Category: What’s New

Georgetown Ministry Center (GMC) is proud to announce that the Catalogue for Philanthropy will be featuring GMC’s good work in their 2013-14 Catalogue.

A panel of over 100 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer non-profit organizations evaluated over 210 applications, and Georgetown Ministry Center is one of 73 outstanding nonprofits to be featured in print this year.

“Individual donors can continue to make a real difference, keeping great organizations afloat during these challenging times,” says Barbara Harman, President and Editor of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. “Charities were selected for excellence, cost-effectiveness, and impact.”

Georgetown Ministry Center has provided crucial social services to the chronically and most service-resistant homeless for the past twenty-five years and has grown to operate a drop-in center, conduct street outreach, and organize a winter congregation-based shelter. A caring support staff that includes a visiting psychiatrist and general practitioner build meaningful relationships with the homeless at all three locations, working seven days a week to end homelessness one person at a time.

Gunther Stern, Executive Director of Georgetown Ministry Center, says that “the Catalogue’s designation assures donors that their money is providing the highest quality services to the people we serve.” In the past two years, Georgetown Ministry Center has more than doubled the operating hours of its drop in center. On top of the critical case management and medical care they provide, the center includes shower and laundry services, a computer lab, counseling and support groups, and a safe, welcoming escape from the street. Stern hopes that being accepted into the Catalogue for Philanthropy will “encourage donors and volunteers to give generously to ensure that GMC can continue to provide high quality services to the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Now in its eleventh year, the Catalogue’s mission is to connect caring citizens with worthy community causes. The online Catalogue connects donors with volunteer opportunities, events, and more. The Catalogue’s 2013 edition will be released on November 1, and we hope you will take the opportunity to check it out!

We are happy to announce the start of our very own clothes closet! When we renovated our center in 2011, we decided to knock down a few walls in order to create a space for our guests to come, sit, and hang out. Doing so meant getting rid of our clothes closet and turning away most clothing donations due to lack of storage space.

A year and a half later, we have transformed a tiny office in Grace Church into our clothes closet! And, having a clothes closet means that we can accept clothing donations again (in limited quantities; the room is still small). The closet is currently being organized and manned by two enthusiastic Georgetown University students, Alex and Kathryn. They have been coming in once or twice a week to organize incoming donations and to distribute clothing every Friday at 10am. Needless to say, our guests are ecstatic about this news.

If you wish to donate clothes, please call Stephanie (202-338-3801) ahead of time to check whether or not we are in need of certain items. We will be posting on our blog, Facebook, and Twitter items that are in high demand. Right now, there have been many requests for jeans, with 32-36″ waists being the most in demand sizes. Our guests also often request belts, since it is difficult to acquire well-fitting pants on the street.

Recently, we asked our members, staff, volunteers, and friends to pen a poem about Georgetown Ministry Center’s work and mission. The original reason was actually for a grant that would be awarded to the organization with the best poem, but this little project turned into something wonderful.

Today and for the next few Mondays, we will be publishing the poems we received, which were written by both GMC members and staff. Check back here next Monday for the next poem, or read it on our Facebook page! You will be able to read all of the poetry blog entries if you search by tag for “poetry.”

This first poem was written by Ms. Kathalene.

GMC is a one-stop shop service center.
When you start to attend you do not want to stop.
There is plenty to do, and people to meet
Not to mention all of the food to eat.
Many games are played, while clothes get washed.
Showers, computers, and donations are available each day
Which makes it hard to stay away.
There are meetings each week to suit your need,
Even doctors are there for your medical and psychiatric cares.
If there is any place better we cannot tell
Because, each day GMC doors are open, there are not any vacant chairs.
Several classes are taught through the week of a different sort.
With all the things going on at GMC, no one comes up short.

On Sunday, December 16, GMC members were treated the results of a Beef Stew Challenge organized again by the wonderful Maggie Handel. Like the Sloppy Joe Challenge she put together last month, Maggie posted on the Georgetown listserv and asked her network of friends and neighbors for help.

A huge THANK YOU to Maggie for organizing the lunch and to everyone who helped cook and serve: Carol, Clarisa, and Linh for the home-cooked hot meal and Amanda & Megan for their service with a smile.

The next hot meal challenge that Maggie is organizing is scheduled for January 27. Stay tuned!