By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s easy (for some) to condemn “harm reduction.” So you don’t know what that is? It’s the giving of clean needles to drug addicts, and condoms to sex workers and others. Like many evangelicals, I used to criticize harm reduction workers as promoting irresponsible sex and illegal drug use. The … Read More
Actress from Down Under Thinks New Mexico Has a “Gummy” Problem
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Australian actress Margot Robbie needs to think before she speaks. Along with Tina Fey, Robbie was on a recent edition of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert promoting the movie Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, slated to be released next month. The movie is set in Afghanistan and filmed last year in … Read More
Loving Concern or “Spiritual Molestation?”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joshua Stout, manager of a Chick-fil-A in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was willing to buy a homeless man, Justin Burkeen, a full meal. There was just one requirement-that Burkeen allow Stout to pray with him. The interaction was observed by area resident Joey Mustain taking his daughter out for supper, and chronicled … Read More
The Chicken, the Egg and “Comorbidity”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Which comes first? Does mental illness lead to homelessness, or do the stresses and struggles which accompany homelessness possibly trigger mental illness? Then right alongside that question. Does alcoholism result in homelessness, or the misery of everyday living experienced by many homeless people lead to alcoholism? Writing on our Facebook … Read More
Educate Yourself and Care for the Homeless and Homeless Mentally Ill-Don’t Cuss Them Out
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. An Albuquerque man who told a panhandler to go get an f’ing job got more than he expected. The victim who said he didn’t want to use his name for safety concerns, told KOB TV’s Kai Porter, “I turn this way and he’s coming at me and he struck me, … Read More
Praised for “Recalibrating” its Approach to Homelessness, Alb. Mulls Criminalizing Panhandling and Starting Additional Emergency Family Shelter
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. A proposal heading to the City Council aims to ban what it considers dangerous behavior by panhandlers across Albuquerque. Sponsored by City Councilor Don Harris and delayed twice, the bill is scheduled to be heard at the Finance and Government Operations Committee on March 14. If successful it would criminalize … Read More
Homeless Make Poignant New Year’s Resolutions
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. With Thanksgiving and Christmas behind us, are you beginning to think about the seemingly inevitable subject of new year’s resolutions? You know, stuff like resolving to be a better person, changing jobs, quitting smoking, eating less and exercising more, or some other personal goal you hope to achieve in the … Read More
Joy Junction Open and Ready to Help During Winter Storm; Mobile Feeding Unit on Normal Schedule and Providing Food and Hot Beverages
News Release from Jeremy Reynalds at Joy Junction Email info@joyjunction.org As Albuquerque works its way through a massive snow storm, Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, is open and ready to help. Joy Junction Founder and CEO Dr. Jeremy Reynalds said, “While this weather poses a threat to everyone, it is perhaps especially dangerous to the homeless and … Read More
No Time to Take a Breath; Year-End Giving Vital to Shelter’s Continued Successful Operations
News Release from Jeremy Reynalds at Joy Junction info@joyjunction.org 10 Percent of annual budget typically received in last week of year While the week after Christmas is pretty slow for some, that’s not the case for Joy Junction Homeless Shelter CEO Jeremy Reynalds. He wants to up his already routinely frenetic pace in any way possible. Why the mad dash? … Read More
New York Tabloid’s Trashing of the Homeless Has Potentially Dangerous Consequences
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The New York Post, never considered a shining example of responsible journalism, is at it again. Perhaps most famous for its 1983 headline, “Headless Body in Topless Bar” Post writers have been verbally savaging the homeless. A recent story by Danielle Furfaro headlined “Homeless reign over LaGuardia to come to an … Read More
Chaplain Gene – the Always Smiling Face of Joy Junction – Leaves Lasting Legacy
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Chaplain Gene Shiplet Joy Junction Chaplain Gene Shiplet began this week just like any other-loving Jesus, people and smiling. Gene attended our Monday staff meeting, which was where I saw him for the last time. After giving a short review of his work week, he asked if we would like … Read More
What’s It Like to be Homeless at Christmas? Joy Junction Guests Share Their Feelings
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Christmas is a time of excitement and anticipation for many of us. At Joy Junction, our staff’s always busy work days are more packed than ever. However, I wondered what our many guests-who’ll be spending the holiday with us at a homeless shelter- are thinking about being homeless at Christmas. … Read More
Albuquerque Homelessness Rate Drops-Or Not? Depends On Whom You Ask
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Local media are saying that almost a year after the city of Albuquerque did its 2015 homelessness study, the results show a downward shift in the homeless rate. But not so fast! All this positivity is based on something called the Point in Time (PIT) Count. Overseen by the Dept. … Read More
Homeless Worry about Cost of Getting Passport to Access Federal Buildings
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. New Mexicans are lining up in droves to get passports before their state driver’s licenses don’t get them on planes anymore or they’re denied admission to federal buildings. The tougher requirements mean that by Jan. 10 2016, anyone seeking access to almost all federal facilities in the state will not … Read More
Is Stephen Colbert a Messenger from God?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. God uses those we don’t like or agree with. Those words were part of Calvary of Albuquerque Pastor Skip Heitzig’s message one Sunday. They reminded me of this meme which I posted on Facebook recently. The words that spoke to me were those that reminded us of our obligation to … Read More
Joy Junction’s 30th Thanksgiving. Shelter Guests Give Thanks
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s almost “Thanksgiving” again at Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter. It’s hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving Day will mark the 30th successive year we have shared the blessing of Thanksgiving with Albuquerque’s many homeless and abused women and homeless families. I’m so thankful to the … Read More
This is Our Life
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Working at Joy Junction is a way of life more than a job. It takes a calling and a commitment. While there’s no such thing as a “typical” day, here are some highlights from a few recent ones. First order of business for last Thursday upon waking up (like every … Read More
#MyGivingStory. Share Your Story of What Inspires You to Give to Joy Junction
Joy Junction is excited to announce that we’re taking part in the #MyGivingStory contest! This is a great opportunity, and we’re hoping you will help us win! #MyGivingStory is a nationwide social media storytelling contest that aims to foster a public discussion about the reason you give. Specifically, the program invites you to share your story about what inspires you … Read More
Taking Back Albuquerque is in Your Hands
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. After two shootings by repeat offenders that have shaken our city to its collective core, police union officials say it’s time to “take back our city” and show support for Albuquerque police officers by flying blue and white ribbons. “Put them on your homes. Put them on light poles. Put … Read More
Angry Christians “Trending.” Will Anger- and Not Works of Service- Be Our 21st Century Legacy?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. As one news site said, it’s a move that no one saw coming. Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) plans to picket Kentucky clerk Kim Davis on Monday outside the courthouse where she works. WBC made the announcement Thursday on Twitter. WBC calls Davis a “self righteous hypocrite,” an adulteress, and a … Read More
Help Celebrate Joy Junction Founder and CEO Jeremy Reynalds’ 58th Birthday By Donating Something 58.
Let’s be creative. Dr. Jeremy Reynalds hits 58 on Monday October 19, so let’s celebrate by donating something to Joy Junction in increments of 58. Be as creative as you like, and let’s have some fun. The options are only limited by your ingenuity, but we’ve given you some ideas in the graphic. Donations may be brought to Joy … Read More
Jeremy Reynalds. The Man, The Message and The Wife.
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Six months in and loving every minute People “liking” Joy Junction on social media usually do so because they have a concern for the homeless and hungry, and an appreciation for the help that community support allows us to give. However, all of our staff at Joy Junction have a … Read More
Would You Say It to Their Face? Comment on Local Web Site Suggests Blowing Troubled Homeless Away
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s a restaurant reality show called Say It to My Face. In each episode, restaurants and their most vocal online critics meet face-to-face, for the first time, to air grievances. I was reminded of this when reading a story recently about a cyclist who claimed the homeless were harassing her on … Read More
Another Divine Appointment
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It had been a good day, but a long one. Very similar in some ways to one I wrote about before in early July 2015. Just like most days, while good, I nonetheless really wanted to get home, and enjoy the peace and tranquility of home along with my wife … Read More
Kicking the Homeless (Problem) Down the Road. Now Shelter Has No Place to Pick Up Guests at Night
By Jeremy Reynalds Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. We have a caring, giving community in Albuquerque. It’s what makes the city such a special place to live, and why I’ve spent more than half my life here. However, like other cities across the nation, it’s not without its problems. We have a sizeable homeless community; one that is too … Read More
Poverty, Homelessness Scarcely Register on Presidential Candidates Agenda: Homeless Don’t Have Much Hope for Change
By Jeremy Reynalds Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While the 2016 presidential race for the White House has generated much more media attention than usual, all that air time hasn’t been focused on homelessness and hunger. With the possible exception of Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders, the issue isn’t getting much attention at all. In fact, an article by … Read More
Hunger On and Off the Reservation
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. There’s enough of a hunger problem in New Mexico that the noise you hear sometimes may not be your neighbor trying to start his car. It could be his growling stomach. According to the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, nearly 70,000 New Mexicans seek food assistance weekly. That’s the equivalent … Read More
Insensitive?
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It was just a typical Facebook update, and not one to which we expected such a reaction. Here is the post accompanying this picture. “This man and little girl now have food and water to enjoy for dinner. They were grateful for the gifts they received from our Lifeline of … Read More
The Day America Died
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. On the fourteenth anniversary of 9/11, we again remember the events of that terrible day and the thousands whose lives were lost to those awful attacks. While I have my own story which I’ll share later, I wondered how the experience had affected some of our current guests at Joy … Read More
Warnings!
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. You’ve probably heard the doomsday warnings for years, but now the latest one is that the world as we know it is going to end in Sept. 2015. There’s one Facebook page I found devoted to the topic. Author Jennifer LeClaire writing for Charisma Magazine said, “With Asia’s … Read More
