By Rev. Kevin Schill, Interim Director of the Dignity Center
Greetings from The Dignity Center, your ministry of outreach, hospitality and support for those of our community facing severe financial and housing insecurity. Through your support and the work of our team of volunteers, The Dignity Center provides hope through building relationships and helping individuals set and work toward accomplishing goals of greater self-sufficiency and stability.
On any given Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning, 25-40 of our most vulnerable neighbors come into our beautiful ministry center, where they are greeted with warmth, hospitality, and respect. Some come because they know that The Dignity Center is a safe place where they are welcome to sit at the table, enjoy fellowship and conversation, have a nourishing sack lunch and a cup of coffee, and know that the people there are truly glad to see them.
Most come to meet with one of our trained volunteer advocates to talk about and develop plans for addressing issues of housing, employment, financial insecurity, health and legal issues, all of which create a sense of insecurity, and vulnerability.
Friends, I want you to know that The Dignity Center makes a difference. And as God’s people, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, you are a part of that difference. It is your support that makes this work possible. I would like to share a few ways that you can support this ministry.
- The Dignity Center provides toiletries and other daily needed items to those who come. An easy way to support this effort is by visiting haumc.org/dignity and scrolling down the page to “Amazon Wishlist.” There you will find a number of items that our guests need, and by your generosity, we are able to provide. You can also visit the wishlist by clicking here.
- You can also visit your local dollar store and buy needed products such as shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, feminine care products, etc. Any of these items can be brought to the church reception desk or to The Dignity Center during open hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9 and 11:30 a.m.
- With cold weather coming, there is a great need for warm gloves, socks, and hand warmers. While we do not have a lot of space, we will need both men’s and women’s new or very gently used warm winter coats. Again, these can be brought to the church or directly to The Dignity Center during open hours.
- Perhaps most important, consider volunteering at The Dignity Center. Talk with any of our current volunteers and they will tell you that it is one of the most fulfilling things you will ever do. You may choose to serve on our hospitality team, preparing lunches, snacks and coffee, and visiting with our guests. You might choose to be a greeter, welcoming those who come and helping to triage what it is that has brought them in, and orienting them to what they can expect at The Dignity Center. Or you might serve as an advocate, training for a time to work one-on-one with clients, helping them to identify goals and develop and implement plans to move toward greater stability and sustainability in their lives.
- Financially – For $168 we are able to provide stable housing for an unhoused individual for one month while we work with them on goals and a plan to move into more sustainable, permanent housing. Working in partnership with Catholic Charities Higher Ground Shelter program, The Dignity Center will provide up to three months ($504) of support for stable housing to allow time to work on issues such as employment. Catholic Charities saves these funds so that if the person is ready to move into more permanent housing, they receive $500 to use toward a security deposit or first month’s rent. Your gifts make this move from homelessness to stable housing possible.
In whatever way you can support the work of The Dignity Center, know that you are a vital part of this important ministry. Without you, none of this is possible.
On behalf of all of us at The Dignity Center, Thank you,
Rev. Kevin Schill
Interim Director of The Dignity Center