It's cold out there. Together with other people across the country, I'll be walking and fundraising to support people and families experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness in my community. Please, give by clicking the "Donate Now" button above. 

On a personal note: One of the first direct service opportunities I had at JMU was with Open Doors. I was a freshman and my church was serving dinner at the shelter on a cold winter night.  I didn't have a kitchen, and I felt limited by my inability to support the organization, so I volunteered to be a server. I biked through dark neighborhoods (this was before I discovered the wonders of a flashlight) and arrived at the converted supermarket with anticipation and a little fear; I was new to the area and the organization, and I still had biased, preconceived notions of individuals experiencing homelessness. These were instantly shattered as I interacted with some of the kindest, most interesting people I'd ever met. Scooping up servings of that lasagna that night supported the community and helped me overcome inaccurate cultural stigma. 

Open Doors is an organization near and dear to my heart. They do a lot of amazing service in the Harrisonburg community, making sure that people have roofs over their head and working to build capacity. Any bit helps to support the mission of this organization. Thank you all so much!