This year, Open Table Ministry in Durham, North Carolina is organizing an items drive with churches in the Corridor District of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Open Table Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to overcome homelessness through the power of community. We do this through various methods, most notably our “Free Store” which happens on Tuesdays each week. At the Free Store, homeless and low income residents can visit our building to receive various clothing items such as shoes, jeans, winter coats, and thermals. In addition to clothing items we also give residents items such as backpacks and sleeping bags. On average, we serve about 170 residents each month.
In our efforts to assist our unsheltered neighbors, this winter we are asking churches in the Corridor District to participate in a drive for new or gently used items which we will give during the colder season. We will be collecting items until Martin Luther King Day which is January 17th, 2022. We are asking that each county take on a specific item to donate.
Person County – Jeans
Durham County – Winter Coats
Alamance County – Sleeping Bags
Chatham County – Thermals
Orange – Blankets
Please note:
- Specific sizes for Coats and Thermals needed are L, XL, XXL
- Jean sizes range from 34-40
- We have limited storage space and greatly appreciate having these sizes that are most frequently requested by our neighbors in need
If buying items isn’t an option, we can make a dollar stretch with financial donations! Below are a few examples showing what your financial donation provides:
- A gift of $50 can purchase 7 sets of thermals
- A gift of $100 allows us to purchase 4 new winter coats
- A gift of $200 will provide 8 heavy-duty sleeping bags
Any amount of financial support helps! You can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/open-table-ministry
Donations can be dropped off at Trinity UMC in Durham (215 N Church Street) on Mondays – Thursdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Additionally, we are happy to coordinate pick-ups at your local church. If you have any questions feel free to email Drew Woten at Drew.Woten@OpenTableMinistry.org.
We thank you in advance for supporting our mission at Open Table and we look forward to seeing how through the power of community we can overcome homelessness!
In Peace & Gratitude,
Open Table Ministry
*** If you are outside of the Durham area – we would like to invite you to participate as you are able.