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Renovation on Georgetown Ministry Center’s day center continues! Construction began in mid-October and, at this time, the Center is predicted to reopen sometime in January.

While closed, GMC program staff are hosting a tent outside the Center entrance offering guests coffee, food, toiletries, mail and an opportunity for fellowship.

GMC has also partnered with neighboring congregations, including St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Presbyterian and Christ Church Georgetown, that have graciously opened their doors to provide our guests with alternative shower and laundry facilities during specific times each week. Program staff are using the time away from the Center to perform street outreach and make home visits to previously housed guests of GMC.

Upon completion, the newly renovated Center will offer an upgraded laundry room, a new hot water heater, a remodeled shower and bathroom, and a more open and efficient floor plan. Stay tuned for reopening details!

Another Georgetown icon passes. Beth was perhaps the most famous homeless person in Georgetown at one time. Some might argue it was Sky King who died back in the early 80’s before Beth arrived on the scene, but I can tell you of Beth’s fame far and wide. On a trip to San Diego 15 years ago, I told someone what I did, working with homeless people in DC. Their eyes lit up. Do you know the woman with the signs in Georgetown? Of course.

Beth was a survivor. She survived many years on the street with an untreated mental illness. Before that Beth survived a horrific accident that left her with a disabling broken back. She survived a very difficult marriage which eventually left her penniless and homeless. Her untreated mental illness distorted her thoughts and made it impossible for her to trust anyone.

When Ron Koshes, GMC’s psychiatrist, decided to write an order to have Beth evaluated in a psychiatric emergency room on a frigid winter night 15 years ago, I was pessimistic. She would just end up back on the street, trusting us less. Imagine my surprise when she called me from the hospital two days later and said, “Gunther, I am so mad at you for putting me in here, but I am so glad you did. I can’t believe how bad I had become.”

In her recovery Beth became her own best advocate. She surrounded herself with people who cared. But she was easy to love and to want to support in her recovery. She became a good friend to so many people here in Georgetown. She loved her apartment in Chevy Chase. She loved her part time job at the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown. And she loved and embraced her community at Dumbarton UMC. As much as Beth’s community gave her strength, dignity and purpose in life, we were all inspired by her.

We should not forget that she was an artist that at one time made jewelry which was sold in stores. Beth put herself through college and became a CPA. As a CPA she worked for the City of Williamsburg and the State of Virginia as an auditor. All this before being ravaged by a terrible mental illness.

Her greatest achievement in life was her recovery from that illness. When Beth could have complained about the bad lot she drew in life, she instead expressed constant gratitude for the many people who gave her life meaning.

She might have been an icon of homelessness at one time, but for us in Georgetown she was an icon of courage and perseverance.

―Gunther Stern

In addition to Grace Church, participating congregations include Church of the Pilgrims, Christ Church, Holy Trinity, St. Paul’s Parish, St. John’s, Georgetown Lutheran, Epiphany Roman Catholic, Georgetown Presbyterian, First Baptist, St. Stephen the Martyr, Kesher Israel and Dumbarton UMC. Designated volunteers cook meals each night, both serving and dining with guests, offering an opportunity for camaraderie among staff, volunteers and shelter residents. The shelter program relies heavily on volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering with this year’s shelter, contact GMC Case Manager, Sabrina Burrell, at sabrina@gmcgt.org. We’re always happy to have new volunteers to prepare meals, eat with guests, or spend the night. An important function of the shelter program is to offer its guests not just a meal and a place to stay, but a community of camaraderie and respect. A smiling face and listening ear can sometimes offer much-needed nourishment that a meal can’t provide. Consider joining us this season at the shelter! 

GMC board members and volunteers serve at the Church of the Pilgrims

There are a number of free Thanksgiving meals being offered in our community this week, both for men and women experiencing homelessness, and for others!  Please find information below:

Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner at Georgetown Ministry Center

Tuesday, November 21, 2:00 PM

Grace Episcopal Church in the Parish Hall

1041 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Join us for a pre-Thanksgiving feast donated by The Ritz Carlton Georgetown! All homeless men and women are welcome to enjoy this FREE Thanksgiving meal. The dinner will be hosted inside Grace Episcopal Church as Georgetown Ministry Center is currently undergoing renovation.

Feast with Friends at Saint Luke’s Mission Center

Wednesday, November 22, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

3655 Calvert St. NW, Washington DC (take the 30, 31 or 33 bus to Calvert St.)

Our homeless neighbors and other individuals and families in need are invited to join Friendship Place for a FREE warm Thanksgiving meal!

Co-sponsored by R&B Singer Raheem DeVaughn and The Lovelife Foundation

20th Annual Thanksgiving Eve Dinner at Georgetown Lutheran Church

Wednesday, November 22, 6:00 PM

Georgetown Lutheran Church

1556 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Come join us for a FREE dinner!

We’ll be serving turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and corn, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, and a variety of pies for dessert.

We welcome those who are homeless or have fallen on hard times, those of limited means, those lonely and in need of companionship, and those simply wanting to share a good meal. No matter the reason–ALL are welcome!

An evening worship service will follow at 7:30 PM.

Everyone is welcome at our table!

Thanksgiving Dinner at Georgetown Ministry Center

Thursday, November 23, 1:00 PM

Grace Episcopal Church in the Parish Hall

1041 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Join us for a Thanksgiving feast! All homeless men and women are welcome to enjoy this FREE Thanksgiving meal. The dinner will be hosted inside Grace Episcopal Church as Georgetown Ministry Center is currently undergoing renovation.

UPDATE 02/22/18: Due to construction delays, GMC’s new anticipated reopening date is in March. We will update the website when we have a specific date available for our reopening.

While GMC is still closed for renovations and temperatures remain low, Grace Episcopal Church DC (1041 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007) has opened a warming center during the day from 9:30am-4pm for GMC guests to seek refuge from the cold and receive hot coffee, food, mail and toiletry items. Click for more info.

Additionally, we have partnered with congregations in the neighborhood to provide shower and laundry services for guests while our day-center is undergoing renovation. Laundry and shower services are available at specific times and locations on Monday-Thursday each week. If you are a guest in need of shower or laundry services, please call the main telephone number, 202-338-8301, and ask to speak to a member of our Program Staff or email info@gmcgt.org

You can also speak with staff in the warming center each day from 9:30am-4pm regarding available services.

Staff will continue to perform street outreach and make home visits to guests who have received housing during renovation.