“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” -Dorothy Day

 

The Lutheran Volunteer Corps seeks to purchase its Volunteer House, the Dorothy Day House, in Milwaukee. LVC has been present in the Milwaukee community for many years, and each year LVC Volunteers live and serve together in Milwaukee non-profits that provide food for the poor, youth education, healthcare to those in need, and green spaces for public use in the city.

 

Over the years, LVC has placed 150 Volunteers in organizations including the Bread of Healing Clinic, Shalom High School, the Urban Ecology Center, and All Peoples Church. Almost forty of these alumni have planted roots in Milwaukee and continue their work for peace with justice there, providing countless hours of service in the community.

 

LVC is seeking your help to finish this campaign! An investment in the purchase of the Dorothy Day House will help LVC sustain its program in Milwaukee and enable it to serve in organizations like those listed above for years to come. The stability of LVC in Milwaukee means a lot to our partners, as LVC Volunteers provide steady resources in the community. One of LVC’s largest expenses is renting housing for its Volunteers. This expense is paid for by LVC’s placement organizations and is passed through to third party landlords. By owning Volunteer housing, LVC will be able to utilize rent payments to sustain its own programming and stabilize, and perhaps decrease, the overall cost of programming for LVC’s placement partners. It is in this way that your contribution to the Dorothy Day House campaign will benefit LVC’s partners in the future.

 

The Dorothy Day House is actually the parsonage of Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church, a long-time partner of LVC. The church has a goal of transforming their basement into an urban retreat center for youth groups to immerse themselves in the world of urban ministry. The funds from the sale of their parsonage to LVC would allow Spirit of Peace to complete their renovations and make this dream a reality!

 

The purchase of the Dorothy Day House is exciting for LVC as it helps strengthen and stabilize many relationships in the Milwaukee community. It opens doors not only for the possibilities of LVC’s work in Milwaukee, but also for the ministries of many placements and partner churches in the area, and for that LVC is incredibly excited!

 

We have raised $94,000 so far, and need only $30,000 more to purchase the house! We are so close and hope you will help us in reaching our goal. Please consider contributing to the Dorothy Day Campaign online, or by sending a check to the Washington D.C. office, noting in the memo line that your gift is to be designated to the Dorothy Day House.

 

A big thank you to those Alumni, supporters, and LVC community members who have contributed so far; LVC is so grateful. Look for our next post in the coming weeks with more information on how LVC’s Milwaukee area partners are involved and an update on how the Campaign is progressing. Thank you!