Called to Serve: Helping Doorway to Hope Open Its Doors

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Doorway to Hope

Doorway to Hope is a Christ-centered nonprofit dedicated to establishing a safe shelter and community center for the homeless in Edgar County, providing compassionate support and pathways to stable housing through community engagement and fundraising.

Join Doorway to Hope for our Hope in Action Community Work Day on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 502 to 504 East Jasper Street in Paris, Illinois 61944. We are inviting neighbors, churches, and businesses together to clean up, beautify, and restore the future home of Edgar County&#39;s adult shelter. Come for an hour or stay the whole day. Every set of hands makes a difference. What we will be doing: landscaping, exterior cleanup, scraping and painting, pressure washing, porch and minor repairs, and general beautification. All work is supervised by experienced leaders, including a general contractor. Please note: &nbsp;every volunteer will sign a short liability waiver when they check in.&nbsp;Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who will sign on their behalf.&nbsp;No background check is required for this event. What to bring: work gloves, and any tools you would like to use (rakes, shovels, scrappers, trimmers, brushes, rollers, pressure washers, ladders, wheelbarrows). All equipment gets a quick safety check and may not be permitted. Registration is encouraged but not required. It helps us plan tasks, supplies, and refreshments. Thank you for stepping up for your community.

Hope in Action Community Work Day

Grace and peace to you! When Doorway to Hope purchased the property at 502-504 East Jasper Street, we took on more than a building. We took on responsibility for how that corner looks to the neighbors who live around it. A well-kept property is the first thing we say to Edgar County before we ever open a door. It tells our neighbors that this ministry is serious, that it is permanent, and that the people we serve are worth a clean and dignified place to come to. An overgrown lot says the opposite, and it says it loudly. We have volunteers ready to do the work. What we do not have is equipment that can handle it. Homeowner mowers are not built for this kind of property, and replacing a burned-out mower every season costs more in the long run than buying the right machine once. A commercial mower cuts the job down to a fraction of the time, which is the difference between a volunteer crew that lasts and one that quietly stops showing up. There is a second reason, and it matters just as much to us. Doorway to Hope is built on compassionate accountability. Work has dignity in it. As our programming develops, grounds care becomes one of the first real opportunities for the people we serve to contribute to the place that serves them, and to build the habits that carry into employment. Our goal is $6,000 for a commercial mower and the basic equipment to maintain it. That is 60 gifts of $100. Or 240 gifts of $25. Every one of them gets us there. If you feel led to give, we would be grateful. If this is not your season, we understand completely, and your prayers carry real weight with us. Doorway to Hope is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. EIN: 33-4990185. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and no goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution. Gifts to this campaign are designated for grounds maintenance equipment. Should contributions exceed the amount needed, or should the Board determine the need has been met by other means, excess funds will be applied to other property and facility needs at 502-504 East Jasper Street. In Christ&#39;s service, The Board of Directors, Doorway to Hope A Christ-Centered Ministry Serving Edgar County

Grace and peace to you!When Doorway to Hope purchased the property at 502-504 East Jasper Street, we took on more than a building. We took on responsibility for how that corner looks to the neighbors who live around it.A well-kept property is the first thing we say to Edgar County before we ever open a door. It tells our neighbors that this ministry is serious, that it is permanent, and that the people we serve are worth a clean and dignified place to come to. An overgrown lot says the opposite, and it says it loudly.We have volunteers ready to do the work. What we do not have is equipment that can handle it. Homeowner mowers are not built for this kind of property, and replacing a burned-out mower every season costs more in the long run than buying the right machine once. A commercial mower cuts the job down to a fraction of the time, which is the difference between a volunteer crew that lasts and one that quietly stops showing up.There is a second reason, and it matters just as much to us. Doorway to Hope is built on compassionate accountability. Work has dignity in it. As our programming develops, grounds care becomes one of the first real opportunities for the people we serve to contribute to the place that serves them, and to build the habits that carry into employment.Our goal is $6,000 for a commercial mower and the basic equipment to maintain it.That is 60 gifts of $100. Or 240 gifts of $25. Every one of them gets us there.If you feel led to give, we would be grateful. If this is not your season, we understand completely, and your prayers carry real weight with us.Doorway to Hope is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. EIN: 33-4990185. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and no goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution. Gifts to this campaign are designated for grounds maintenance equipment. Should contributions exceed the amount needed, or should the Board determine the need has been met by other means, excess funds will be applied to other property and facility needs at 502-504 East Jasper Street.In Christ's service,The Board of Directors, Doorway to HopeA Christ-Centered Ministry Serving Edgar County

Keep the Grass Down, Keep the Doors Opening

The Need Is Here. The Time Is Now. Right now, men and women in Edgar County are sleeping in cars, under bridges, and in unsafe situations &mdash; with nowhere to turn. Until now, our community has had no dedicated shelter to offer them. Doorway to Hope exists to change that. We are a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness with compassion, structure, and real pathways to stability. We are called &mdash; by faith and by love for our community &mdash; to meet people where they are and walk alongside them toward something better. What We&#39;re BuildingWe have identified a building in Paris, Illinois to become the Doorway to Hope Community Building: a place that will serve as a warming and cooling center, resource hub, and eventually Edgar County&#39;s first overnight shelter, accommodating up to 16 residents.Our model goes far beyond just a roof overhead. Those we serve will have access to:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life skills classes, job readiness training, and computer access</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Recovery support, small groups, and case management</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Showers, laundry, and hygiene facilities</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A 24/7 professionally staffed, structured, and safe environment</li></ul>This is not just shelter &mdash; it&#39;s a doorway to a new beginning.

The Need Is Here. The Time Is Now.Right now, men and women in Edgar County are sleeping in cars, under bridges, and in unsafe situations — with nowhere to turn. Until now, our community has had no dedicated shelter to offer them. Doorway to Hope exists to change that.We are a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to serving our neighbors experiencing homelessness with compassion, structure, and real pathways to stability. We are called — by faith and by love for our community — to meet people where they are and walk alongside them toward something better.What We're BuildingWe have identified a building in Paris, Illinois to become the Doorway to Hope Community Building: a place that will serve as a warming and cooling center, resource hub, and eventually Edgar County's first overnight shelter, accommodating up to 16 residents.Our model goes far beyond just a roof overhead. Those we serve will have access to:Life skills classes, job readiness training, and computer accessRecovery support, small groups, and case managementShowers, laundry, and hygiene facilitiesA 24/7 professionally staffed, structured, and safe environmentThis is not just shelter — it's a doorway to a new beginning.

Doorway to Hope

Doorway to Hope

Past events

Past events

Hope in Action Community Work Day

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Keep the Grass Down, Keep the Doors Opening

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Called to Serve: Helping Doorway to Hope Open Its Doors

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