ODM exists to provide help and hope to people in Denver who are homeless or low income. The objective is to move them toward self-sufficiency by helping change the circumstances and patterns that hold them captive to poverty or addictions.
"Before when I tried the program I was not serious about my sobriety, but this time I am glad for the second chance; I want to live and be there for my children." - a resident at Esther House
"It's [Street2Life Print Shop Internship] the biggest accomplishment of my life and it all started with a cup of coffee." - Nissa, a participant in our Street2Life program
"It's so amazing to see the transformation in such a short time at Work For The Door - to see hope and a future return for our students! It's a blessing to be along for the ride. I just love how excited the students are about the classes - their energy to persevere is an inspiration." Steve, a ODM Board Member and volunteer
"I know at Open Door I don't have to deal with all the drama going on at home right now. It's safe. It's stress-free. [Youth Group] helps me make it through my week." - a Youth Group kid
"I've really enjoyed volunteering in IT, working to ensure the computer systems are available and working across the ministry. Not only has it been really enjoyable getting to know the staff in virtually all of the individual ministries and assist them with their technology needs, but I've been grateful for the opportunity to use my professional talents in ways that truly matter." - Andrew, volunteer
"I have learned some ways to cope with stress and am learning to speak up for myself."- a resident at Treasure House
"The vast majority of our students attend Dora Moore K-8 School, so the staff has worked hard at building relationships there. In 2013, Open Door staff spent over 250 hours in the school building, volunteering their time to assist teachers and students." - Laura, Open Door Childcare Admin.
"I love being at Cornerstone Home because it's an opportunity to reach out to others and be part of a family. It allows me to go beyond myself and care about others." - Randy, a resident at Cornerstone Home
Our mission is to show mercy, build community and make disciples for Christ in urban Denver as an outreach of Open Door Fellowship Church.
Open Door Ministries has grown over the years as an extension of Open Door Fellowship Church, which was started in 1984 for the express purpose of reaching the low-income populations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The church has always had a desire to help people with basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, education, and job opportunities. With these goals, it wasn't long before the church members started multiple local outreach ventures, focusing their efforts where they saw the greatest need. With all of the programs starting in a grassroots fashion, the church realized the need for a structure to manage them, so in May of 1997, Open Door Ministries was created. A board was constituted in December 1997, and the organization received its 501(c)(3) in 1999. Over the years, many staff and programs have been added.
Each program fits into one or more of our five overarching goals: a) to offer safe, low cost, transitional and permanent homes for men, women, and families and to help them grow toward self-sufficiency, b) to ready children for success in school by providing a high quality preschool and school age program, c) to provide healthy relationship-building opportunities for at-risk youth and for disabled people, and d) access to education and employment opportunities, and e) to feed hungry people.
Open Door Ministries is a Christian community development organization. We are committed to meeting immediate, practical needs in the lives of underprivileged people in Denver. The primary goal is to introduce them to the source of hope and real life-change, Jesus Christ. We then strive to move people toward self-sufficiency by helping them change the circumstances and life patterns that have held them captive to poverty and addictions.
In an effort to provide practical assistance to low-income families and to break the cycle of insufficient education that leads to poverty, we operate an all-day childcare center with a preschool, school age, and middle school program. Through our youth ministry, we provide safe activities and mentors for neighborhood teens.
Organization name
Open Door Ministries
other names
ODM
1997
Tax id (EIN)
84-1487135
Category
Religion-Related, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Employment, Youth Development
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
PO Box 18018Other
1567 Marion StreetDenver County, CO, US