Tonight was a perfect end to my week with Volunteer Odyssey.  I spent the evening at the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality (DDHH) for their “Sunday at Six.”  My husband John was able to join me tonight, and my friend Julie was accompanied by her fiancé, Reed. The Dorothy Day House of Hospitality is a non-profit agency committed to serving homeless families in Memphis.  When a family is accepted, they are able to stay at DDHH while they are assisted in finding stable employment and housing.  While housed at DDHH, the kids resume their lives at school and adults are assisted with their job search.  They are also helped with any other immediate needs they may have.  One of the greatest things about DDHH is that the families can stay together under one roof.  Sister Maureen (who helps run DDHH) explained that every shelter in Memphis has strict rules about who can and cannot stay in their facilities.  Most facilities that accept women and children do not accept young males over age six.  DDHS is one of the only options for these families to stay together during this period of instability.  The hope of DDHH is to one day expand to more houses and create more opportunities for families in need of a stable home while searching for stable income. “Sunday

With Sister Maureen

at Six” is a service held every Sunday night that consists of a group prayer and dessert with the residents of DDHH and anyone who would like to join in fellowship with them.   My favorite part of the prayer was when we were welcomed to share personal intentions and what we were thankful for.   A few residents mentioned their thankfulness for the opportunity to stay at DDHH and the wonderful people who help run it.  You could tell just how much it meant to them to not have to worry about where they would stay for the night.  They could commit to getting their family back on their feet without the extra stress of finding housing.

After prayer we had peach pound cake and ice cream, courtesy of a sweet family who joined us for the evening.  We then had the opportunity to chat with the residents a bit.  Since school starts tomorrow for most of the kids, we talked a lot about where they were going to school, the fun new school supplies they had, what instruments they wanted to play, and other exciting aspects of starting of a new school year.  John and Reed then went outside to play with the kids while Julie and I spent some time chatting with Sister Maureen about the history and future of DDHH.  Before we left, one of the little boys, Jay Jay, asked John to read him a story.  It was such a precious sight since half an hour before, Jay Jay wouldn’t say more than two words.

I really enjoyed this end to my week of volunteering with Volunteer Odyssey.  The Dorothy Day House of Hospitality is such a blessing for families struggling with the stress of unemployment and homelessness.  It’s my sincere desire that DDHH can expand its mission to more homes in order to reach more families in the community.

What I learned about myself today: I am thankful for the feelings of stability and safety.  I could not imagine the stress and worry that accompanies homelessness, especially when it comes to providing for a family.  I am so happy for places like DDHH who are committed to keeping the family unit together while assisting them on their road to stability.