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Our Mission and future plans are explained below.
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| Wendy Voorhis, Focus Photography |
Through sharing nourishment for both the body and the soul, The Open Door aims to be both a safe haven
for those caught in the storms of life.
The Open Door has proven to be successful at bringing people in for food and fellowship; it is now
working toward a vision for the future. This vision is most easily explained through the following phases, begun in early
2005.
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Aspiring Workers Program, In-house Services, Structured
Housing, Emergency Housing (Proposed Programs,
currently under development: aiding individuals and families who are motivated and willing to improve their
life ) - Purpose:
- Aspiring Workers Program:
to work toward the goal of transitioning people back into the community using various support agencies, and developing work
and life-related skills; Components would include things like alcohol and drug counseling, anger management, job training
and protocol, basic job protocol skills (appearance, timeliness, communication), basic home economics (daily chores, preparing
own meals, volunteering time at various agencies), as well as some job-specific training and apprenticeship opportunities
- In-house Services: Incorporating a variety of social
and educational services to better accomodate those seeking assistance. Some programs could include GED preparatory
tutoring, parenting classes ("Diapers to Discipline"), medical care, etc...
- Structured Housing: Providing a safe, supportive,
and structured environment in which the individual could bridge the gap between themselves and supportive community resources.
The goal of this program would be to give the individual the support and structure that they would need in order to successfully
make permanent lifestyle changes.
- Emergency Housing: Providing cost-effective, emergency shelter for the needy.
For further details, or if you are interested in being a part of this innovative outreach, please contact: Marybeth.Mitcham@opendoor-ny.org
Why make clients do chores? While we happily provide meals, free of charge to those in need, we do feel
that it is important to stress the importance of work, and the part that it should play in everyone's life. Our philosophy
on chores---that everyone who comes to eat on a regular basis must regularly sign up for one of four chores: wiping
down tables, taking out the garbage, sweeping and mopping floors, and washing dishes----is based on the Biblical principle
that, "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10b, NLT). If clients refuse to do
chores, they are asked to leave and not return for a week. We will not let anyone go hungry---they can get a sandwich
or two to eat---but they will not be able to come in, sit down, and partake of the full meal that is offered. "You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy
out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government
cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the
idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the
idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning
of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
Adrian Rogers, 1931
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