By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Joy Junction Chaplain Marcos Atwood is a firm believer in the power and importance of prayer. On a recent Monday morning he started the day by praying with guests and staff – a tradition his predecessor and mentor former Chaplain Gene Shiplet initiated. Then he helped a married couple whose … Read More
The Homeless Have Mixed Emotions About the Holidays
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While for many of us the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will be a great time of celebration with family and friends, that is often not the case for the homeless. We asked a few of our Joy Junction guests how they feel about the holidays. One woman said the … Read More
Bashing the Poor, Hungry and Homeless
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Insults and demeaning statements can be a major part of what it means to be homeless, hungry and obviously needy. A recent article in the British Daily Mail said that “welfare addicts” are costing Australians billions of dollars. According to one study, the annual price tag for welfare here in … Read More
New Mexico’s Largest Homeless Shelter Avoids Typical Barriers to Access
News Release from Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. info@joyjunction.org ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Joy Junction, New Mexico’s largest emergency homeless shelter, is celebrating 30-plus years of implementing accessible methods of support for homeless individuals and families by providing food, shelter, pastoral counseling and even longer-term transitional housing. In 1986, Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, founder of Joy Junction, set out … Read More
Fifteen Years after 9/11, Hope for Love, Help and Kindness Overshadowed by Cavernous Political Divide and Angry Nation
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. On the fifteenth 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 what some of our current Joy Junction guests were doing on that … Read More
“Let’s Do Lunch. You Buy!”
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The sign is very clear. Held by a plaintive looking middle-aged man it reads, “Let’s do lunch. U-buy.” Would you? I would for sure. I’m never without $5.00 fast food gift cards in my car, which I offer to those who ask. They’re always gratefully received. I also offer my Joy … Read More
Grateful Hearts Even in a Difficult Time
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It’s never easy being homeless. It’s probably one of the most stressful times in your life, and while we try to do the best we can for those staying with us at Joy Junction, we wanted to see what they thought. With that in mind, we asked a few of … Read More
All the Homeless Have a Story. Maybe You Can Be the One Who Gives It a Happy Ending
by Jeremy Reynalds, Ph. D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc Litter was strewn on the ground. It included sandwich wrappers, chicken bones, lettuce and an old blanket. A building wall with a dark stain on it appeared to have been used quite recently for a bathroom. An unpleasant stench permeated the air. In addition, a porta potty with a … Read More
A Peek Behind the Scenes at Joy Junction-Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. How many times do we think of our trash collector, or perhaps the janitor at the office who works late evenings disposing of the trash we’ve generated in the day? As a rule, I’m guessing probably not too often. However, that would all change if they went on strike, right? … Read More
How Britain’s Veteran Musical Troubador of Peace and Social Justice Came to Write a Song for Joy Junction
By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Garth Hewitt has a passion for those routinely ignored by the rest of the world. I fell in love with this delightfully ever so English Anglican priest’s music while still in England in the late 1970’s. Even back then, it had a soul piercing quality often not present in some … Read More
