This month our Community Partner Spotlight goes to  Dorothy Day House (DDH)! Check out our Q&A with Volunteer Coordinator, Sidney. 

What is Dorothy Day House’s 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 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. DDH has been open since 2006 when we opened our first home, we have since opened a second house in 2018, and a third house in 2020.

Prayer & Dinner

What sets you apart from other organizations?

We are the only shelter in Memphis whose goal is keeping families together while they are experiencing homelessness.         

How many people are you able to serve in a year?

We serve about 22 families a year.

How long has Dorothy Day House been a partner with Volunteer Odyssey?

 DDH has been partnered with Volunteer Odyssey since the beginning. We were one of the volunteer organizations Sarah visited during her 30 days experiment.  We have been involved ever since.We love the individual introductions that Volunteer Odyssey gives us with their  one on one matching. We also use the VolunteerCompass platform to draw new volunteers and host sign ups.

What are some of the volunteer roles or activities? 

Our most popular event is Sunday Prayer and Dinner, where volunteer(s) sign up to bring a meal, then they pray and eat with the families in one of our houses. Other opportunities for individuals range from babysitting, cleaning bedrooms, sorting donations, family move days, and helping at events

Wine on the River

Wine on the River

What is your favorite event or program? 

This past year we were part of  the Wine on the River. It was a great event for volunteers and attendees alike sipping wine right on the Mississippi river listening to live music. What more could you want?

Do you have any upcoming events on the Volunteer Odyssey platform you would like to promote? 

We will be hosting Cafe Du Memphis at Tiger lane on May 2nd. Tickets include shrimp and grits, cafe au lait, and beignets. Volunteers are needed for the kids area, sustainability crew, servers, set up, and take down. Click here to volunteer at this event   

To learn more about Dorothy Day House and register for their service projects, click here.