Open Door Outreach Center, a 501(c)(3) Tax-exempt nonprofit organization, lives by its mission below:
OUR MISSION
Open Door Outreach Center’s Primary Mission is to Provide Emergency Services of Food, Clothing, and Referral Information to People in Need, While recognizing the Human Dignity of All Persons.
OUR VISION
To provide food, clothing, help, and hope with compassion, fulfilling the commitment to our communities.
Open Door Outreach Center is committed to transparency and has received Candid's* GOLD level status recognition. By reporting metrics through Candid's Nonprofit Profile System, Open Door Outreach Center has earned the GOLD Seal of Transparency and we display it with pride!
*formerly GuideStar
Center Facts
- The Open Door Outreach Center clothed and fed 7,789 people in 2023
- 291,419 lbs. of food was distributed in 2023
- 2,464 were families and children. .
- Seniors and other adults living alone comprise 50% of our food recipients; 26% are families with children. The remaining 24% are comprised of other non-traditional family groups such as grandparent with grandchildren, a senior and adult child or a couple with children over 18 still at home. The majority of our pantry clients reside in Waterford with 42% calling the community home followed by White Lake
Our Story
Open Door Outreach Center began through White Lake’s St. Patrick’s Church in 1980. The origin was to partner with local churches of all faiths to open the services to all people. Open Door Outreach Center has had many locations with one in a storefront near the Big Boy restaurant on Cooley Lake Road in Waterford.
The current Administrative Building and Life Skills Resource Center on Cooley Lake originally held the Pantry and Thrift Store. Today our Thrift Store, Client Services-(Emergency Services) and Food Pantry, have all expanded and evolved to meet the needs of our community.
The Thrift store continues to be stocked by our generous community who donates gently used and new clothing, household goods, decor items, books, jewelry and more.
Our Open Door Outreach Food Pantry has also evolved. Food was originally distributed at first in pre-filled bags, but quickly evolved to a “client choice food pantry” where the client could shop for their own needed food and items. Today our Client Choice Food Pantry is very well received by our clients and community and we are proud to be one of the few in the state! We are also very grateful to our community of local Bakeries, large wholesalers, farmers and local businesses who contribute baked items, produce, non perishable foods, toiletries, cleaning products and more to help stock our Food Pantry on a regular basis.
Our Client Services meet with clients by appointment to qualify and determine needs-providing vouchers to clients to allow shopping at our Thrift Store for clothing and household, seasonal items needed. ON a case by case basis and budget permitting, financial assistance is offered. Seasonal programs were also established from the beginning and continue to this day for Christmas/Holiday Meals, Thanksgiving, Easter/Spring Meals, Back to School, birthday bag programs and much more.
The Open Door Outreach Center Board of Directors originally included a President, Treasurer, and Secretary the first year and then increased members as trustees including local pastors. Our current Board of Directors includes 11 members and 3 Directors of Emeritus. We are thankful for our Boards members who are professionals with a passion for their community and philanthropy!
Fundraisers such as the Julie Run to End Hunger and Annual Tea and Luncheon, the Open Door Thrift store hosts a Junk in the Trunk event -held every Father's Day weekend (Saturday); each of these popular events provide revenue. In 2024 we added a Golf Outing in July and we hope to continue it annually. Grants are also sought on a regular basis from foundations, businesses, government and estates.
Since its founding, Open Door Outreach Center has grown to support residents from 14 zip codes in Oakland County which include, Waterford, White Lake, West Bloomfield, Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Orchard Lake, Walled Lake, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake and portions of Wixom.
Open Door Outreach Center carefully screens all clients to ensure assistance is given to those in the greatest need. We tailor services to meet specific needs, aiding each person to reach self-sufficiency.
Come and visit us - we welcome you.