Servants of the Word, Inc.

Our primary goal is to help people in poverty to become self-sufficient and contribute toward community sustainability. Poverty is the extent to which an individual does without resources, which could be financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, relationships/role models, knowledge of hidden rules, and/or coping strategies. In addition to meeting immediate needs, we help those in poverty to evaluate their personal resources, and develop critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills to move toward self-sufficiency.

Our Goals include:
-To meet direct needs for food and shelter .
-To address the deeper issues of poverty.
-To provide a path from poverty to sustainability (life and employment skills, living wage employment,
sustainable housing).
-To encourage relationship. We believe relationship is a driving force in escaping poverty. Our staff and
volunteers emphasize developing relationships with our guests, meeting them where they are.
-Collaborate with other agencies, businesses, churches, and organizations who work with the homeless
and those living in poverty in our community. We increase our impact by partnering with all sectors of the
community, including business, judicial, legislative, health care, religious, and helping.

The Open Door Mission offers a comprehensive, integrated, collaborative system of resources and services, in one central location, to help people in poverty-long term, rather than just in episodic crises. Our current resources and services encompass a/n:

*Soup Kitchen;
*Emergency Food Pantry;
*Backpack Program;
*Gleaning program;
*Temporary Shelter to house homeless men and women from the Greater Glens Falls area and help them attain self-sufficiency;
*Code Blue winter shelter, open from roughly November through March, when the temperature drops to 32 degrees or below, or when there are 12 or more inches of snow;
*Resource Center, connecting people in poverty with resources and services to attain self-sufficiency such as clothing, transportation, primary and mental health care, employment, and training;
*Day Room, a secure, safe place for people to stay during the day, as well as a comfortable space for our staff and other community organizations to engage with our guests; includes computer access, shower access, laundry access.
*Life Path program--An 8-step program to bring people from poverty and homelessness to a sustainable life.

The Open Door Mission's staff, volunteers, and partners emphasize building relationships with our guests, meeting them where they are, because relationship is the driving force in poverty. As we show the love and grace of Jesus in our actions, our guests feel safe to share their lives and ask for guidance. Help is available to every person who walks through the door, regardless of race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, age, physical or mental disability, Veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, etc.

Open Door Mission has fed the hungry and homeless in the greater Glens Falls area since 1991.

Every Open Door Mission staff position requires specific qualifications related to the area of service. Qualifications, duties and responsibilities are detailed in the job description for each position.

Open Door's numerous volunteers also play an essential role in operating our programs.

Currently, Open Door has an six-member Board of Directors, all of whom have demonstrated a high level of commitment to the organization and its mission. They oversee the organization's finances and fundraising, and provide a connection to the community. All members serve without remuneration and adhere to the organization's give or get policy.

The majority of our funds come from individual donors and grants. Open Door continually researches and approaches appropriate foundation and corporate prospects to underwrite the cost of our services.

Hunger Relief:

The Open Door Mission began in 1991 as a Soup Kitchen, serving one meal per week.

In 2010, Open Door Mission purchased a restaurant-style building for the operation of our Soup Kitchen at 47 Lawrence Street, Glens Falls, NY. The building also gave us space to add an emergency food pantry.

In 2014, we initiated the Code Blue Emergency Shelter to provide a warm, safe place to sleep for unsheltered people in dangerously cold weather.

In 2016, having outgrown our Soup Kitchen facility, recognizing the need for emergency shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness, and the growing need to provide assistance and resources to community members experiencing poverty led Open Door Mission’s Board and Leadership to begin the multi-year Pathway Home initiative. This has involved the purchase and ongoing refurbishing of our facility at 226 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY.

In 2017, we completed construction of our temporary Administration Offices, Resource Center, and Men’s Emergency Shelter, and began utilizing them to provide services.

In 2018, we began using our newly completed Classroom, Day Room, Laundry Facilities, and Restroom. We also relocated Code Blue to our new facility.

In 2019, we completed construction of and began services at our new facility, including our Food Pantry, Clothing Closet, expanded Men’s Shelter, and new Women’s Shelter

In 2020, we continued providing food and shelter during the Covid-19 emergency, adhering to social distancing and sanitation protocols. We also initiated the Life Path program for shelter residents, and completed the construction and relocation of our new Kitchen and 100-seat Dining Area.

In 2021 we began construction of our men's dorm and dedicated Life Path program area on our second and third floors.

In 2022, our men's 55 bed shelter dorm was completed and the Life Path program area has been white boxed.

In 2023, we are expanding our Code Blue winter shelter to 60 beds, with space for guests to keep the same bed and store their belongings during the day.