From Coke, Meth and Alcohol Addiction to Joy Junction Chaplain

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

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

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

Things I Hated To Do.

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. While the harsh realities of life give us a lot to pray for, sometimes it can all get a bit overwhelming and we need some good news. There are many wonderful things happening around us that don’t draw media attention, and they include some of the lives being transformed at … Read More

We Like Our Gospel Country

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that many of our guests – perhaps most – come in emotionally bruised and battered to Joy Junction. A few also show evident physical scars from being homeless and living on the streets, but emotional hurt and devastation is much more common. While … 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

Not At All Routine-A Day in the Life of the Joy Junction Case Manager

By Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Joy Junction Inc. The term “case manager” is heard a lot, but I wonder how many people know what exactly a case manager does. I asked Carl Valles, our case manager at Joy Junction, to tell me a typical recent day-if there is such a thing. He said he begins by reading all … 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

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