When the Dorothy Day House was founded in Memphis in the early 2000s, everyone involved in its launch and success was a volunteer. The founders, with the help of their friends, family, and networks, purchased, renovated, and housed families in the home on Poplar around the edges of family life and full-time careers. Traditionally, in the Catholic Worker movement, many houses of hospitality are also run by volunteers. As we have grown over the years and incorporated as an official 501(c) (3), the board of directors chose to hire staff. The organization would not be able to continue its success without volunteers. There are those who come weekly and help answer families’ phone calls when they are looking for housing, to those who help us clean and prepare rooms for a new family, to groups who help us with specific projects like sorting donations and taking care of the yardwork. 

Just a few weeks ago, we were inspired by our guest panelists at the Civil Rights Museum, reminding us that the work of hospitality, dignity, and compassion is both ongoing and shared. As we celebrate Volunteer Month during the 20th Anniversary of the DDH, we are grateful for the thousands of volunteers over the years who have helped house and support almost 200 families…

Thank you to our volunteers of the year! Plus, more volunteer opportunities coming up…

Celebrating 20 years of the Dorothy Day House is an honor. It's a privilege to lead such an amazing group of people who work with families each and every day in the great times and the hard times. Even though my goal is to create a community where the Dorothy Day House is not needed, you and I both know that is a lofty goal. So, in the meantime, we will continue with the Works of Mercy that happen here. As supporters and volunteers, we want to help you have opportunities to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and more.

I listened to a podcast recently called Good on Wood, hosted by Steve Shalert and Jared McKenna. It's a production of St. Stephens University and The Jim Forest Institute of Religion, Peace & Justice. In this episode, they ask Martha and Kate Hennessy (Dorothy Day's granddaughters, among many other titles) how society changes. How do we change or work toward change? Kate answered that it has to be a "revolution of the heart" in how we "convert ourselves" or "conduct ourselves." She mentioned that the probably "unsatisfying answer is to come back to the Works of Mercy."

Martha will be in Memphis speaking at our panel discussion on Thursday night. We are grateful that she is able to come here to share not only a part of her story, but also her remembrance of Dorothy Day.

We hope you will join us…

Your Chance to Support Families in Memphis is Here - Act Fast!