Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

Open Table Ministry was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2009. Long before 2009, we were on a journey helping people experiencing homelessness through the help of local congregations, support from Duke Divinity school interns, and homeless outreach workers. We started on the side of the road at 15-501, near New Hope Commons, serving lunch to a few friends who had set up an encampment nearby.
We named ourselves Open Table Ministry because we wanted people to know all are welcome here . We offer an open table, where there is room for everyone. We hold solidarity, inclusion, and community as key values while we work together toward stability and wholeness.
Now, more than a decade later, we have moved to our permanent location in the heart of downtown Durham, at Trinity UMC, where we host more than 360 individuals each month for clothing, holistic support, and community. You are always welcome to join us at the table!
Open Table Ministry seeks out and guides those experiencing homelessness and poverty to long-term health and wholeness by building ongoing trusting relationships, meeting practical and personal needs, making connections to community resources, and bridging critical gaps in the social services system.
At Open Table Ministry, we are intentional about befriending , building strong relationships with, and serving the homeless members of our community who are pushed aside, living unsheltered, often to be unnoticed, disregarded, or ignored.

Karma Keg

Free Glasses And Vision Screen

Applying for Vital Documents

Help at Free Store on Tuesdays

Support Office Hours case management

Give

Drew Woten

Namya Stamps

Brant Copen

Nicole McDonald

🎉👟 TODAY’S THE DAY, DURHAM! 👟🎉 It’s finally here! ♥️ Today we’re celebrating Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk, and we can’t wait to see our community come together! Haven’t made plans yet? There’s still time to join us! Come walk, run, bring your family, meet up with friends, and stand alongside Open Table Ministry as we support our unsheltered neighbors. Every step helps support our work connecting neighbors with essential resources, providing practical necessities, and building relationships that create pathways toward long-term health and wholeness. 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 ⏰ 10 AM — TODAY! 💻 CHECK-IN opens at 9 AM!!! 🎉 FREE to attend and participate! A $40 donation with registration gets you an event T-shirt and swag bag. ♥️ TODAY’S TO-DO LIST: 👟 Grab your walking shoes. 👯 Bring a friend. 📲 Share this post and invite someone to join you. (it's not too late!) 🙌 Show up ready to make a difference! 👉 COME WALK WITH US TODAY! Let’s fill the park with compassion, connection, and community. We can’t wait to see you there! ♥️👟 #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #WalkDay #DurhamNC #EveryStepMatters

🚗 A LITTLE PARKING PSA FOR OUR WALK IN THEIR SHOES CREW! 👟 We’re getting excited to welcome everyone to our 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser this Saturday! Before you head our way, we have one small favor to ask: PLEASE CONSIDER CARPOOLING! ♥️ Parking on site will be limited, and we’d love to make sure everyone has a smooth arrival and plenty of room to join in the fun. Grab a friend, bring the family, coordinate with your walking buddies, and make the ride part of the experience! A few extra seats in your car can make a big difference in helping everyone get here safely and easily. Thank you for helping us make this a wonderful morning for our supporters, volunteers, and the neighbors we’re walking alongside. We’ll see you TOMORROW! 📆 Saturday, November 7 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 🚗 Carpooling RECOMMENDED 💻 Registration link in bio 🕘 Check-in opens at 9:00 AM 🕙 Event kicks off at 10:00 AM Let’s walk together, ride together, and make every steps count! ♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #CarpoolAndCome #CommunityMakesADifference

🚨👟 DURHAM, TOMORROW IS THE DAY! 👟🚨 The wait is almost over! TOMORROW, we’re gathering for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk! 💙 We’re ready to fill Southern Boundaries Park with community spirit, compassion, and people who believe every neighbor deserves to be seen, valued, and supported. And there’s still time to make plans to join us! 📣 HERE’S YOUR LAST-MINUTE CALL TO ACTION: 👟 Come out and walk or run with us! 👯 Text your friends and invite them to join you. 📲 Share this post so nobody misses out. 💙 Consider a donation to support our work. 🎉 REMINDER: It’s FREE to attend and participate! Register with a $50 donation to receive an event T-shirt and swag bag. 📅 TOMORROW — Saturday, November 7 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio No need to be a runner. Just bring your walking shoes and your community spirit! 👉 MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW, TAG YOUR WALKING BUDDY, AND COME WALK WITH US! Let’s make every step count for our unsheltered neighbors. ♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #TomorrowIsTheDay #DurhamNC

💙 COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: DUKE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 💙 A stronger community doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when people and organizations come together, recognize the needs around them, and choose to make a difference. We are incredibly grateful to Duke Community Affairs for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! Through its commitment to strengthening connections between Duke and the communities it serves, Duke Community Affairs represents the kind of community partnership that helps make a lasting impact right here in Durham. At Open Table Ministry, we believe meaningful change starts with showing up. It’s found in the relationships we build with our unsheltered neighbors, the practical needs we meet, the resources we help people access, and the reminder that no one should have to navigate life’s hardest challenges alone. Partnerships like this help make that work possible. Thank you, Duke Community Affairs, for walking alongside us and helping build a stronger, more compassionate Durham. When our community comes together, we can create opportunities for real change. ♥️ Together, we’re taking steps toward a Durham where everyone has the opportunity to find stability, dignity, and a place to belong. There's still time to register! OR just come on out on Saturday, registration will be available on site! 📆 Saturday, November 7 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 🚗 Carpooling RECOMMENDED 💻 Registration link in bio 🕘 Check-in opens at 9:00 AM 🕙 Event kicks off at 10:00 AM #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DukeCommunityAffairs #DukeUniversity #DurhamNC #CommunityPartnership #EndHomelessness

👕♥️ JUST 2 MORE DAYS! ♥️👟 The countdown is almost over, Durham! This Saturday, we’re coming together for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk, and we want YOU to be part of it! Come for the walk. Bring your friends. Connect with your community. Leave knowing you’ve supported a mission that helps our unsheltered neighbors access essential resources and the support they deserve. And don’t forget — you can support the cause and get some event goodies, too! 🙌 🎉 FREE to attend and participate! ♥️ Register with a $40 donation to receive an event T-shirt and swag bag. 📅 Saturday, November 7 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio YOUR TWO-DAY CHECKLIST: ✅ Invite a friend. ✅ Share this post. ✅ Make your plans to attend. ✅ Consider a donation to support OTM’s work. 👉 Help us spread the word! Share this post and bring someone along this Saturday. We can’t wait to walk with you! 👟♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #TwoDaysToGo #DurhamNC

🎉👟 3 DAYS, DURHAM! ARE YOU IN?! 👟🎉 We’re getting SO excited for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk this Saturday! Gather your walking buddies, lace up those sneakers, and get ready for a morning dedicated to community, compassion, and supporting our unsheltered neighbors. ♥️ Every participant helps raise awareness and support for the work OTM does to connect neighbors with resources, meet practical needs, and build relationships rooted in trust and dignity. ✨ HERE’S HOW TO BE PART OF THE ACTION: 👟 Show up and join the walk. 👯 Bring a friend — or bring your whole crew! 👕 Register with a $40 donation to receive your event T-shirt and swag bag. 📲 Share this post to invite others. 🎉 The event is FREE to attend and participate in! 📅 Saturday, November 7 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio 👉 Who’s joining us? Comment below, tag your crew, and make plans to walk with us! Let’s show our neighbors what a caring community looks like. ♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #ThreeDaysToGo #DurhamCommunity

🛍️ A little swag, a whole lot of community spirit! ♥️ Our staff and volunteers have been busy packing swag bags and getting everything ready for this Saturday’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes! 👟 We can’t wait to welcome all of our registered walkers, supporters, sponsors, and friends for a morning of community, connection, and making a difference for our unsheltered neighbors here in Durham. 📆 Saturday, November 7 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 🚗 Carpooling RECOMMENDED 💻 Registration link in bio 🕘 Check-in opens at 9:00 AM 🕙 Event kicks off at 10:00 AM We’ve got the swag bags packed, the excitement is building, and we’re counting down the hours until we see YOU! Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time to join us! Come walk, show your support, and help us continue building pathways to hope, dignity, and long-term wholeness. ✨Let your steps make a difference. We’ll see you Saturday! ♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #CommunityMakesADifference

♥️ 4 DAYS UNTIL WE WALK TOGETHER! 👟 At Open Table Ministry, we know that meaningful change begins when people choose to show up for one another. Sometimes that means helping someone obtain an ID. Sometimes it means providing clothing and hygiene essentials. And sometimes it means an entire community coming together to walk in support of our unsheltered neighbors. This Saturday, we’re doing just that — and YOU have a place in it! 📣 HERE’S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: ✅ Join us for the 5K or walk. ✅ Bring your family, friends, or coworkers. ✅ Share this post with someone who cares about Durham. ✅ Support our mission with a donation. 🎉 It’s FREE to attend and participate! A $40 donation with registration gets you an event T-shirt and swag bag. 📅 Saturday, November 7 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio Four days. One community. Countless ways to make a difference. 👇 Tag someone who should join you this Saturday! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #CommunityInAction

👟♥️ 5 DAYS LEFT — LET’S GET WALKING, DURHAM! ♥️👟 Our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk is THIS SATURDAY, and we’d love to see YOU there! You don’t have to be a runner to make a difference. Whether you walk, jog, bring the family, or show up with your coworkers, you are helping support a community that believes every neighbor deserves dignity, compassion, and connection. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TODAY: 👟 Make plans to join us Saturday. 👯 Invite a friend to walk alongside you. 📲 Share this post and help us reach more people. ♥️ Make a donation to support Open Table Ministry’s programs. 🎉 Participation is FREE! Register with a $40 donation to receive an event T-shirt and swag bag. 📅 November 7 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio 👉 Don’t wait — make your plans today and bring your people! Let’s make every step count for our unsheltered neighbors. #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamCommunity #FiveDaysToGo

🎉👟 6 DAYS AWAY, DURHAM! 👟🎉 The countdown is ON! Just 6 DAYS until Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk! 💙 We’re getting ready to bring our community together for a morning of movement, connection, and making a difference for our unsheltered neighbors. Every step supports the work happening right here in Durham — connecting neighbors with essential resources, providing clothing and everyday necessities, and building trusting relationships that help people move toward long-term health and wholeness. 🎉 THE BEST PART? IT’S FREE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE! Want this year’s event T-shirt and swag bag? Register with a $40 donation to receive both while supporting our mission! 👟 YOUR ONE-WEEK CHALLENGE: ✅ Make plans to join us! ✅ Invite at least three friends or coworkers. ✅ Share this post to spread the word. ✅ Consider making a donation to support our work. 📅 Saturday, November 7 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio ♥️ ONE WEEK. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE SHARED PURPOSE. 👉 Tag your walking buddies, make your plans, and let’s fill the park with people who care! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #OneWeekAway #EveryStepMatters

👟🎉 ONE WEEK AWAY, DURHAM! ♥️ The countdown is ON! We are officially just ONE WEEK away from Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk! 🙌 Next Saturday, we’re coming together to take steps toward a stronger, more compassionate community for our unsheltered neighbors. Every step helps support the work we do right here in Durham — connecting people with essential resources, providing clothing and necessities, and building relationships that remind our neighbors they are seen, valued, and not forgotten. ♥️ And guess what? It’s FREE to attend and participate! 🎉 Want to take home a little something extra? Register with a $40 donation and receive an event T-shirt AND a swag bag! Your generosity helps us continue making a difference in our community. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio 👟 HERE’S YOUR CHALLENGE: ✅ Sign up for the 5K or walk! ✅ Text a friend, gather your family, or rally your coworkers to join you! ✅ Share this post and help us spread the word! You don’t have to be a runner to make a difference. Just bring your heart, your walking shoes, and a willingness to show up for your community. ♥️ 📣 DON’T WALK ALONE — BRING YOUR PEOPLE! Let’s fill the park with compassion, connection, and community. 👉 Register today, invite your friends, and LET YOUR STEPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #CommunityMakesADifference #EndHomelessness #OneWeekAway

⏳ THE COUNTDOWN IS ON, DURHAM! 👟💙 The 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk is almost here! On November 7, we’re lacing up our sneakers, gathering our community, and taking meaningful steps toward a stronger support system for our unsheltered neighbors. When you participate, you’re doing more than completing a 5K. You’re helping Open Table Ministry provide practical necessities, connect neighbors with critical resources, and build the trusting relationships that support long-term health and wholeness. We want YOU on the starting line! 🔥 Your mission this week: 👟 REGISTER for the 5K or walk. 👯 BRING A FRIEND — better yet, bring your whole crew! 📲 SHARE THIS POST to spread the word. ♥️ DONATE to support our work if you can’t make it. 📅 November 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio Every step represents a community that cares. Every registration helps build momentum. Every act of generosity helps us continue showing up for our neighbors. 👉 Don’t just cheer us on from the sidelines. Sign up today and walk with us! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #TakeAStepForChange

🎼🎶 A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALDERSGATE UMC! 🎶🎼 What a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with open hearts and a desire to serve! A huge THANK YOU to Aldersgate United Methodist Church - Durham, NC for recently hosting their Blessings & Bluegrass service! From wonderful music and delicious food to meaningful fellowship, the gathering was filled with joy, connection, and the spirit of giving. 💙 Together, this incredible congregation packed 1,000 hygiene kits for Open Table Ministry to distribute to our unsheltered neighbors here in Durham. These kits provide essential personal care items that support our neighbors’ dignity, comfort, and everyday needs. We are deeply grateful for every person who gave their time, energy, and love to make this possible. Every kit represents more than a collection of supplies — it represents compassion in action. To Aldersgate UMC, thank you for being a wonderful example of what it means to put faith into action and love your neighbors well. Your generosity will reach far beyond the walls of your church, and we are so grateful to partner with a community that cares so deeply. ♥️ 👟 WANT TO JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE? Come walk alongside us at Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk! 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio ✨ It’s FREE to attend and participate! Register with a $50 donation to receive an event T-shirt and swag bag. Bring your friends, gather your family, and help us continue showing up for our unsheltered neighbors. Every step supports OTM’s work connecting people with essential resources, meeting practical needs, and building relationships rooted in dignity and hope. 👉 REGISTER TODAY, INVITE A FRIEND, AND LET YOUR STEPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Together, we can build a community where no neighbor is overlooked and everyone has the opportunity to move toward health, stability, and wholeness. ♥️👟 #OpenTableMinistry #AldersgateUMC #BlessingsAndBluegrass #DurhamNC #WalkInTheirShoes #CommunityInAction #LoveYourNeighbor

👟 HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET? The 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk is happening November 7, and there’s still time to be part of something meaningful! ♥️ Join Open Table Ministry as we take steps toward a Durham where our unsheltered neighbors have access to the essentials, resources, and relationships they need to move forward. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio Here’s what we need you to do TODAY: 👉 Register for the 5K or walk. 👉 Invite one person to join you. 👉 Share this post with your network. Can’t attend? Make a donation to support our work! One community. One shared purpose. Countless ways to make a difference. 👟 Register today. Walk with purpose. Help change lives. #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EveryStepMatters

👟♥️ WALK WITH PURPOSE. LOOK GOOD DOING IT. ♥️👕 Have you seen this year’s Walk in Their Shoes shirts?! 👀 We think they’re the perfect way to show your support for our unsheltered neighbors here in Durham! Join Open Table Ministry for our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk and be part of a community taking meaningful steps toward ending homelessness. ✨ THE BEST PART? IT’S FREE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE! ✨ Want to snag one of our event T-shirts and a swag bag? Here’s how! 👇 👟 Register with a $50 donation and you’ll receive a Walk in Their Shoes T-shirt AND a swag bag! Your donation also helps support Open Table Ministry’s work connecting our neighbors with essential resources, clothing, and the relationships they need to move toward long-term health and wholeness. ♥️ 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio 🎉 Come for the walk. Stay for the community. Leave knowing you’ve helped make a difference! 👉 REGISTER TODAY, grab your shirt, and invite a friend to walk alongside you! Can’t make a donation? No problem — come out and participate for FREE! Let’s fill the park with people who care. Every step matters, and we’d love to see YOU there! 👟♥️ #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #EveryStepMatters

⏳ The countdown is on! We’re getting ready for our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K, and we hope you’ll be there! Every registration helps Open Table Ministry continue providing essential resources to our unsheltered neighbors, from IDs and birth certificates to clothing, basic necessities, and the services available through our Tuesday Free Store. Whether you’re walking, running, or cheering others on, your participation makes a difference. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time to join us! 🔗 Register today! ♥️

✨ PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS: ✨ 🏡 NBAXTER DESIGN 🏡 We’re delighted to recognize nBaxter Design for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! ❤️ Interior design brings thoughtfulness, intention, and care into the spaces where we live and gather. At Open Table Ministry, we believe those same values belong in the way we care for our community. Every day, we work to create meaningful connections with our unsheltered neighbors—offering practical essentials, helping people navigate community resources, and building relationships rooted in trust and dignity. Thank you, nBaxter Design, for helping us build a more welcoming and compassionate Durham, one step at a time! _______ ❤️ PARKER & OTIS ❤️ There are some places in Durham that just feel like Durham—and Parker & Otis is one of them. We are so grateful to Parker and Otis for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! Community is at the heart of what we do, and having local businesses like Parker & Otis step up to support our unsheltered neighbors reminds us of what makes Durham special: people taking care of people. So here’s to local businesses, local hearts, and a community that keeps showing up. 🥰 _______ 🌊 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: RISING TIDE 🌊 A single act of kindness can create a ripple. One person showing up can inspire another. One resource can open a door. One relationship can change someone’s trajectory. We’re grateful to Rising Tide for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser and helping create those ripples of change throughout our community. Thank you, Rising Tide, for helping us create a ripple that reaches far beyond one day or one event. Together, we can make waves. 💙 👟 Walk in Their Shoes | November 7, 2026 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #nBaxterDesign #DurhamNC #CommunityMatters #DesignWithPurpose #endhomelessness #RisingTide #ParkerAndOtis #ShopLocal

📣 DURHAM, IT’S TIME TO SHOW UP! Our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk is coming up on November 7, and we’re inviting our entire community to step up for our unsheltered neighbors. 💙 Homelessness is more than the absence of a home. It can mean navigating complicated systems without identification, finding clean clothes and basic necessities, and trying to access resources without a permanent address. At Open Table Ministry, we believe that lasting change begins with relationships, dignity, and meeting people where they are. And we can’t do it alone. Every registration, every donation, and every person who spreads the word helps strengthen the work happening right here in Durham. 👟 HERE’S YOUR CALL TO ACTION: ✅ Register yourself or your family for the 5K or walk. ✅ Challenge three friends to join you. ✅ Share this post and help us reach someone new. ✅ Donate if you can’t attend in person. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio Don’t wait until the last minute. Register today, invite your people, and help us make every step count! Together, we can build a community where our unsheltered neighbors are met with compassion, connection, and opportunity. 🔗 Find registration details through Open Table Ministry! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamCommunity #WalkForChange #HousingAndHope

PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS: 🍝CUCCIOLO 🍝 Durham knows how to gather around a table—and we love a partner who understands the power of community. ❤️ We’re thrilled to have Cucciolo Osteria supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! Cucciolo brings people together around good food, conversation, and connection. At Open Table Ministry, we believe those same things—connection, belonging, and community—matter deeply when it comes to addressing homelessness. Our work is about more than providing things. It’s about building relationships with our unsheltered neighbors and reminding people who are often overlooked that they matter. Thank you, Cucciolo, for helping us create a community where more people have a seat at the table. 🫶 Now THAT is something worth raising a glass—or a fork—to! - AND - ❤️ PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ❤️ Faith becomes powerful when it moves beyond words and into action. We are deeply grateful to the National Christian Foundation for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser and helping us put compassion into action right here in our community. At Open Table Ministry, we believe every person deserves to be seen, heard, treated with dignity, and given the opportunity to pursue a healthier, more stable future. Your support helps us walk alongside our unsheltered neighbors—meeting practical needs, connecting people to resources, and building the relationships that make lasting change possible. Thank you for helping us live out the belief that loving our neighbors means showing up for them. We’re grateful to have you walking with us. 👟 👟 Walk in Their Shoes — November 7, 2026 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #Cucciolo #DurhamNC #CommunityPartners #DurhamCommunity #endhomelessness #NationalChristianFoundation #FaithInAction #LoveYourNeighbor

👟 EVERY STEP MAKES A DIFFERENCE. ♥️ We’re getting closer to our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K & Walk, and we want YOU to be part of it! ♥️ On Saturday, November 7, we’re coming together in Durham to support our unsheltered neighbors and help Open Table Ministry continue providing the resources, essentials, and connections that can change lives. Your participation helps make it possible to: ✨ Connect neighbors with IDs, birth certificates, and essential documents. ✨ Keep our Tuesday Free Store stocked with clothing and everyday necessities. ✨ Bridge gaps in social services and connect people with vital community resources. ✨ Build trusting relationships that remind our neighbors they are seen, valued, and never forgotten. You can make a difference. Here’s how: 👟 REGISTER TODAY and join us for the 5K or walk! 📣 SHARE THIS POST and invite your friends, family, and coworkers. 💙 MAKE A DONATION to help us continue serving our community. 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM 💻 Registration link in bio Don’t just walk alongside us — walk alongside our neighbors on the journey toward hope, stability, and wholeness. 👉 Register now and let your steps make a difference! Link in bio! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #CommunityMakesADifference

📣 PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS: ⚖️ BAGWELL HOLT SMITH P.A. ♥️ A stronger community is one where people look out for one another—and where everyone is treated with dignity. We’re grateful to Bagwell Holt Smith P.A. for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! Community support makes a real difference in our work with neighbors experiencing homelessness. It helps us provide essential items, connect people to critical resources, assist with obtaining important identification documents, and build the trusting relationships that make long-term change possible. At Open Table Ministry, we believe every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported as they work toward a healthier, more stable future. Thank you, Bagwell Holt Smith P.A., for standing alongside our community and helping us continue this important work. Your partnership reminds us that creating meaningful change takes all of us. -AND- 🧦 BALEGA 👟 Every step tells a story. And every step we take together can help change someone else’s. We’re excited to recognize Balega for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! ❤️ As a brand known for running socks designed with comfort and performance in mind, Balega is a wonderful partner for a fundraiser that reminds us just how much every step matters. At Open Table Ministry, we walk alongside our unsheltered neighbors as they navigate challenges, connect with essential resources, and work toward long-term stability. From helping people obtain IDs and birth certificates to providing clothing and everyday necessities, your support helps us keep showing up for our community. Because sometimes, moving forward starts with having the essentials—and knowing someone is walking beside you. Thank you, Balega, for helping us take meaningful steps toward a more compassionate Durham! 👟 Walk in Their Shoes | November 7, 2026 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #BagwellHoltSmith #DurhamNC #CommunityPartners #StrongerTogether #endhomelessness #Balega #EveryStepMatters

Behind every step we take is a neighbor who deserves a chance to thrive. ♥️ A person working toward stable housing. Someone trying to replace a lost ID. A neighbor in need of shoes, clothing, or simply someone willing to listen. These are the people at the heart of Open Table Ministry’s work. Our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K helps make it possible for us to continue showing up, meeting practical needs, and building the trusting relationships that create opportunities for lasting change. Join us on November 7 and help us keep moving forward, together. 👟 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Let your steps make a difference. Register today! ♥️

📣🏠 ANNOUNCEMENT: Neighbor Move In!!! 🏠📣 Last week, Thomas moved into a home of their own. It took persistence, patience, and a lot of paperwork, but Thomas stuck with it, and today he's unpacking in a place that’s theirs. We’re grateful we got to walk alongside them, and grateful to Housing for New Hope for helping make this possible. ✨🏠 Welcome home, Thomas! 🏠✨ _______________________ Participating in fundraising events like our upcoming Walk in Their Shoes helps us continue to provide the life-changing support for individuals like Thomas, who now has a place to call home! If you'd like to be part of helping our unsheltered neighbors navigate getting the support they need, jog on over and get registered today! 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #opentableministry #endhomelessness #housingfornewhope #walkintheirshoes

🏡 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: FRONT PORCH VENTURE PARTNERS 🏡 Great things often start with a simple idea: What if we did this together? We are incredibly thankful to Front Porch Venture Partners for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser. Front Porch is passionate about building connections, supporting growth, and investing in the Southeast—and we’re grateful they’re helping invest in something equally important: the people and future of our own Durham community. At Open Table Ministry, we believe lasting change begins with relationships. We walk alongside our unsheltered neighbors, meet practical needs, connect people with resources, and help bridge the gaps that can stand between someone and stability. It takes a community to make that possible. Thank you, Front Porch Venture Partners, for being part of ours. ♥️ Let’s keep showing up for Durham—together. Don't forget to register! 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #FrontPorchVenturePartners #DurhamNC #CommunityPartners #EndHomelessness

A big thank you to the Duke Community Affairs Office for packing 250 hygiene kits for our neighbors! These kits will go out through our Free Store, putting everyday essentials directly into the hands of people who need them. Duke’s “Doing Good” community fund has supported our Ready ID program for the past three years. That support has helped neighbors get the identification they need to access housing, jobs, and benefits. The funding matters a great deal. So does the presence. We’re grateful for partners who don’t stop at writing a check. They show up, roll up their sleeves, and become part of the community we’re building together. Thank you, @dukeindurham, for being that kind of partner. ____________________ If you too would like to find a way to get involved, join us for our upcoming Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser happening at Southern Boundaries Park! 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #opentableministry #endhomelessness #durhamnc #dukecommunityaffairs #CommunityMatters

♥️ PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: AMERIO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ♥️ The best investments aren’t always measured in dollars. Sometimes, they’re measured in people, relationships, opportunity, and hope. We are grateful to Amerio Capital Management for investing in Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser and helping us invest in the lives of our unsheltered neighbors. Your support helps make it possible for Open Table Ministry to provide the practical resources people need—from IDs and birth certificates to clothing and everyday essentials—while also helping connect people to services and opportunities that can move them toward long-term health and wholeness. Thank you for believing that investing in our community means investing in its people. Together, we’re building a Durham where everyone has the opportunity to move forward. 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #AmerioCapital #DurhamNC #CommunityInvestment #EndHomelessness

👟 Every step tells a story. Every step makes a difference. This November, join us for our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K and take a step toward a community where everyone has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. Your participation helps Open Table Ministry provide identification documents, clothing, essential supplies, connections to vital community resources, and so much more. It also helps keep our Tuesday Free Store stocked and accessible to our neighbors experiencing homelessness. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Lace up, bring a friend, and let your steps make a difference! 🔗 Register today and walk with us! ♥️👟

👟 REGISTRATION IS OPEN! 👟 It’s time to show up and let every step make a difference by registering for our 2026 Walk in Their Shoes! ♥️ Join Open Table Ministry on Saturday, November 7th at Southern Boundaries Park in Durham for our 17th annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K fundraiser! Share this event with your community and spread the love! Every step you take helps support our work with neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty right here in Durham. When you register, you’re not just signing up for a 5K—you’re helping create connection, build relationships, meet practical needs, and remind our unsheltered neighbors that they are seen, valued, and not alone. All experience levels are welcome! Even if you just want to come cheer on the runners! 🏃‍♀️ Walk. Run. Jog. Bring the whole crew! 👟 Registration is officially OPEN! 📅 Saturday, November 7, 10am 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, 100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 ♥️ Let your steps make a difference. 👉 Register today and Walk in Their Shoes with us! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #WalkForACause #MakeADifference #CommunityMatters

Today is DAF Day! If you have a Donor Advised Fund, today is a great day to recommend a grant to Open Table Ministry. Every week, our team walks alongside neighbors experiencing homelessness in Durham. We show up, build trust, and help people take real steps toward housing, benefits, and stability. That work runs on relationships, and those relationships are possible because of people like you. A DAF grant to OTM keeps our outreach on the streets and our doors open. Recommending a grant is easy. Search for Open Table Ministry on your DAF provider’s platform or use the link in our bio. Questions? Reach out to us anytime. Thank you for making this work possible.

👟 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: BULL CITY RUNNING CO. 👟 Talk about a perfect partnership. 😉 When you’re literally in the business of helping Durham get moving, supporting Walk in Their Shoes just makes sense! We are so grateful to Bull City Running Co. for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 fundraiser. Bull City Running has built more than a running store—it has helped build a community around movement, connection, encouragement, and showing up for one another. And that’s exactly what Walk in Their Shoes is about. Because ending homelessness doesn’t happen with one giant leap. It happens one relationship, one resource, one conversation, one act of kindness—and one step—at a time. Thank you, Bull City Running, for helping us put one foot in front of the other as we work toward a stronger, more compassionate Durham. ♥️ Let your steps make a difference. #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #BullCityRunning #DurhamNC #RunDurham #EndHomelessness

Open Table Ministry is hiring Shelter Monitors for this winter. From November 1 to February 28, we’ll be sheltering guests at two partner hotels, with one monitor at each site. Monitors help guests with day-to-day needs, work with hotel staff, sort out problems as they come up, and help people connect with the care and services they need on the way to stable housing. Details: • Temporary position, November 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027 • $28/hour, about 24–32 hours a week • Weekdays 7–11am and 4–8pm, weekends 10am–2pm • Overnight on-call shared among monitors, paid at a flat rate • Required training on October 28 or 29, 5–8pm (attend one) Experience in human services or with people experiencing homelessness is helpful. Peer Support Specialists and bilingual applicants, especially Spanish speakers, are encouraged to apply. To apply, email admin(at)opentableministry(dot)org Please share this with anyone who might be a good fit.

👟 Got your walking shoes ready? We’ve got a reason to lace them up! Join us for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K! Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a casual walker, or simply someone who believes in supporting their community, there’s a place for you. Your participation helps us provide essential resources, stock our Tuesday Free Store, and support our neighbors experiencing homelessness. 📅 November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Tag your walking buddy, gather your friends, and register today. Let’s make this year’s walk count! ♥️

🏃‍♀️ PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: IMPLUS 🏃‍♂️ Some steps take you across a finish line. Others help someone take the next step toward a better future. We are incredibly grateful to Implus for supporting Open Table Ministry’s 2026 Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! As a Durham-based leader in active lifestyle products, Implus knows something about the power of movement—and we’re grateful they’re helping us turn that movement into meaningful change right here in our community. Every dollar raised through Walk in Their Shoes helps Open Table Ministry walk alongside our unsheltered neighbors by providing practical essentials, connecting people with resources, helping secure vital identification and documents, and building the trusting relationships that can lead toward long-term stability. Thank you, @implusllc, for helping us keep moving toward a Durham where everyone has a place to call home. ♥️ 👟 Walk with us. Give with us. Make your steps count. 📆 November 7 | 10 am 📍100 3rd Fork Rd., Durham, NC 27707 💻 Registration link in bio #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #Implus #EndHomelessness #CommunityPartners

👟 Lace up, Durham! We’re walking for our neighbors! ♥️ Our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K is just around the corner, and we’d love for you to join us! Your participation helps provide clothing, identification documents, essential supplies, and access to resources for our unsheltered neighbors. It also supports our Tuesday Free Store and the relationships that make our work possible. 📅 November 7 | 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Grab your friends, register today, and let’s make every step count! 🔗 Sign up now! (Registration Link in bio)

♥️ It takes a community to make a difference. At Open Table Ministry, we believe that everyone deserves to be seen, valued, and supported. From helping someone obtain an ID to providing a warm jacket, stocking our Tuesday Free Store, or simply offering a listening ear, every act of support matters. Our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K is an opportunity for our community to come together and help make these services possible. Join us as we walk alongside our unsheltered neighbors and work toward a community where no one is forgotten. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Walk with us. Support our mission. Make a difference. ♥️ 🔗 Register today!

We want to say a big thank you to the women's group at Bahama Baptist Church. Year after year, these women have stayed committed to weaving plastic mats for our unsheltered neighbors. This year they brought us 19 mats to hand out. It's hard to overstate how useful these mats are. They're waterproof and thick enough to give real protection from the ground, and they're one of the items our neighbors ask us for most often. For someone sleeping outside, a good mat can make the difference between a cold, wet night and some actual rest. Each mat takes a lot of time and care to make. We see that work as a very practical act of love and mercy, and we're grateful to get to pass it along. Thank you, Bahama Baptist friends!

A big thank you to our friends at @aldersgatedurham! Aldersgate recently hosted their “Undie (+ Backpacks!) Sunday,” a mission drive for our unsheltered neighbors. The congregation collected 58 backpacks and over 500 pairs of men’s underwear for us to distribute. Think about it for a minute: if you didn’t have a place to store your belongings, where would you put them all day? Where would they be safe? For our neighbors living outside, a good backpack isn’t a convenience. It’s how they keep their documents, medications, clothes, and everything else they own close and protected. Clean underwear is one of the things people rarely think to donate, and one of the things our neighbors need most. 500 pairs will go a long way. Thank you, Aldersgate family, for your witness and hospitality in caring for our community!

Imagine trying to find a job without an ID. Access healthcare without your birth certificate. Or make it through the week without clean clothes or basic necessities. For many of our unsheltered neighbors, these are everyday challenges. At Open Table Ministry, we work to bridge those gaps by helping people obtain identification documents, providing essential items through our Tuesday Free Store, and connecting neighbors with resources that support their journey toward stability. This November, you can help us continue that work! 👟 Join us for our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K. 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 ⏰ 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 Your registration helps turn community support into practical, meaningful assistance. Let’s walk together! ♥️

What does your registration for "Walk in Their Shoes" actually do? A whole lot more than you might think! ♥️ Your support helps Open Table Ministry: 👟 Connect our neighbors with vital community resources. 🪪 Help people obtain IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards. 👕 Provide clothing, shoes, and other essential items. 🛍️ Keep our Tuesday Free Store stocked and accessible. 🤝 Build trusting relationships that help people move toward long-term health and wholeness. Every registration helps us continue this work, and every step brings our community together. Join us for our 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K! 📅 November 7, 2026 | 10 AM 📍 100 3rd Fork Rd, Durham, NC 27707 ‼️♥️ Register today and be part of something meaningful! ♥️‼️

Move-In Monday When we celebrate someone moving into a place of their own, we’re reminded that we are one part of their housing story. No one gets there alone, and neither do we. It takes outreach and engagement to build trust. It takes housing providers and case managers offering wraparound support. It takes a backbone agency coordinating the work, health care workers meeting people where they are, and a whole community showing up along the way. This week, we’re thrilled to share that two of our friends have moved into a place of their own with @housing4newhope. We’re grateful to every partner who had a hand in this, and we’re cheering on our neighbors as they settle in. Welcome home, friends!

✨Open Table Ministry exists because we believe our neighbors experiencing homelessness deserve more than a temporary solution.✨🏠 They deserve to be seen. Heard. Welcomed. Supported. And treated with dignity. Our mission is to walk alongside people experiencing homelessness and poverty by building trusting relationships, meeting practical and personal needs, connecting people with community resources, and helping bridge the gaps in our social service system. Every Tuesday at the Free Store. During Office Hours. Through case management. Through our community partnerships. Through every conversation, cup of coffee, shower, donated pair of shoes, and helping hand. It all comes back to one thing: community. Because when we make room for our neighbors, we create a community where everyone has the opportunity to find stability and thrive. That’s Open Table Ministry.

👟 IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD YET.... REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 👟 It’s time to lace up, show up, and Walk in Their Shoes! ♥️ Join Open Table Ministry on Saturday, November 7th at Southern Boundaries Park in Durham for our annual Walk in Their Shoes 5K fundraiser! Every step you take helps support our work with neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty right here in Durham. When you register, you’re not just signing up for a 5K—you’re helping create connection, build relationships, meet practical needs, and remind our unsheltered neighbors that they are seen, valued, and not alone. 🏃‍♀️ Walk. Run. Jog. Bring the whole crew! 👟 Registration is officially OPEN! 📅 Saturday, November 7 📍 Southern Boundaries Park, Durham 💙 Let your steps make a difference. 👉 Register today and Walk in Their Shoes with us, link in bio! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #WalkForACause #MakeADifference #CommunityMatters

Big thanks to our friends at @cor4_fitness! 👟 They hosted a drive for gently used shoes to support our unsheltered neighbors here in Durham. Many of our neighbors spend much of their day on their feet. A good pair of shoes offers real, immediate help. Thank you, Cor4 Fitness, for your generosity and partnership in caring for our community.

Hi-Wire was packed last night for Karma Keg. Good crowd, fun energy, and a lot of amazing nonprofits in one room. We didn’t come home with the win, but our staff and interns spent the night talking with people about Open Table Ministry and the work we do with our unhoused neighbors. Worth the trip either way! Thanks to everyone who came out, asked questions, and voted for us. Thanks also to @inhabitthetriangle for organizing and @hiwirebrewing_durm for hosting!

⁉️ What does Open Table Ministry do? ⁉️ We walk alongside people experiencing homelessness in Durham. But our work is about so much more than handing out clothing or connecting people to resources. We build relationships. We restore dignity. We meet practical needs. We connect people to support. We walk alongside our neighbors toward stability and wholeness. Because we believe homelessness can be overcome—not through one organization working alone, but through a community willing to show up for one another. Our purpose is to overcome homelessness through community. And there’s always room at our table. 🩵 Let us know if you're interested in volunteering with Open Table Ministry! #OpenTableMinistry #EndHomelessness #DurhamNC #CommunityMatters #ThereIsRoom

REMINDER to come out and support us tomorrow at @hiwirebrewing_durm for Karma Keg! Thank you @inhabitthetriangle for inviting us to participate alongside other amazing non-profits in the area. Grab a brew and cast your vote! Invite all your friends to come out and enjoy a pint while making a difference in Durham! Can't wait to see you there! #InhabitTheTriangle #IREKarmaKeg #opentableministry #endhomelessness

Our registration page is live! Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes is Saturday, November 7th at 10 AM, Southern Boundaries Park in Durham. This annual event is how we fund the work. OTM is a 501(c)(3), and 100% of what we raise goes straight to our unhoused neighbors - offering clothing, vital supplies, and housing navigation to help people move off the streets and into stability. Sign up, bring a friend, and join us in supporting our neighbors!

🛒 The Free Store needs a little restock! 🩵🧡💛 Our shelves are getting low, and we could use your help keeping the Free Store stocked with practical items our unsheltered neighbors need. Right now, we’re especially looking for: 🧥 Lightweight men’s jackets — all sizes 🧢 Baseball caps 👟 Men’s outdoor/running shoes — sizes 9–14 👖 Belts Every donation helps us meet a practical need while reminding our neighbors that their community sees them, cares about them, and is here for them. ❤️ Have something on our list to share? Bring it our way! Your generosity helps keep the Free Store ready to serve. #OpenTableMinistry #FreeStore #DurhamNC #GiveBack #CommunityCare #EndHomelessness

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: THIS COULD BE YOU! 👀👟 Every year, local businesses and organizations step up to support Open Table Ministry’s Walk In Their Shoes fundraiser. And we want to add YOUR name to the team! Sponsoring our Walk In Their Shoes fundraiser is an opportunity to: ✨ Get your business in front of members of the Durham community ✨ Show your customers that you care about our community ✨ Support the work of Open Table Ministry ✨ Help raise awareness about homelessness ✨ Invest directly in services that support our unhoused neighbors This isn’t just another sponsorship. It’s a chance to put your resources behind a cause that impacts real people right here in Durham. 📅 November 7, 2026 📍 Southern Boundaries Park ⏰ 10 AM 👟 Walk with us. Sponsor us. Stand with our neighbors. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Message us today for sponsorship information! drew.woten@opentableministry.org #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #SupportLocal #CorporateGiving #CommunityPartners

Open Table Ministry is hosting Glasses for the Homeless for a free vision screening and glasses giveaway for individuals experiencing homelessness in Durham. Vision problems can make it harder to read paperwork, fill out job applications, or get around safely. This event provides a screening and a pair of glasses at no cost, no appointment needed.

✨ There is room at the table. ✨ At Open Table Ministry, our name is more than a name. It’s a belief. A belief that every person in our community deserves to be welcomed, valued, and treated with dignity—including our neighbors experiencing homelessness. We meet people where they are: on the streets, in shelters, and at our front door. We provide practical support, but just as importantly, we build the trusting relationships that make lasting change possible. Because ending homelessness isn’t just about providing a service. It’s about building community. It’s about restoring connection. It’s about walking alongside our neighbors toward health, stability, and wholeness. This is our purpose. This is why we show up. And this is why there will always be an open table. #OpenTableMinistry #ThereIsRoom #EndHomelessness #DurhamNC #CommunityThroughCompassion

👟 WE’RE TWO MONTHS AWAY! 👟 The countdown is on! In just 2 months, we’ll be gathering for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk in Their Shoes fundraiser! ❤️ 📅 Saturday, November 7th, 2026 📍 Southern Boundaries Park — Durham, NC ⏰ 10:00 AM Set aside the date and come walk alongside us as we raise awareness, build community, and make a real difference in the lives of our unsheltered neighbors. Every step matters. Every person matters. Let your steps make a difference. 👣❤️ Mark your calendar, invite your friends and family, and get ready to Walk in Their Shoes! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #EndHomelessness #DurhamNC #DurhamCommunity #EveryStepMatters #MakeADifference

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS TUESDAY? 👀 How about spending a few hours doing something that could make a real difference in someone’s day? Our Tuesday Free Store is always looking for volunteers! 👕👟🎒 Volunteers help us: ✨ Organize and sort donations ✨ Restock the Free Store ✨ Help our neighbors find clothing and essentials ✨ Keep things running smoothly ✨ Most importantly—create a welcoming, dignified experience for everyone who walks through our doors Sometimes making a difference doesn’t require a grand gesture. Sometimes it looks like folding a shirt, organizing a rack, or helping someone find a pair of shoes. Come be part of it. 🩵 Volunteer with Open Table Ministry this Tuesday! #VolunteerDurham #OpenTableMinistry #TuesdayFreeStore #GiveBack #DurhamNC

🩵🧡💛 This is Open Table Ministry. 💛🧡🩵 At Open Table, we believe homelessness is more than a lack of housing. It’s a complex journey that can leave people feeling unseen, unheard, and pushed to the margins of their own community. That’s why we don’t simply hand out resources and send people on their way. We build relationships. We listen. We meet people where they are. We walk alongside our neighbors. From our Free Store and showers to case management, connections to community resources, help obtaining identification, and ongoing support toward housing—we work to address both immediate needs and the barriers that make stability difficult. Our goal is simple, but it takes all of us: To overcome homelessness through community. Because every person deserves dignity. Every person deserves to be seen. And every person deserves a place at the table. Come join us at the table. #OpenTableMinistry #EndHomelessness #DurhamNC #CommunityMatters #EveryoneHasAPlace

Calling all community partners: join Open Table Ministry next Thursday, September 10th at noon for a virtual Lunch and Learn on helping the people you serve get reconnected with their vital documents. We’ll cover the process for NC State IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards, so you’re equipped to guide your clients through it. Join here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81250970913 Bring your questions. Open to anyone doing this work alongside neighbors in our community.

LOCAL BUSINESSES: WE WANT YOU ON OUR TEAM! 👟🧡 Our 17th Annual Walk In Their Shoes fundraiser is coming up, and we’re looking for local businesses, organizations, churches, and community partners to help make this year’s event our biggest and most impactful yet. By becoming a sponsor, you’ll help Open Table Ministry continue providing critical services and support to our neighbors experiencing homelessness in Durham. And you’ll get to put your business behind something bigger than a marketing campaign: A community where everyone has a place at the table. Your sponsorship can help provide: 👕 Basic necessities 🚿 Showers & personal care 🩺 Healthcare connections 🪪 Assistance accessing important resources 🏠 Connections to housing and support services 🤝 A welcoming community November 7th. Southern Boundaries Park. 10 AM. Want your company to walk with us? 📩 Reach out today to learn about sponsorship opportunities. drew.woten@opentableministry.org Let’s make a difference—one step at a time. 👟 #WalkInTheirShoes #SponsorLocal #DurhamNC #OpenTableMinistry #EndHomelessness #CommunityStrong

Tomorrow at the Free Store, we’re partnering with Glasses for the Homeless for a free vision screening and glasses fitting. This grassroots initiative provides donated glasses to folks experiencing homelessness, helping build self-esteem and open doors to a brighter future.

🏠 MYTH vs. FACT: Homelessness in Durham 🏠 ******************************************************** MYTH: “If someone is homeless, there’s nothing I can do.” FACT: Small acts of support matter. A meal. A pair of shoes. A shower. Help replacing an ID. A connection to healthcare. A kind conversation. A safe place to access resources. These things may seem small—but when someone is navigating life without stable housing, they can be incredibly meaningful. Join Open Table Ministry as we support our neighbors experiencing homelessness in these ways and more! 🩵

🚨 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 🚨 The Tuesday Free Store needs YOU! 👕👟🎒 Every Tuesday, we open our doors so our neighbors experiencing homelessness can access clothing and other necessities—free of charge and with dignity. But we can’t do it without our amazing volunteers! Have a few hours to give? Come help us sort, organize, restock, serve, and connect with our neighbors. Your time matters. Your presence matters. YOU matter. 🧡 📍 Open Table Ministry | Durham 🗓️ Every Tuesday Interested in volunteering? Send us a message and we’ll get you connected! #OpenTableMinistry #Volunteer #DurhamNC #TuesdayFreeStore #EndHomelessness

🍻 MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 🍻 We’re excited to announce that Open Table Ministry is participating in Karma Keg at Hi-Wire Brewing in Durham on September 17th! 🎉 Come hang out, grab a drink, and—most importantly—cast a vote for Open Table Ministry! ❤️ Every vote helps support our mission of serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness and connecting them with the resources, dignity, and community they deserve. Thank you to @inhabitthetriangle for inviting us to join you for this event! 📅 September 17th 4:30 - 7:30pm 📍 Hi-Wire Brewing — Durham 🍺 Grab a drink. 🗳️ Cast your vote. ❤️ Support Open Table Ministry! Bring your friends, enjoy a night out, and help us make a difference in our community. We’ll see you there! #InhabitTheTriangle #IREKarmaKeg #OpenTableMinistry #KarmaKeg #HiWireBrewing #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #SupportLocal #DrinkForACause #DurhamCommunity

🏠 HOMELESSNESS 101: 🏠 MYTH: “People experiencing homelessness just don’t want to work.” FACT: Homelessness is complicated. Many people experiencing homelessness are working, looking for work, dealing with barriers to employment, or working toward getting back on their feet. At Open Table Ministry, we meet people where they are in this process and help make connections that will move the dial forward in their particular situation. Everyone needs someone in their corner, fighting alongside them. That is how our case workers and volunteers meet our neighbors who are working through some of the toughest circumstances they will encounter in life!

👕 GOT A LITTLE TIME TO GIVE? COME SERVE WITH US! ❤️ Every Tuesday, Open Table Ministry opens our Free Store for our neighbors experiencing homelessness—and we need volunteers to help make it happen! From organizing donations and restocking shelves to helping guests find what they need, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand. You don’t need a special skill set. You don’t need to know exactly what to do. You just need a willingness to show up and serve. Come spend a Tuesday with us and see what community looks like when we make room for one another. 💛 📍 Open Table Ministry | Durham, NC 🗓️ Tuesdays @ 9:15-11:30am 👕 Free Store Volunteer Opportunities Available Want to volunteer? Send us a message to get connected! #OpenTableMinistry #TuesdayFreeStore #VolunteerDurham #DurhamNC #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #EndHomelessness

This past Tuesday, we had the joy of welcoming Project BRI(DDGE) to the Free Store! Project BRI(DDGE) is a pre-orientation service week for incoming students at Duke Divinity School — a chance for them to get to know Durham, the community, and the neighbors they’ll be learning alongside for years to come. These students jumped right in, leading our outreach efforts by befriending neighbors and providing vital items to those experiencing homelessness right here in Durham. It’s a beautiful thing to watch students begin their formation not in a classroom, but on the ground, building relationships with the people of this city. We’re so grateful for their partnership and can’t wait to see how this week shapes their journey ahead. Welcome to Durham, Duke Divinity students - thank you for showing up for our neighbors!

👟 PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SHOES OF SOMEONE ELSE. 👟 What if your business could make a difference while helping our community take a step toward ending homelessness? Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk In Their Shoes is coming up on November 7th at Southern Boundaries Park, and we’re looking for local businesses and organizations to join us as sponsors! Your sponsorship helps support the work happening every day to provide our unhoused neighbors with access to basic necessities, healthcare, showers, resources, connection, and pathways toward stability. But sponsorship is about more than a logo on a banner or a tshirt. It’s about saying: “Our community matters to us.” 👟 Sponsor Walk In Their Shoes. ❤️ Support our neighbors. 🏠 Help us take another step toward ending homelessness in Durham. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Send us a message or reach out to drew.woten@opentableministry.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. 📅 November 7, 2026 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | Durham, NC ⏰ 10 AM #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #DurhamNC #SponsorForGood #EndHomelessness #DurhamCommunity

🏠 HOMELESSNESS 101: What does “homeless” actually mean? When we hear the word homeless, it’s easy to picture someone sleeping on a sidewalk. But homelessness can look very different from person to person. A person experiencing homelessness may be: • Sleeping outside ⛺️ • Staying in an emergency shelter 🛌 • Living temporarily in a vehicle 🚗 • Staying with friends or family because they have nowhere else to go 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 • Moving between temporary places without a stable home 🎒 And homelessness can happen for many different reasons—loss of employment, rising housing costs, relationship changes, health challenges, eviction, or simply not having enough resources to keep up with an unexpected crisis. The truth is, there is no single “face” of homelessness. At Open Table Ministry, we believe every person deserves dignity, compassion, and an opportunity to find stability. Understanding homelessness is the first step toward ending it. 🩵 #OpenTableMinistry #Homelessness101 #DurhamNC #EndHomelessness #CommunityMatters

🩵✨ Welcome Brant Copen to the Open Table team! ✨🩵 Brant is joining us full-time as our newest Case Manager. Brant's heart for this work took root doing street outreach in Phoenix and was forged working alongside Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India. He believes the inherent value and dignity of every individual compels a communal preference for the poor - and that conviction is exactly why we're so glad to have him at OTM. If Brant looks familiar, it's because he's been part of the OTM community for a while: he interned with us through Duke Divinity School and was the fastest runner at our 2024 Walk in Their Shoes event!!! When he's not serving our neighbors, you'll find Brant cooking for his wife and daughter, cycling to a downtown coffee shop, or out on a trail. Join us in welcoming Brant to the team!

‼️📆 REMINDER : Happening THIS Friday 📆‼️ You don't want to miss an opportunity to engage thoughtfully about the topic of Homelessness! Blacknall Presbyterian Church, (1902 Perry Street in Durham) will host journalist Brian Goldstone on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7pm, for an evening exploring homelessness, the loss of the American Dream, and what it means to know and love our neighbors. Brian’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America” follows families experiencing homelessness despite working full time, revealing how rising housing costs and economic pressures have reshaped life for five families. Many of us encounter homelessness in Durham, but our understanding of the challenges our neighbors face is often limited. In a conversation with Pastor Goodie Bell, Brian will discuss his reporting to help us gain a deeper understanding of homelessness: how pervasive it is, the many forms it takes, and the ways we can respond with wisdom and hope. There will also be time for audience Q&A. This free event is open to the community and runs from 7 - 8:30 p.m., followed by light refreshments and a book signing.

‼️ ATTENTION: NEW BLOG POST ‼️ Make your way on over to Open Table Ministry's website and check out our latest blog post written by our Executive Director, Drew Woten! Read all about the steps we are taking to towards building our first-ever strategic plan! https://www.opentableministry.org/blog/we-asked-better-questions-our-neighbors-and-volunteers-gave-us-directio

🌟 Be the Hands and Feet of Hope 🌟 At Open Table Ministry, every item donated, every smile shared, and every act of kindness makes a difference. But we can't do it alone. We're looking for compassionate volunteers who want to make an impact in our community. Whether you can give a few hours each week at our Tuesday Free Store or help at special events, your time can bring hope, encouragement, and dignity to someone who needs it. You don't have to have special skills—just a willing heart. ❤️ Come be part of something bigger than yourself. Together, we can serve, love, and build a stronger community—one person at a time. 📩 Interested in volunteering? Send us a message or visit our website to learn how you can get involved. Because when we serve together, lives are changed—including our own. #OpenTableMinistry #Volunteer #ServeOthers #CommunityMatters #LoveInAction #BeTheDifference #FaithInAction #HopeStartsHere

This summer, we had the joy of partnering with the Duke University School of Nursing's Community Health course. For 10 weeks, nursing students volunteered alongside us, getting to know our unsheltered neighbors - sitting with them, listening to their stories, and offering care with real thoughtfulness. We're so grateful for the compassion these students brought to our community. And we're thrilled knowing what they learned here won't stay here - it'll travel with them into every clinical setting they enter next.

✨ Introducing: New Intern Gary Bernier!!! ✨ Gary Bernier joined OTM as our latest intern through the UNC Master’s in Social Work program. After a 40-year career in the high-technology industry, Gary is pursuing his lifelong passion for service work and helping others. Born in New England, Gary grew up outside the US and is fluent in Spanish. Gary, his wife Leslie, and four children live in the Chapel Hill area, and when not studying or working at OTM, you can find him adventuring on his BMW motorcycle, spending time with friends, or being active outdoors.

‼️📆 Mark Your Calendars 📆‼️ Blacknall Presbyterian Church, (1902 Perry Street in Durham) will host journalist Brian Goldstone on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7pm, for an evening exploring homelessness, the loss of the American Dream, and what it means to know and love our neighbors. Brian’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America” follows families experiencing homelessness despite working full time, revealing how rising housing costs and economic pressures have reshaped life for five families. Many of us encounter homelessness in Durham, but our understanding of the challenges our neighbors face is often limited. In a conversation with Pastor Goodie Bell, Brian will discuss his reporting to help us gain a deeper understanding of homelessness: how pervasive it is, the many forms it takes, and the ways we can respond with wisdom and hope. There will also be time for audience Q&A. This free event is open to the community and runs from 7 - 8:30 p.m., followed by light refreshments and a book signing.

👟 SAVE THE DATE! 👟 Mark your calendars now for Open Table Ministry’s 17th Annual Walk In Their Shoes! 📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 🕙 10:00 AM 📍 Southern Boundaries Park | Durham, NC Every step you take helps raise awareness and support for our neighbors experiencing homelessness in Durham. Together, we can walk in solidarity, build community, and make a lasting difference. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or joining us for the first time, we’d love to have you walk alongside us for this meaningful event. ✨ More details, registration information, and ways to get involved are coming soon—but for now, SAVE THE DATE and invite your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors! #WalkInTheirShoes #OpenTableMinistry #EndHomelessness #DurhamNC #SaveTheDate #CommunityMatters #WalkForChange

🧐 ‼️ What Does "Ending Homelessness" Actually Mean? ‼️ 🧐 Ending homelessness doesn't mean no one will ever experience a housing crisis. It means creating a community where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring by quickly connecting people to housing, support services, and resources before a temporary setback becomes a long-term crisis. That's the vision guiding Durham's current strategic framework. Communities across the country have shown this approach can work when government, nonprofits, healthcare providers, businesses, and residents work together. At Open Table Ministry, we work relentlessly behind the scenes to connect our unsheltered neighbors with the life-changing resources necessary to end the cycle! #HousingSolutions #DurhamNC #CommunityImpact #Endhomelessness

✨Small Acts Matter✨ You don't have to solve homelessness alone. You can: • Learn about local organizations serving Durham. • Volunteer your time. • Donate food, clothing, or financial support. • Advocate for affordable housing. • Treat every person with dignity and respect. Open Table Ministry is part of a whole network of organizations working together to address homelessness in Durham. Together, with organizations like Urban Ministries of Durham, we connect thousands of neighbors each year with shelter, meals, clothing, and supportive services while working toward long-term housing solutions. A stronger Durham starts with caring for one another. Consider joining the fight, one act of kindness at a time! #VolunteerDurham #CommunityCare #TogetherWeCan

🦄Myths vs. Reality🐴 Myth: People choose to be homeless. Reality: Most people experiencing homelessness face multiple barriers including the shortage of affordable housing, financial hardship, health challenges, or family crises. Durham's homelessness strategy focuses on coordinated housing, prevention, and support services because homelessness is viewed as a systems issue that communities can address together. Compassion starts with understanding. Education helps build stronger communities. #EndTheStigma #DurhamCommunity #HousingForAll

💛Behind Every Number Is a Neighbor💛 It's easy to see statistics 📈 It's harder to remember they're people 🙋🏾‍♂️ Behind every homelessness statistic is someone who may have lost a job 👷🏽‍♀️, escaped domestic violence 💥, aged out of foster care 🧸, or experienced a medical crisis 🚑 that changed everything. Many people experiencing homelessness are actively working, seeking housing, attending appointments, or caring for family members while facing enormous barriers. The first step toward meaningful solutions is seeing PEOPLE before problems. 🤝 #SeeThePerson #DurhamNC #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors

🏠 State of the Nation Housing Report 🏠 Each summer, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) @harvard_jchs releases its annual State of the Nation's Housing report. The findings are mostly common sense: housing cost burdens continue to climb for renters and homeowners, there is a severe lack of available and affordable units for low-income families, and federal housing assistance is underfunded. It isn’t anything new or unexpected, but the report is valuable and significant because 1) it backs these trends with data; 2) it serves as a barometer for how effective current housing policies and practices are; and 3) it calls for changes to status quo housing policies fostering growing inequity. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_The_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2026_0.pdf

‼️Why Homelessness Affects Everyone‼️ When homelessness increases, the entire community feels the impact. Children may struggle to stay in school. 📚 Employers may lose workers who can't find stable housing.💼 Emergency rooms 🏥, first responders 🚑, and public resources 🚻 often become the safety net for people with nowhere else to turn. Housing stability creates healthier neighborhoods, stronger local businesses, and safer communities for everyone. Durham's community strategy emphasizes that reducing homelessness benefits the entire city, not only those directly experiencing it. 🩵🧡💛 Ending homelessness isn't just a social issue—it's a community investment. 🏘️ #DurhamStrong #HousingMatters #CommunityStrong #opentableministry #EndHomelessness

🛍️ Free Store Restock Request 🛍️ Our Tuesday Free Store at Open Table Ministry is in need of a few essential items, and we’re asking our amazing community to help us restock! We’re currently looking for: 👞 Men’s shoes (sizes 9–12) 🎒 Gently used backpacks 🧢 Baseball caps 👖 Men’s belts If you have any of these items in good, clean condition that you’re no longer using, we’d be so grateful for your donation. Every item helps restore dignity and meet a practical need for our neighbors experiencing hardship. Donations can be dropped off at our Office, M-F, 9-4pm (except for Tuesday mornings when we are serving our neighbors at Free Store). Thank you for helping us serve our community with love and compassion. Together, we make a difference. ❤️ #OpenTableMinistry #TuesdayFreeStore #CommunityCare #ServeWithLove #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors

✨FREE INFORMATIONAL MEETING!✨ This is a great opportunity to learn about tangible ways you can bring resources directly to your community. Open to anyone interested in learning. ______ NCCEH's next bimonthly Local Leadership Response Call will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8, at 1:00 PM. This month's topic is: All About SOAR SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a national model that helps people experiencing or at risk of homelessness apply for disability benefits and supportive services. Since 2017, North Carolina's SOAR program has achieved disability approval rates more than four times higher than traditional applications. In this interactive session, you'll learn how the program works, how to activate SOAR in your community, and how to support disabled North Carolinians on their path back to housing stability. This event is free and all are welcome to attend! Once registered, you will receive the Zoom meeting link. Please use the QR code to register.

✨🏘️ Homelessness is Closer Than You Think 🏘️✨ Homelessness isn't just about sleeping on the street. In Durham, many of our neighbors experiencing homelessness are families, veterans, seniors, young adults, and individuals living in cars, motels, emergency shelters, or temporary housing. Every person has a different story, but many share common challenges such as rising housing costs, unexpected medical bills, job loss, or domestic violence. Durham's coordinated homelessness response tracks both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness to better understand community needs and connect people with housing and services. When we understand the causes, we can respond with compassion instead of assumptions. 🫶🏼🩵 🧡 Every person deserves the opportunity to have a safe place to call home. 🏡💛 #DurhamNC #CommunityFirst #HomelessnessAwareness #SupportOurNeighbors

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