FAQ
Click a question to view the answer:
- Where did the name Dry Bones come from?
- How can I donate to Dry Bones?
- How old are the “street kids”?
- Where do the youth that live on the streets of Denver come from?
- Why Denver?
- Where do the kids sleep at night?
- How can I get involved?
- Who started Dry Bones?
- What is “Spange”?
- Do you accept clothing donations?
- Does Dry Bones have a building downtown?
Where did the name Dry Bones come from?
The name comes from Ezekiel 37 in the Old Testament of the Bible. We believe that God can bring all things to life! Read Ezekiel 37 here
How can I donate to Dry Bones?
Please visit the Donate page for the details.
How old are the “street kids”?
Our friends without homes are between the ages of 12 and up into their mid-twenties. The youngest person that we have seen living on the streets over the past few years (besides infants belonging to the youth) was 10. The average age is 18 to 20.
Where do the youth that live on the streets of Denver come from?
The street kids of Denver come from all across the United States and even the world. Just a few examples of the variety of “hometowns” that the youth claim are: Borger, Texas; New York City; Europe; San Diego, CA; Elizabeth, CO; Seattle, WA; Ft. Worth, TX; Africa; Lakewood, CO; and many many more.
Many of the young people are from the Colorado area, but many others end up “stuck” in Denver while traveling across the country. The kids often stow away in trains, ride Greyhound buses, or hitch hike.
Denver also has a reputation amongst the street youth of the nation. Many come to Denver seeking the population of youth that live on the streets that they have heard about in another city.
Many reasons.
Denver is the gateway to the west. It is the largest city in the Colorado and western-central U.S. area. Travelers get “stuck” in the Mile High City.
Young homeless often find a community of kids in a similar situation as themselves and decide to stick around.
Drugs are available and cheap in Denver.
Denver has a nice climate with over 300 days of sunshine. Winters can be brutal, but many winter days are sunny, warm feeling, and pleasant.
Where do the kids sleep at night?
The young people sleep wherever shelter is available or found.
Many of the kids sleep under bridges, in storm drains, in parking garages, in abandoned buildings or houses, in trees and bushes, in tents, and in stairwells.
On the coldest of nights, the kids will often “spange” (ask for spare change) up enough money to buy a cheap motel room for the night for a small or even large group.
Other street kids will sleep on the couch of a friend when they can so that they can shower and sleep well for a night or two. This is called “Couch Surfing”.
Some of the kids will venture over to Urban Peak, a shelter for youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
Please visit the Get Involved page of this website.
If you would like to volunteer with Dry Bones, you must attend a Dry Bones 101 orientation. Volunteering with Dry Bones is a privilege and a commitment that we take very seriously.
We do have needs from time to time such as cleaning, organizing donated items, administrative work, and so forth that do not require Dry Bones 101.
Jeff and Kama Medders (and kids) and Matt and Nikki Wallace were a part of the planting team. The Goldman family quickly joined the team a year later. Jeff and Kama have now moved on to new explorations of the country and ministry opportunities.
“Spange” is a noun and a verb. It is a combination of the words spare and change. Youth living on the streets often spange for spange.
When our friends on the streets ask us how Dry Bones can afford to pay for all the activities and services that we provide, we say, “Well, we kind of spange too.”
Do you accept clothing donations?
We do not regularly accept clothing donations. The street youth are like most young people and are picky about what they will wear. Black clothing is especially useful to us. If you would like to donate clothing, please contact us regarding our current needs.
Also, please visit the Get Involved page of this website for regularly needed items.
Does Dry Bones have a building downtown?
Dry Bones uses many buildings downtown. Dry Bones attempts to remain flexible and organic as we continue to grow and evolve. Therefore, we do not own any building.
Dry Bones rents a space we call the “Dry Bones Apartment”. This space is used as our office and headquarters. The home-like setting is used to teach life skills classes, provide professional counseling, host meals and Bible studies, and much more. We are also able to provide showers and laundry at this location.
We use Bowl-ero Lanes every Thursday night. We use places like McDonalds, Illegal Pete’s, Taco Bell, and even Chili’s for special occasions as we spend personal or small group time with a young person(s) over a warm meal.
The Goldman’s home is used each week as we gather for a home cooked meal and Bible study on Wednesday afternoons.
Bowling alleys, hiking and camping trips, coffee shops, movie theaters, skate parks, Rockies and Nuggets games, Woody’s Pizza, and trips to the Denver Zoo are also favorite locations of the Dry Bones staff.
The Lakewood Church of Christ graciously provides housing during the summers for our Elevations visiting groups. They also host Celebrate Recovery here.
It is vitally important that the staff have the availability and freedom to spend time walking and sitting on the streets of downtown as we strive to meet the kids where they are and build relationships on the streets. God continues to bless Dry Bones with places to feed, meet, and build relationships.
Did we miss your question? If so, please contact us!