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Lights! Camera! ACTION!

On Friday, June 9th, get ready for your close-up!

Georgetown Ministry Center invites you to gather your friends, family and coworkers and stop by the entrance to Washington Harbour on Friday, June 9th to watch the live broadcast of GMC being honored as this week’s Hometown Hero during Fox 5’s summer Zip Trip Series! The series features a different neighborhood in the DMV each week and this Friday will showcase Georgetown with segments highlighting the neighborhood’s food scene, local sports/music, trivia, and more. The Hometown Heroes segment will begin around 10am and tourists, locals and business owners alike are encouraged to visit throughout the morning and make signs supporting GMC and Georgetown!

Can’t make it to Georgetown on Friday? Tune in to Fox 5 at 10 to watch live on TV!

Thursday, June 8th is “Do More 24,” the DMV’s largest 24-hour online fundraiser powered by United Way of the National Capital Area! On this day, thousands of people will join together to create positive change in our community.

With a donation of just $24, you can support Georgetown Ministry Center’s mission and help someone who is homeless begin the process of finding stability in his or her life. A gift of $24 will cover the cost of replacing a homeless person’s birth certificate–a vital document required before benefits or housing can happen.

You can donate as early as TODAY! Start your activism at home and help us DO MORE for the homeless in our community!

This month, we shared stories about meeting, caring for and connecting Nathan to housing resources. After 30 years, it was incredibly moving to see Nathan in his new home. As we left his apartment and thanked him for letting us visit, he said: “Y’all made my day.”

You also made Nathan’s day! Through your support of Georgetown Ministry Center, we worked together to change Nathan’s life in an important way.

Speaking of making someone’s day…you made ours! We met our $10,000 match! Thank you for helping us continue to care for and improve the lives of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.Your compassion and generosity make it all possible!

In the summer of 2016, Gunther was chatting with Nathan during a round of street outreach. Like countless other times, he asked Nathan if he would consider moving into housing. Then something occurred to Gunther and he asked, “How about a place with some outdoor space – a patio?”

The lightbulb came on for Nathan. He was sold.

In the months since, Nathan worked with a housing team, signed a lease and moved into an apartment building with a beautiful courtyard. As shown in the photo above, Nathan invited GMC’s case manager, Sabrina Burrell, to check out his home. He likes having a comfortable place to sleep, listen to classical music, cook, read the Bible and keep his ice cream cold.

At first, Nathan continued to sleep outside most nights, but he’s adjusting and sleeping inside more and more. He still spends most of his days in Georgetown, but in order to keep his apartment tidy, he stores his carts elsewhere.

About his new place, Nathan says:

This is the first time in my life I’ve had a place of my own. It is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I thought I’d live on the streets until the day I died, but God has blessed me and now I’m really living for the first time.

To support Nathan and our other neighbors experiencing homelessness, please give to our $10,000 matching campaign.

You can donate online or send a check to Georgetown Ministry Center; 1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW; Washington, DC 20007. Thank you!

Georgetown Ministry Center has checked on and cared for Nathan for nearly three decades. He is always willing to chat during our rounds of street outreach. Our consulting psychiatrists, Dr. Goodwin and Dr. Koshes (top left), Gunther (top right), and general practitioner, Dr. Crosland (bottom left) have trusting relationships with Nathan, which make it possible to provide psychiatric and medical care.

GMC also helps Nathan collect his mail at the Center and manage payments for his storage unit. As you can imagine, pushing a fleet of large carts up and downhill is hard work, so we encouraged him to lighten his load.

When we asked Nathan how GMC has helped him over the years, he said:

You really helped me. You kept my storage together. You are like a blessing. You always check on me after snowstorms. Really pick up my spirits.

Picking up Nathan’s spirits eventually led to connecting him to housing…but that’s next week’s story!

To support Nathan and our other neighbors experiencing homelessness, please give to our $10,000 matching campaign.

Don’t want to donate online? You are welcome to send a check to: Georgetown Ministry Center; 1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW; Washington, DC 20007.