A Message from Our Executive Director | | |
Summer days are officially here! Many of the kids at DDH are attending various summer camps, while parents are working on their plan to regain their foundation and secure a place to call home. Two families are moving into their new home this month!
This part of the job never gets old. The part when we watch volunteers load furniture into a U-Haul truck and set up all that they can so that families have what they need as they begin life in their new place. The part when we experience the joy of watching kids run through their new home, up and down the stairs, exploring their new bedrooms. The part when we reassure a parent that they can call anytime. It's always our mission and our prayer that this part happens for every family we meet.
Click the U-Haul video below to see what goes into prepping for a family move-out, and make sure you follow us on social media to see the finished product!
Thanks to you, we can start again and provide this opportunity for another family.
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With thanks,
Tracy Burgess
Executive Director, Dorothy Day House
| | How you can help this summer | | | |
✨Sponsor a school supply list/uniform🚌🎒
Every child deserves to walk into school prepared and confident. Right now, we're looking for sponsors for 50 students at Dorothy Day House — and your sponsorship covers everything a student needs to start the year right.
Choose your sponsorship:
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School Uniform Set ($100–$150) — shirts, pants or skirts, and everything in between
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Backpack & Supplies ($100–$125) — notebooks, pencils, folders, and more for a full year of learning
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Sponsor both for one student's complete list
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Give any amount, and we'll do the shopping for you
Here's how it works:
- Fill out the sponsor form below
- By mid-June, Ben will send you a personalized list for your student's school and grade
- Shop online or in-store (Old Navy, Walmart, Target, and Children's Place all work great for uniforms)
- Deliver or ship to DDH by July 10th so students are ready from day one!
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☀️Summer Donation Drive Needs⛱️
Summer break means kids are home more, snacks run out faster, and cleaning supplies disappear quickly. Each month, we spotlight a few items that make the biggest difference for our families right now.
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JUNE NEEDS
- Kid-friendly snacks and canned goods
- Lysol spray
- Laundry detergent
- Toilet paper
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JULY NEEDS
- School supplies & uniforms
- Kids & teens headphones
- Clear backpacks
- Kleenex
- Hand Sanitizer
- Lysol Wipes
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🧼Appliance & Furniture Needs🪑
Whether it's outfitting a family's new home or keeping our own DDH houses running smoothly, having the right appliances and furniture makes all the difference. We're currently seeking the following items:
- Dishwasher
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Kids' play table
- High chairs
If you have any of these items in good condition, email office@dorothydaymemphis.org to arrange a drop-off or pick-up.
| | | | Stories from our community | |
Village Voices Spotlight
We are grateful for our continued partnership with JobLINC, a service of Memphis Public Libraries dedicated to connecting job seekers with employment opportunities and career resources.
Last week, JobLINC representatives visited Dorothy Day House to provide personalized career guidance, job search support, and employment resources to the families we serve. Stable employment is a critical step toward long-term housing stability, and opportunities like these help parents build confidence as they pursue their goals.
This partnership has already made a meaningful impact. Through JobLINC's support, two Dorothy Day House parents have received their own laptops at no cost, providing them with essential tools for job searching, completing applications, building resumes, and pursuing educational opportunities.
Thank you to JobLINC and Memphis Public Libraries for investing in Memphis families and helping create pathways toward independence and lasting stability.
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Grant Support Spotlight
The work of Dorothy Day House is made possible in part by the generous support of organizations that believe in our mission. We are proud to recognize our current grant partners:
- Germantown Christian 49ers
- St. John's Episcopal Church
- Ladies of Charity of Memphis
Their investment in our work means more families receive the housing support, advocacy, and resources they need to find their way home. We are deeply grateful for each of these partnerships.
| | | There are many ways to make a difference | | | |
Become a Monthly Donor Before August 1st & Receive a DDH T-Shirt!
A family's life can change in a matter of months—but the support that gets them there happens day by day.
That's why monthly giving matters.
When you join the Day by Day Circle, you're helping provide the stability, encouragement, and resources families need as they work toward housing, employment, and independence.
🫂Start your monthly gift today.
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Ship Items Directly to Us
1161 Peabody Ave, Memphis, TN
Send in-kind donations like pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and disinfectant supplies.
- You can order from our Amazon Wishlist (updated weekly with our most-needed items) — or use it as inspiration to shop elsewhere.
📦 Order from Amazon Wish List
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Local Drop-Offs
321 S. Bellevue Blvd, Memphis, TN
Mon.–Fri, 8:30 AM– 3:30 PM
To schedule after-hours drop-offs or coordinate a large donation (drives, furniture, etc.):
📧 bshort@dorothydaymemphis.org
☎️ (901) 726-6760
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Send Physical Gift Cards
P.O. Box 40269
Memphis, TN 38174-0269
Gift cards — especially Kroger — help our families meet essential needs like groceries and gas for work. Your gift provides flexibility and dignity as parents take steps toward stability and independence.
💳 Send Kroger Gift Card
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Make a Financial Contribution
Give online
Mail checks to: P.O. Box 40269, Memphis, TN 38174-0269
More and more families in the Mid-South are struggling to access stable housing and food security. By giving you can help us keep children and their caregivers fed, safe, and housed.
For other ways to give:
📧 apalmer@dorothydaymemphis.org
| | Teachings from Dorothy Day | |
The Provocations of Dorothy Day
Over the past nine weeks, we've been sharing Kate Hennessy's Provocations of Dorothy Day each Monday on our social media channels. These nine provocations—from making yourself deeply uncomfortable to following your conscience, loving, and praying—invite us to engage more deeply with Dorothy Day's life, faith, and witness.
As Dorothy's granddaughter, Kate Hennessy offers a powerful reminder that Dorothy's legacy is not meant to be admired from a distance. As she writes:
"There is little point in simply admiring Dorothy Day. If you're going to pay attention to her, your life will be turned on its head."
These provocations are not rules or easy answers. They are invitations to reflect, question, and consider how we are called to live in our own communities today.
We encourage you to read the full article and reflect on these teachings. What might Dorothy Day's provocations be asking of you?
The challenge—and the gift—is not simply to admire Dorothy Day, but to allow her witness to transform the way we live, serve, and love.
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Rooted in the tradition of the Gospels and inspired by the vision and passion of Dorothy Day, the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality provides temporary housing and support services for families experiencing houselessness 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. | | Connect with the Dorothy Day House | | | | |
