Open Door Success Story
LaRenzo Bell (pictured here) was unhoused for several months. He slept behind the sign at Fort Street Presbyterian Church. He cleaned up the church grounds and made sure they were spotless as we worked tirelessly to help him find housing. In June, he was approved for Section 8 housing and received his keys in late September. We not only helped him find housing but also gave him the security deposit he needed to move into his new apartment.
“I cannot thank Open Door enough for helping me get into the apartment,” LaRenzo said. “I was desperate to get housed, and cannot thank the Open Door enough for making this happen! I am forever grateful.” In 2024 the Open Door Ministry is changing. Our new approach will include a larger budget for “charitable assistance to individuals.” But the assistance won’t be for new socks, underwear, food, or laptops. Instead, we will sponsor Social Workers in downtown ministries to help facilitate the work of pulling individuals out of the cycle of poverty and home insecurity. All while providing money to get them a home they deserve. At the Open Door, we serve where there is the greatest need. We’ve found through interviews, research, and national data that most guests need extra help in the form of cash to help with unexpected needs as they seek stability. We don’t have a place to refer them for that kind of help. This is why we are refocusing our direction of service to step in and fill the gap. Will you help us do this? Please consider a donation to the Open Door.
Open Door
Guest Profile
Meet Willie Spivey
Willie Spivey is enjoying peace and serenity in his life right now. He says he is spiritually engaged, and feels blessed. Willie has been coming to Open Door on Thursday mornings for a very long time. Last year, he started attending the bi-weekly Healthy Habits series with other older adults from the downtown community, and now stops in for WIFI access and computer assistance.
Most of all, he comes to Open Door for the fellowship. “Being part of something is valuable. I appreciate being in relationship with others. It makes me feel responsible to myself, and coming to Fort Street gives me a sense of community and value.”
Willie spent many years using and abusing drugs and alcohol. He says he was raised in a household where he learned a lot of adult things at a young age. He didn’t realize the detrimental effects of the substances he was partaking in for a long time. But he gave it all up a while ago, and at 67 years of age, Willie is clean and sober and embraces every day as a new opportunity. He is a student at Wayne County Community College, and hopes to one day finish his associate’s degree in accounting.
An avid food grower, Willie learned how to plant, grow and harvest vegetables and herbs when he worked for Keep Growing Detroit, a non-profit agricultural organization committed to teaching Detroiters how to grow their own food. Willie is passionate about urban agriculture, healthy living, and sharing ideas and information with others who have similar interests. He is especially enjoying Open Door’s Healthy Habits initiative, an ongoing series of workshops focused on health and wellness topics for the mind, body, and spirit.
The Open Door Ministry is committed to serving the downtown Detroit community’s most vulnerable populations. For more than 63 years, Open Door has been providing food, shelter, and basic care to the hungry and homeless members of the community. But we are equally committed to not just helping people survive, but to thrive. Human beings are wired for connection, and thrive under the shelter of each other. That is what Open Door is really all about: providing a safe space where all are valued, cared for, and welcomed to the table.
Words of Thanks from Persons
We Have Touched
Alcoholics Anonymous
(Thursday Mornings)
Bicycle Repair/
Ice Cream Social Event
Open Door Ministry in collaboration with Holy Spokes brought together a heartwarming blend of community support and practical learning. At this event, a Bicycle Repair Clinic and Ice Cream Social, attendees had the opportunity to not only enjoy a sweet treat but also gain invaluable insights into bicycle maintenance. As part of the effort to empower individuals with mobility and self-sufficiency, guests were encouraged to bring their bicycles and learn how to ensure their bikes remain safe and functional. This event, a true testament to the spirit of collaboration and outreach, showcased the power of partnership between Open Door Ministry and Holy Spokes in uplifting the community they serve.
Healthy Habits for Mind, Body, and Soul Completed its Summer Series with a Bounty of Fresh Food and Enthusiasm
Fort Street’s Open Door Ministry launched an initiative several years ago to improve the health and wellness of community members in downtown Detroit. Partnering with The Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit environmental agency devoted to increasing green space and urban tree canopy, Healthy Habits for Mind, Body and Spirit provided participants with a full and engaging calendar of activities and informational workshops throughout the summer.
Every other Wednesday, from early June to late September, participants gathered in Lafayette Greens Garden to learn about planting, harvesting and cooking vegetables and herbs. This year, several enthusiastic volunteers planted and cared for four garden beds full of lettuce, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, and more.
In addition to healthy eating, sessions also highlighted a variety of mental and spiritual habits that elevate well-being. These included meditation, yoga, strength exercises, gratitude journaling, and more. Sessions were open to the community, but there usually were 8-10 individuals who attended regularly.
But the focus was mainly on fresh foods, because summertime is delightful and full of wonderful colors, tastes and smells! Everyone enjoyed taste-testing, smelling and identifying fresh herbs, planting vegetables, and harvesting the bounty. Workshop attendees made essential oil tinctures, ate fresh salads with garden-grown produce and herbs, and concluded the outdoor season with a discussion on embracing the Autumn Equinox.
“The garden has given me a lot of ideas and knowledge on healthy eating. I know a lot more about vitamins, and the nutritional value of vegetables. I ate kale from the garden for the first time and love it!” said Diane Sams, a nearby resident and regular attendee.
Phil Greer is a food enthusiast. He loves to cook and often shared tips and advice with the group. “What I enjoyed most about this program at the garden was the fellowship and the sharing. Having a garden full of fresh produce in the middle of downtown Detroit is fantastic,” said Phil. “I’m feeling blessed that I am associating with such a wonderful group of people.”
Denise Cochrane hated anything green before joining the group. Now, she says she makes her own salads at home and is “making a colorful plate of vegetables, instead of just meat.”
African Americans experience some of the greatest health challenges of any ethnic group. Type II diabetes, heart disease and stroke are common health issues. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables provides people with an opportunity to eat healthier, and develop strategies for healthier living. The goal of Healthy Habits is to create a community of sharing, learning and creating a more holistic approach to health that includes physical, mental/emotional and spiritual.
the open door community mural
The Open Door Ministry Community collaborated with art therapy students from Wayne State’s ArtsCorpsDetroit to co-create a mural for the Fort Street Open Door meeting space. All of the guests were invited to participate in a number of ways, sharing stories, inspirational ideas, quotes; or, creating images with collage, coloring and paint.
One member of the community, artist Sean Turner, created pastel and pen and ink portraits of anyone willing to sit in front of his sketch pad. The mural seeks to honor all of the individual stories, ideas and images that were shared during the process.
Led by artist Halima Afi Cassells, the mural design is based on the idea of a quilt, reflecting community stitching together a memory space where all people are respected and welcomed. It was composed digitally and printed on Terralon, an eco-friendly vinyl with eco-friendly ink by a local Detroit printer, and recently installed on the wall, covering a space of 200 square feet.
The mural was made possible through a grant award by Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills.
Halima Afi Cassells (b. 1981) is an interdisciplinary community-engaged artist, mom of three, avid gardener, appreciator of beauty, who lives on Waawiiatanong (often referred to as Detroit, Michigan).
Fort Street’s Open Door Ministry has been providing services to the homeless and hungry in Detroit’s downtown core neighborhood for more than 52 years. We provide showers, clothing, food, housing referrals, and some medical and dental screenings to nearly 1,000 people each month. Most of our guests live within a five-mile radius of the church. Many return to Open Door regularly, because they feel a sense of belonging and social connection.
The purpose of this ministry is to not only assist our brothers and sisters in need, but to raise us all to full stature in living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Open Door provides volunteers and staff with opportunities to learn, mentor and demonstrate servant love to others. The experience provides spiritual blessings to both the givers and the receivers.
Support Open Door
Financial Giving
Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
We thank you for your financial support, donations, volunteer time, and your generosity of spirit. If you have not had the privilege of serving or visiting Open Door, please consider this an open invitation. Your support assists Open Door in serving those in need, affirming their dignity and working toward a healthier future.