Ministry Head Calls for Urgent Support Behind N.M.'s Largest Homeless Shelter
New Mexico's largest and only shelter serving homeless women and entire families has been making urgent calls for support as it faces escalating demands and diminishing resources.
Faith-based ministry Joy Junction will celebrate its 22nd anniversary Friday night and is still hoping for more supporters to purchase tickets or sponsor tables despite the financial crisis that has been brewing in America.
"Ticket sales are still sluggish and the difficulty we are experiencing is a huge increase in demand for our services," Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, founder and CEO of Joy Junction, told The Christian Post Thursday.
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Shelter officials say the 22-year-old ministry has been feeding and sheltering about 300 people nightly, or almost 10,000 meals a month and 9,000-plus nights of shelter. A few years ago, Joy Junction fed and cared for around 150 people a night. All the extra meals have put a serious strain on the shelter's food supplies.
"I walked through the kitchen with [the manager], and the shelves are getting empty," Joy Junction Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Munsey reported.
Although Joy Junction receives no federal, state or city funding, its shelter is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days each week through the generosity of community-minded individuals. Last year alone, the faith-based ministry was able to help over thousands of women, men and children to get back on their feet and into a home of their own.
"Joy Junction believes that God has a plan for the homeless people who stream through the doors of the shelter, and that He values them as individuals," the ministry's staff explain.
Reynalds said that the shelter, with the Lord's help, assists its residents in developing the godly character that will serve to turn their lives around.
But with a deeply troubled economy and the privately funded shelter being asked to care for an ever-increasing number of homeless women and families, Joy Junction staff say the upcoming banquet is one of the most important events of the year for Joy Junction.
"We have seen tremendous growth in our residents, especially those coming out of various addictions to drugs and alcohol," reported Reynalds in a public announcement. "With a successful banquet and ongoing community prayers and financial help, we can continue to help change the cycle of homelessness and give people the tools they need to become reintegrated into mainstream community life."
One unexpected obstacle the ministry has found itself faced with in the days leading up to the banquet is the opposition from some to popular Christian songstress Jaci Velasquez, who is scheduled to perform at the event.
According to Reynalds, someone had called Joy Junction "to express her disgust at our having Jaci Velasquez sing for us."
"This sad and obviously bitter woman described Ms. Velasquez as 'sultry and sexy,'" he recalled. "When I defended Ms. Velasquez, the woman terminated the conversation and implied we would no longer be the beneficiaries of an IRA she claimed to have."
With ticket sales slower than anticipated, the ministry founder acknowledged that he is more than a little worried.
"Every night, we are helping out about 300 people. A failed bailout bill in the House and a deeply troubled economy means that the need is only going to increase," Reynalds reported.
Supporters and prospective supporters near and far are being encouraged to take part in Friday's celebration at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Albuquerque, N.M., by sponsoring a table at the banquet or obtaining individual tickets.
"We look forward to hundreds of people coming to our celebration and joining in the wonderful work that is going on at Joy Junction," Reynalds stated.
On the Web:
Tickets ($50 per person, or $500 per table) may be bought on line by going to www.joyjunction.org/banquet, or calling Joy Junction's Corporate Office at 505-217-9586.
