Typical Day
Recent Stories

Our Community

PHC’s community members come from a variety of backgrounds and all contribute to PHC’s life through their gifts and talents. The artwork displayed at PHC has all been produced by community members. Members support each other by sharing information about local services, and contribute to the maintenance of PHC’s facilities through lawn care, clearing snow, painting and general maintenance. Many community members currently do not have stable housing but are working with social service agencies to secure housing. Others have their own place but use PHC to maintain connections to their friends.

“I fit in here.”

Pat

“Peace House Community means companionship, like a best friends. One big best friend. I know we’re not all from the same walk of life, but I feel like we’re one. I feel at peace here. And that makes me happy.”

Samson

“There is so much individuality. You can be yourself!”

Joe

“I don’t think of myself as poverty-stricken. I think of myself as being rich in experience.”

Richard
Community Member Spotlights

Typical Day

PHC provides nutritious meals through the generous donations from local stores and commercial kitchens. We supplement these donations by purchasing and preparing the missing elements of a balanced diet.

  • Monday – Friday: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
  • Group Discussion/“Meditation”: 10:45 am to 11:30 am
    • Group Discussion/“Meditation” – Each day PHC staff, volunteers and community members join in a group discussion around a specific topic. Occasionally we invite outside guests to lead the discussion. The discussion allows us to get to know each other and express our beliefs and experiences in a safe environment. In honor of our founder who named this time, we continue to call it “Meditation,” recognizing that we each gain insight into ourselves and our lives, just as we do through more traditional forms of meditation.
  • Doors are closed when the group discussion/meditation begins and reopen at 11:30 p.m. to serve lunch to the community.
  • Lunch: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
  • The building will close at 2:30 pm
  • Dinner served by Loaves & Fishes: 5:00 to 6:00 pm

“It makes me feel peaceful. Meditation relaxes my mind. It’s a good place to come.”

Sally Sue

“I like to listen to the wisdom of the people who come here – wisdom from struggle, pain, insecurity, sickness, homelessness.”

Rose

Recent Stories

  • Grace in the Face of Destruction

    Grace in the Face of Destruction

    Last month I wrote about the need to use power wisely, and the temptations that everyone faces when they get power over others. Power can be used for our own prestige and comfort, or for the good of others. We have plenty of examples every day of each of those options playing out in front…

  • Who Controls Power?

    Who Controls Power?

    I recently reread James H. Cone’s The Cross and the Lynching Tree, which looks at the parallels between Jesus’ crucifixion and the lynchings that occurred during the Jim Crow era (1880-1940). Cone expressed his astonishment that no American theologian, white or black, saw the similarities between an innocent man being tortured and executed with the…

  • In Memorium: Catherine Mamer

    In Memorium: Catherine Mamer

    Peace House Community was saddened to learn of Catherine Mamer’s death on Dec. 28. Catherine’s health had been declining for several years, but it was still difficult to imagine PHC without her. Catherine started volunteering in 1986 at the invitation of PHC founder Rose Tillemans herself. Catherine brought energy and compassion to everything she did,…