Open Table Ministry

Free Store & Get to Work: We provide our unsheltered neighbors with essential items such as new clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and sleeping bags to help them stay protected from the elements. The Free Store is a large outreach event held every Tuesday, where we not only distribute needed supplies but also connect individuals with community partners (including Fresh Start Durham, which provides showers), to help connect individuals with mainstream resources. In 2024, the Free Store served 1,140 individuals and distributed 33,011 items, including 557 winter coats, 2,033 hygiene kits, 1,178 pairs of shoes, 1,159 pairs of jeans, 4,899 shirts, and 873 backpacks.Our Get to Work program equips individuals with work-related items such as work boots, nonslip shoes, and uniform components, enabling them to start new jobs immediately. In 2024, we served 88 clients with the work gear they needed to begin employment.

Office Hours: We offer walk-in visits where our staff provide a listening ear and assist with navigating Durhams homeless services. In 2024, we served 451 individuals through Office Hours and supported 590 individuals with mail services, using our address as their physical address. To help people overcome barriers to housing and employment, we assisted 190 individuals with obtaining critical identification documents, including 97 State IDs, 115 Social Security Cards, and 65 Birth Certificates.

Community Case Management: We provide holistic personal care to individuals who are homeless or formerly homeless. Our focus is on securing permanent housing, improving access to physical and mental healthcare, and fostering long-term stability through evidence-based practices. In 2024, we purchased 19 long-range bus tickets to help individuals reunite with their support networks. We spent $1,187 on prescription medications for individuals who otherwise could not afford them. Our team helped 23 individuals and families move into permanent housing and provided support to keep 12 households stably housed.