The Homeless Shelter: A Picture of Easter

Guest Post by Pastor Brian Nixon   I remember the first time I spent the Easter holiday at a homeless shelter. I did so, not as a homeless person, but as an evening counselor. The year was 1989. I recently began working for the Tri-City Homeless Shelter in the Bay Area of California, acting as the evening counselor for the … Read More

True Love Starts with the Kiss of Hearts

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. What makes the “other heart” of Joy Junction beat with such a resounding passion for the needy? As the old song says by veteran Christian musicians Steve and Annie Chapman   “True love starts with the kiss of hearts.” It continues to say, “Though a kiss may be the end result, … Read More

Joy Junction Constructing to Meet Growing Homeless Need in City; Completion of On-Site Apartment Complex Will Allow Donation-Only shelter to Lift Up More Homeless People in Dignity

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO, Joy Junction Inc. With recent national attention on our city’s efforts to reduce homelessness and panhandling in the last couple of years, it’s curious why the total number of homeless individuals doesn’t go down. If anything, according to whom you ask and which statistics you believe, it keeps increasing. In addition, we’re still … Read More

Homeless Man’s Valentine’s Day Wish to Study the Bible With His Wife , Give Her Roses and Take Her to Eat at Burger King.

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Flowers, candy and cards mark Valentine’s Day, and while crassly commercial and criticized by some, isn’t a day of kindness and love (however superficial) better than more politics, especially in this day of seemingly never ending partisan rancor? Just in case you’re curious, Valentine’s Day as we know it today … Read More

Former City Chief Public Safety Officer Concerned Albuquerque’s There’s a Better Way Program Doesn’t Require Background Checks for Workers

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Former Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli said City’s lack of background checks for “A Better Way” Program are “are exposing people to unnecessary risk” and City couldn’t escape liability in the event of an incident According to its website,  in September 2015, the City of … Read More

The Media, The Homeless and a Basket of Deplorables

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. By the way some people react to the homeless, you’d think they believe they’re equivalent to a basket of deplorables, as well as being similar in nature to a religious group once dismissively described as largely poor, uneducated and easy to command. While there are many wonderful, caring and giving … Read More

Two Hearts-One Vision

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc.   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 very personal story, which greatly impacts … 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

Celebrate but Remember the Homeless

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. July 4 is just around the corner, but not all Americans will be celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, a day off from work, a thankful heart and food. For some, it’s just another day of fear and uncertainty. An incident from a few years ago just prior to July 4 … Read More

Food Envy: Shelter Food Pictures Make Woman Upset

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. It was just a simple and routine post on our Joy Junction Facebook page and a few other social media as well. The words read, “Our guests enjoyed posole with beef, chile and a tortilla topped off with ice cream (not together!). Was your lunch as good? #jjmeals #hungryinalbuquerque I … Read More

Celebrate but Remember the Homeless

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. Not all Americans will be celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, a day off from work, a thankful heart and food. For some, it’s just another day of fear and uncertainty. An incident from four years ago just prior to July 4 ago came to mind. While out on the streets … Read More