Do Justice

It’s easy to forget that true social injustice and areas of great need are in our own backyards. On November 21st, we joined with three ministries in the DFW area and partnered with some incredible non-profit organizations in order to participate in hands-on projects that served our city and directly impacted people in need.

Our desire was that this day would be far more than a single time of service, or something we do just once or twice a year. Our desire was for this event to be a springboard and platform to inspire and stir us towards service as a way of life. We know that God cares deeply for the poor and the needy of our city, and He has called His people to be the channels of His love, compassion, and mercy. The needs of our city are great, but we believe that God has given us an incredible opportunity to visibly and tangibly reflect His heart for our communities. Micah 6:8 reads, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Do Justice Dallas desires to be part of a movement of doing justice by serving the community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, being compelled by the love of Christ.

We've provided a short summary of each service venue as well as links to their websites for you to find more information on how you can participate in serving through these organizations. You can also visit the official website for Do Justice at www.dojusticedallas.org. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at dojustice@binnerriem.org.

Here's a list of some service venues that we will be partnering with:

Central Dallas Ministries: Central Dallas Ministries partners with its neighbors to address the root causes of poverty. Working together, we feed the hungry, heal the sick, house the homeless and renew hope in the heart of our city. Central Dallas Ministries operates a network of hunger relief, healthcare, housing, legal service, employment training and educational programs serving more than 30,000 unduplicated people throughout the Greater Dallas area.

Dallas Community Lighthouse : Dallas Community Lighthouse was organized as a non-profit organization to address one of the most profound problems in Dallas: children not completing their education. Their mission is to assist at-risk youths in discovering pathways to success by concentrating on their social, educational, personal and environmental issues, with the goal of producing future, productive citizens of Dallas County.

Genesis Women's Shelter: The Genesis Women's Shelter's provides safety and shelter to battered women and their children and also helps to reduce the reoccurrence of violence against them. There are many ways to volunteer through this organization, from rocking babies to painting shelter rooms. There are also individual and group volunteer opportunities to fit almost any schedule. More detailed information on the various opportunities can be found on their website.

God's Food Pantry: God's Food Pantry provides food for anyone in need so that no one goes hungry. The pantry is specifically designed to give food to the part of the local population that would normally go undernourished. At God's Good Pantry they deal with destitution in a way that allows the client to keep their self-esteem at a turbulent time in their lives. They are always looking for volunteers to help pack, organize, and distribute food. Visit their website for more information and ways you can serve.

Goodwill: Goodwill industries is North America's leading nonprofit provider of education, training, and career services for people with disadvantages. And for over 100 years, Goodwill has worked to help people find good jobs so they can earn a living and provide for their families. Service opportunities include participating in service projects, organzing community events, contributing to newsletters, or simply sorting donated items at one of their local thrift stores. For a store location near you or to find out more ways to get involved through Goodwill visit their website.

Habitat for Humanity: Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry that builds quality, affordable homes in partnership with deserving families. Each year Habitat for Humanity partners with hardworking families and the community to build 70+ homes in the Dallas area. Since its incorporation, Dallas Habitat and its contributors have built over 700 homes and served as a catalyst for the revitalization of more than 20 communities. Volunteers can serve individually or with a group in helping build these houses. Members of our singles ministry have volunteered in the past, and each time they have had a great experience. Contact information and opportunities to serve can be found on their website.

Meals on Wheels: With the assistance of a vast community of volunteers, VNA Meals on Wheels delivers more than 3,200 nutritious hot meals to homebound ill, elderly, and disabled persons in Dallas County each day. Illness, disability, and frailness can make meal preparation an ordeal. That's why Meals on Wheels serves as a friendly neighbor and loving family member to those in need of daily nutrition. A group of men from our ministry have given their lunch breaks on Friday afternoons for many years now to help deliver food to the elderly and disabled, and this has become such an amazing tradition for this group. For more information on how you can get involved and help with Meals on Wheels, please visit their website.

Head Start of Greater Dallas: Head Start of Greater Dallas, Inc. provides children with the foundation of skills and knowledge they need to be successful in school and life and fosters self-reliant families and communities. Their vision is to develop a strong community of healthy, self-reliant families actively engaged in giving children hope, direction and skills to succeed in school and life.

Interfaith Housing Coalition: Interfaith Housing Coalition's mission is to be the hands and feet of Christ helping families transition to self-sufficiency and new hope by providing transitional housing, programs, and services to help Dallas-area families in poverty and homelessness. Beyond meeting basic needs for housing, food, and clothing, Interfaith also provides services which include a job search and employment program, budget and financial literacy training, parenting classes, and counseling. Interfaith welcomes anyone who has the heart and desire to volunteer, whether it's cleaning, teaching, gardening, building, singing, decorating, etc. Visit their website for more information and ways you can serve.

LifeNet: LifeNet is a unique, one-stop shop for those in the Dallas/Fort Worth area wanting to rebuild lives damaged by mental illness and/or chemical dependency. LifeNet is a compassionate provider of services helping adults, children and adolescents who are in immediate distress. LifeNet has a unique three-pronged approach that seeks to heal the whole person: rather than dealing solely with the treatment of mental illness or substance abuse, they also address the need for shelter, food, safety, and employment. They help people become self-sufficient by providing clinical services, including mental health care and substance abuse treatment, supported employment and supportive housing.

Lindan Park Nursing Home: Lindan Park is a local nursing home located in the city of Richardson, TX. Volunteers will seek to express God’s love to the elderly residents at this care center. Often times these residents don’t get visitors nor do they get interaction with people outside of their caretakers. Volunteers can show God’s love through entertainment (Bingo), songs and simply companionship.

Mosaic Family Services: Mosaic Family Services is a nonprofit community-based organization that provides services free of charge to refugees and immigrants who are victims of human trafficking and domestic violence in North Texas.  The mission of Mosaic Family Services is to support, educate, and empower individuals and families of the communities we serve. Visit their website for ways you can volunteer.

North Dallas Shared Ministry: The North Dallas Shared Ministry (NDSM) is an interfaith community providing charitable assistance to persons in need, which includes medical care, clothing, and food. NDSM is open, day, evening, and weekend hours to accomodate the needs of the clients and patients and to offer opportunities to a diverse group of potential volunteers. Volunteers act as interviewers, receptionists, pantry workers, teachers, clothes closet workers, and office assistants. More information on service details can be found on their website.

Services of Hope: Services of Hope (SOH) is transforming lives of at-risk youth through literacy, character-building skills, and promoting positive parental involvement; using data driven pioneering educational programs, in underperforming schools with sustainable funding and community participation. SOH is a nationally recognized, faith-based non-profit, that provides innovative educational prevention programs to empower at-risk communities to achieve success. Visit their website for ways you can volunteer.

Sharing Life Outreach: Sharing Life Community Outreach, Inc. is an organization which effectively and efficiently provides benevolent support for those individuals and families in crisis living in Mesquite and Southeast Dallas County, Texas. Visit their website for ways you can volunteer.

SoupMobile: SoupMobile was founded in 2003 by David Timothy (a.k.a the SoupMan). His vision was to start a traditional soup kitchen where the homeless could come and eat, but after assessing the needs of the local homeless population, David realized that a mobile soup kitchen would be more effective. The SoupMobile serves healthy meals to the homeless men and women who live on the streets of Dallas. Volunteers are needed to help prepare, serve, and deliver food. Visit the website for more information and ways you can help feed the homeless and hungry in Dallas.

Terrace Elementary School: Terrace Elementary School is a local school in the city of Richardson. They are always looking for volunteers to help mentor and tutor children. If you would like more information on ways you can volunteer at Terrace or at another local school click on the link provided.

Union Gospel Mission: Since 1949 the Union Gospel Mission has been reaching out to the homeless in Dallas. We provide food, shelter, clothing and faith to 500+ men, women and children nightly. For many the mission is a place to enter, to seek shelter from the storm. For many others it’s a place to stay, to live, to become a healthy member of society with a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. Visit their website for ways you can volunteer.

Below is a video and slideshow from our previous Do Justice even on May 2009: