Keeping families together. Homelessness is unfortunately a huge problem within the city of Memphis. Memphis also has a high rate of poverty, which at times leads to homelessness. Thankfully we have the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality. The Dorothy Day House provides temporary housing and support services for
Epilogue from Sarah Beth Jarnagin I encountered a lot of different types of people and situations during my Volunteer Odyssey Week. I was blessed by a young Ethiopian boy’s grateful heart after I helped him with his geology homework; and a woman whose heart has gone out to families divided
The Dorothy Day House has taken hospitality to the next level. They opened a home specifically for people in periods of transition in order to address homelessness. In the city of Memphis, after the age of 13, boys are not permitted to stay at homeless shelters with their mothers. Because