Challenge Accepted!
A local foundation has issued a challenge to Open Door Community Center. This generous donor will match donations from any NEW DONORS, up to $5,000! ODCC must receive donations from community members, businesses, and/or churches that have never given to us before.
If you’d like to give toward this match, you can write a check, made payable to ODCC, and mail it to:
1240 Cowell Farm Road, Washington, NC 27889.
Be sure to write “challenge” in the memo line! If giving online, please include the word “challenge” in the space provided for a note.
We’re so thankful for the support of our community. It’s because of your generosity we are able to “lead women and their children out of homelessness” in Beaufort County.
Our Work
Why This Ministry?
Each year almost 100 women and children in Beaufort County are homeless. Either they find themselves completely without shelter of any kind or they live temporarily with neighbors or extended family, frequently moving from one place to another, sleeping on whatever space is available. Sometimes, they wind up sleeping in their cars.
They are among us every day but are often out of our sight. Most of us are blessed to have sufficient means to secure our own housing, provide ourselves with ample clothing and have enough to eat every day. Homeless men can turn to the Zion Shelter for help, while Ruth’s House assists female victims of domestic violence with a safe place to stay. Other women and children who find themselves homeless haven’t had a place that offers care and support. UNTIL NOW!
Our Mission
To provide safe, stable housing for homeless women and their children while connecting them with community resources which enable them to transition into long-term, stable housing.
Before ODCC opened, Beaufort County homeless women and children would either be completely without shelter, living in their vehicle or live temporarily with neighbors or extended family.
These living conditions would mean they had to frequently move from one place to another to find somewhere to sleep.
ODCC opened January 22, 2019 and on January 24, 2019 a woman with four children moved in.
While living at ODCC she found full-time employment and in less than two months she and her children moved into their new home.
Since opening, thirty-eight women and twenty-six children have moved into their new homes after living in ODCC an average of three months.
Our Vision
To have eyes to see and respond to those rendered invisible and excluded, open hearts to reach out in love and mercy to include them, strong hands to help their hurts without judgment and a spirit of gratitude for the opportunity to serve those in need.
OUR OFFICERS from left to right: Doreen Trottier, Brandy Vinson, Bill Staton, & Teresa Carraway.
How You Can Help
Volunteer
Volunteer to help in this mission. All types of skills are needed.
Learn and Spread the Word:
Learn more about this serious issue and our plan to help by liking and following the Open Door Community Center
Invite one of our board members to speak
to your church, class, or civic group.
Pray
Pray for the success of the Center. Ask God to open our hearts to the needs of the homeless women and children in our community.
CONTRIBUTE
Contribute to help meet this critical and growing need.
Contribute when you shop on Amazon by setting ODCC as your Amazon Smile contribution
Have others help you contribute by creating a donation in Honor of a loved one or as part of your Birthday gift requests.
Donate through PayPal by clicking the DONATE button on this website
or mail a check to:
ODCC
1240 Cowell Farm Road
Washington, NC 27889.
All donations are appreciated and a tax-deductible receipt will be provided.
*TAB 3: Need Our Services?* (was “get help here”)
>> Qualifications:
>> Be a homeless woman or homeless woman with single or multiple children.
>> You can supply the following documents to the Case Manager or other staff
>> people the following:
>> 1. Government-issued photo ID.
>> 2. List of medications, both prescribed and over the counter.
>> 3. Document a recent COVID test (not a 15-minute rapid response test)
>> with a negative result.
>> 4. Vaccination record for each child
>> 5. Copy of each child’s birth certificate and/or court order of parental
>> custody.
Our February 22, 2019 Open House
February 22, 2019 was cold and rainy, but that didn’t prevent the community from coming out to celebrate Open Door Community Center (ODCC) being open and providing a home for women and their children who otherwise would be out in the rain and cold. Guests came to see...
ODCC’s continued operation is made possible by these generous organizations:
Open Door Community Center
1240 Cowell Farm Road
Washington, NC 27889
252-623-2150