We had the pleasure of meeting Denver Moore during his visit to Durham in 2009. He and Ron Hall co-wrote Same Kind of Different as Me, a book that shares the touching story of Hall’s and Moore’s intersecting life journeys. 

We were sad to hear of his passing, but are encouraged by thousands he touched with his story. Moore’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 12 at McKinney Memorial Bible Church in Fort Worth, TX. To view the service, click here.

Below you’ll find Moore’s obituary and a brief video where Moore shared with us what it means to love your neighbor.

Denver Moore’s Obituary

The gates of heaven swung open on Saturday, March 31, 2012, and Denver Moore went walkin’ in!  He had sung those words of his favorite old spiritual countless times, receiving standing ovations all across America. He dreamed of heaven and was ready to march in with the saints and be reunited with Miss Debbie, the woman who believed he would make a difference.  He was 75 years old.

Though his lips were always flappin’ like Bible pages, he would say, he never claimed to be a preacher, just a sinner saved by grace with a message of hope for those that didn’t have any.

His story, well known by millions, is told in SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME,  a word-of-mouth best-selling book that spent 3 1/2 years as a New York Times best-seller.  His follow up book WHAT DIFFERENCE DO IT MAKE, tells the rest of his story.

Denver,  formerly homeless, spent much of his life on the streets of Fort Worth , Texas , until Deborah Hall (Miss Debbie to him) dreamt of this poor man with wisdom that would change the city.  And did he ever!  A few years after her dream, Denver was honored as the Philanthropist of the Year for his ministry and fund-raising for the homeless in Fort Worth . Upon accepting that honor, he shared the story of his transformation that he first told on the Tavis Smiley Show on PBS.  “God is in the recycling business,” he said “What most folks in Fort Worth thought was trash on the streets, God turned into a treasure! ” Amen to that.

In 2007, Barbara Bush selected SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME to be featured at her Celebration of Reading fund-raisers in Dallas and Washington DC .  Denver was honored to meet the President and attend a private luncheon in the White House with Bush family members and four other best-selling authors.  As he pulled away from the White House in a long blue limousine, he told his co-author, Ron Hall, “I done gone from livin’ in the bushes to eatin’ with the Bushes.  God bless America ,” he exclaimed, “This is a great country!”

Since 2005, Denver spoke at more than 400 fund-raising events, and countless radio and TV shows.  He attained rock star status with his fans but the only introduction he ever wanted was, “Tell ‘em I’m a NOBODY that is tryin’ to tell EVERYBODY about SOMEBODY that can save ANYBODY.”  And he did.  That “Somebody” was Jesus, and Denver woke up in His arms on Saturday.  His famous quote and the final words in his book are “We are all homeless workin’ our way home”.  Welcome home friend;  you were a good and faithful servant.

He is survived by two daughters, Tracy and Marva, and two sons, Thomas and Curtis.  He leaves behind millions of folks forever changed by his testimony.

A celebration of his life and passing will be held on April 12, at 2 pm in Fort Worth , Texas , at McKinney Memorial Bible Church , 4805 Arborlawn Drive, Fort Worth , Texas 76109 .  It is open to all who loved him and want to honor him.

Donations made to the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County,  1331 East Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth , Texas 76102 will keep hope alive for the hopeless.

Several of our partners have events coming up, starting tomorrow, that you don’t want to miss!

At DurhamCares, we’re all about connecting you to opportunities to get involved with organizations doing great work in our city, both by giving our time and by giving money. Over the next two months, several of our partners have big events coming up - check them out below. Then find a friend and get involved!

Urban Ministries Durham Empty Bowls

Thursday, March 8 from 5:30-8pm

Durham Armory, 212 Foster Street, Durham, NC

Join Urban Ministries for an evening of soup provided by local restaurants such as Watt’s Grocery, Guglhupf, Toast, Revolution, Whole Foods Durham and more. Event tickets are $15 for soup only and $30 for soup and a handcrafted bowl made by local artists. Fullsteam Brewery will host the afterparty.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

TROSA Yard Sale

Thursday, March 8 - Saturday, March 10 from 7am-6pm

3500 N. Roxboro St., Durham, NC

Here’s your chance to stock up on household items and furniture, clothing for the whole family and more. Skip the Saturday morning yard sale route and get everything in one place while supporting TROSA’s work. New items are put out daily!

For more information, click here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters 100 Men in 100 Days Kickoff Event

Sunday, March 11 from 12:30-3:30pm

Tyler’s Restaurant and Taproom, 324 Blackwell Street, Durham

Big Brothers Big Sisters has more than 100 boys in Durham that are on the waitlist for a Big Brother. They are kicking off a campaign to find 100 Big Brothers for the boys on the waitlist, and they’re starting by hosting a kickoff party at Tyler’s Taproom. Join the BBBST team for an afternoon of appetizers and ACC basketball and learn about how you can get involved in impacting a child’s life.

In addition to the kickoff party, BBBST is hosting a Chic-fil-a night every Monday until June 4th for people interested in becoming a BBBST volunteer. They’re offering a free sandwich to everyone who completes an application. For more information, check out this flyer.

For more information about the campaign, click here.

Communities in Schools Equinoxalizer 4-Miler

Saturday, March 17 at 8am

Downtown Durham

Sign up to run in the Equinoxalizer 4-Miler and raise money to benefit the dropout prevention work of Communities in Schools of Durham. This event is for runners of all abilities with free food, prizes, live music and much more. This is an event for the entire family!

For more information and to register or volunteer, click here.

The Great Human Race

Saturday, March 24 at 8:30am

Northgate Mall

The Great Human Race is is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Durham and supports more than 100 nonprofits, schools and organizations. This race gives each individual nonprofit an opportunity to raise money for their specific organizations. This year, many of DurhamCares’ nonprofit partners are participating, including Achievement Academy, Crayons2Calculators, Durham Economic Resource Center, Durham Literacy Center, Habitat and World Relief Durham.

Register to walk in support of your favorite nonprofit here.

BounceBack Kids Heels for Healing 5K

Saturday, March 31 at 9am

UNC-Chapel Hill

Bring your family out to the Heels for Healing 5K and 1/2 mile fun run to support BounceBack Kids, hosted by The UNC Association of Nursing Students.

Learn more and register for the race here.

Volunteer at the Tar Heel 10-Miler

Saturday, April 21 at 7:30am

Kenan Stadium, UNC-Chapel Hill

BounceBack Kids is one of the volunteer sponsor organizations for the Wells Fargo Tar Heel 10-Miler and is looking for volunteers to help on race day. Volunteer on behalf of BounceBack Kids to help them raise money!

Sign up to volunteer here. Deadline is March 15.

Ronald McDonald House Sport-a-Shirt, Share-a-Night

Sport-a-Shirt, Share-a-Night is a combined effort between all five Ronald McDonald Houses in NC and is a way to help share the cost of a one-night stay for a family at their local RMH. T-shirts are $10 and orders are due by April 27th.

Click here for more information and to see what the shirt looks like!

Do you want to be inspired by creative models for social impact, hone your leadership skills and use your talents for the good of the community? Apply today for 2012 internship opportunities with DurhamCares, Ministry Spotlight, Global Generosity Movement and Christian Technology Initiative. These positions offer the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in a results-focused, fun and team-based environment!

DurhamCares offers internships at our location on 801 Gilbert Street near downtown Durham, NC. Interns are unpaid, but we would be willing to work with you to arrange course credit. Our intern program is open to college students, recent graduates and members of the community. Intern candidates must be available for a minimum of 10 hours per week during daytime business hours.

DurhamCares is looking for the following interns for the Spring 2012 semester:

• Marketing and Communications Intern
• Online Curator
• Reporter
• Verticals Analyst
• Video Storyteller
• Volunteer Match Specialist

To be considered for an internship, you must complete this online application form and submit your resume and cover letter to internship@durhamcares.org by December 31, 2011.

Thank you for your interest!

VERTICALS ANALYST

As a Verticals Analyst, you will work the project manager to understand the scope of particular issues facing Durham, including mapping available assets and service providers working on the issue. You’ll research answers to key questions about the size of the issue, underlying factors and trends, as well as causes and correlations. Then you’ll help the project team synthesize the research with the perspective of local experts in a way that motivates people to strategic action.

Successful applicants will demonstrate attention to detail and excellent research skills, as well as the desire to think strategically about how best to understand issues of poverty, education, homelessness, etc. in a local context. This position requires someone who is passionate about helping others understand and respond to issues in their community.

VIDEO STORYTELLER

In this position, you will have the opportunity to produce short videos telling the story of DurhamCares’ non-profit partners, the families and individuals they serve, and the volunteers who are involved in loving their neighbors. You’ll be assigned to an event or organization and will be responsible for scheduling interviews/filming sessions, editing the footage and producing a short completed video to be distributed through our YouTube channel and social media outlets and shared with partner organizations. The stories told through the videos will play a crucial part in DurhamCares’ larger effort to engage those not yet involved in the community.

Successful applicants will have the ability to produce high-quality videos from start to finish, including both shooting and editing footage. Applicants must have their own transportation, but do not need to own their own camera or editing software (video camera and iMac with Final Cut software available for use in DurhamCares office). Applicants must be able to provide portfolio of previous work!

VOLUNTEER MATCH SPECIALIST

As a Volunteer Matching Specialist intern you’ll work with the matching team at DurhamCares to consult with individuals looking to serve their community, and connect them to opportunities that match their skills and interests. You will be able to gain an in-depth understanding of the organizations and programs working in the non-profit sector in Durham, and think creatively about how to position volunteer candidates to serve - the backbone of what we do here at DurhamCares!

Applicants must be comfortable, friendly, and engaging both over the phone and email, and must be able to clearly communicate expectations to volunteers and keep scheduled appointments. Interview with the Match Program Manager is required.

ONLINE CURATOR

This position will allow you the opportunity to both manage content for an existing nascent website. As the curator for The Office List (a site highlighting one Christian ministry video per day), you will watch, catalog and prioritize positing the existing videos in the database, as well as source new videos to feature. You’ll be responsible for regularly scheduling posts within the WordPress platform and promoting daily posts through social media outlets and managing comments/responses. Additional responsibilities include researching additional distribution channels and networking with relevant organizations on Twitter/Facebook.

Successful applicants must have an interest in Christian ministry both in the US and internationally and a love for watching videos. Applicants must be familiar with the WordPress platform and use of social media and should be able to work in a self-directed manner.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERN

As the Marketing and Communication Intern for the Global Generosity Movement, you will help to craft and execute the movement’s social-media marketing plan. With a huge emphasis on social media and SEO, you will help to connect and support organizations and individuals focused on the biblical message of generosity. In addition, you will be responsible for content distribution and messaging as well as building a following by posting relevant content.

Successful applicants will have the ability to manage multiple media channels and be comfortable interacting with customers and partner organizations around Christian topics. This position requires someone with excellent communication skills who is comfortable with WordPress CMS. Junior, senior or graduate Journalism majors preferred.

REPORTER

As a reporter for the Global Generosity Movement, you will help to tell the stories of individuals and organizations exemplifying biblical generosity around the world. You will work to design and produce a series of news stories for print, web and podcast that align with the organization’s strategy.

Successful applicants will have excellent communication skills, as well as experience with AP style and in reporting stories for publication. This position requires someone who is comfortable communicating Christian messaging and thrives in a start-up environment.  Junior, senior or graduate Journalism majors preferred.

With the holiday season right around the corner, you may be looking for a new way you can love your neighbor in Durham this time of year.  Here are a couple of helpful suggestions to get you started in the right direction.  Of course, the best way for you to love your neighbor is to start during the holiday season and continue to be engaged all year long.  Our volunteer matching team would be happy to talk with you about how you can use the holiday season as an opportunity to get involved.  Let us know how we can help you!

Hold A Winter Coat & Blanket Drive For Refugees
Refugees arrive in the US with what they can carry…literally. In most cases, that means they don’t have the coats or blankets they need for the cold weather. Organizations like World Relief and Church World Service who help these new families settle in rely on donated items to supplement what the family brings with them. Get your kids or your friends together to collect coats, blankets, comforters, socks, hats, scarves, gloves or space heaters to help these families stay warm this winter.

Get Involved

Throw A Holiday Party or Holiday Themed Activity Night at the Caring House
The Caring House is a comfortable and affordable place for adult cancer patients to stay while receiving treatment at Duke.  Get your family & friends together to provide a fun social activity for these folks who are far from their own homes during the holidays.  This could be anything from cooking a nice meal or deserts to holding a game or craft night to providing a little holiday music!

Get Involved

Wrap Christmas Gifts for Housing For New Hope
This year on December 8th from 10am-6pm, Housing For New Hope will be wrapping presents at the Barnes & Noble at Southpoint Mall to raise money for the services they provide to the homeless in Durham.  Cheerful volunteers are needed to wrap gifts with a little holiday cheer: all the tips received benefit the folks Housing For New Hope serves!

Get Involved

Adopt A Family For Christmas
Both the Genesis Home and the Department of Social Services will help you partner with local families who are homeless or economically disadvantaged, or even elderly or disabled neighbors in Durham to share your Christmas by providing gifts off of a wish list.  After shopping for gifts for the family you’re matched to, you have the option of delivering the gift directly to Genesis Home or the family, or back to DSS to deliver.

*All Genesis Home families have been adopted but DSS still has families waiting for adoption!

Get Involved

Staff the “Share Our Christmas” Helpline
After you sign up to sponsor a family, consider helping DSS take calls from other volunteers who want to love their neighbors - they need volunteers to help answer phones!

Get Involved

Purchase your Holiday Cards through Urban Ministries’ Holiday Honor Card Program
Are you looking for your family’s Christmas card for the season? Why not purchase Urban Ministries Holiday Honor Cards, available for a minimum donation of $5 each. Individuals who purchase Honor Cards send them to friends and family, indicating that they have been honored by a donation to a local outreach agency.

Get Involved

Staff the Urban Ministries Angel Tree Drop-Off Table

Urban Ministries needs volunteers from November 25 through December 18th for 2-hour shifts at Northgate Mall to accept Angel Tree present donations from shoppers. The Angel Tree is open for 10 hours each day, and daytime shifts are especially needed.

Get Involved