The Joseph House Workshop turns 20 in 2025, although its beginning goes back further in time.
In 1998, Mountaire Farms of Delmarva approached our founder, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, with an offer to donate an unused industrial building the company had acquired. Sister quickly said yes; she was a woman of vision and was never short of ideas.
First visit to the property on November 19, 1998.
But then we had to sit down and figure out what exactly are we going to do with it. The building was conveniently located next door to our Crisis Center on Boundary Street in Salisbury. It was also large and empty and essentially a blank state — which can be both a blessing and a curse.
Sr. Mary Elizabeth, however, saw the donation as God’s Providence in action and knew that God would guide us to what He desired. She had a lot of experience with matters like this, from practically her whole life. She was never afraid to take the first step, even when the path was unknown. Little by little, God will let us know what to do, she would say.
And over the next few years God did, until the Workshop we know today opened its doors in 2005.
The photo gallery below traces the journey we took, which involved getting some very good people on board, a few tentative first steps, and then a full-fledged commitment in a definite direction. The end result? What was once a blank slate became a vital program that helps men who were homeless create new lives for themselves.
Sr. Mary Elizabeth left us before the Workshop officially opened. Since then, a few other special people have passed away, among them Dave Pogge, Anne Cuomo, and Dave Macleod. We hold them, and everyone who was ever part of the Workshop, close to our hearts with much gratitude.
May our patron Saint Joseph continue to pray for the Workshop and for all the people who make it possible. May the men who need the Workshop be led to it, and may it prove to be a turning point and blessing in their lives.
Click on an image for a larger size and to read the caption.
The project went through a few name changes at first. Clipping from The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD), February 26, 1999.
This aerial photo from 2000 shows the Crisis Center and the Workshop on Boundary Street in Salisbury. They are like an oasis in a modern industrial desert.
This is what the building looked like when it was given to the Joseph House. It had served as a warehouse and truck garage.
The entrance.
Sr. Mary Elizabeth was eager to get started on the renovations with the help of Mountaire Farms. Clipping from The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD), May 21, 1999.
In February 2000, a pilot program began that consisted of a Bicycle Repair Workshop and Job Preparation classes. The participants received a bicycle when they completed the program.
Mountaire converted the back end of the warehouse into a food storage area for the Joseph House Crisis Center, completing the work in March 2000. Mountaire also donated a walk-in freezer and forklift.
Repurposing the building for its intended use required a substantial amount of infrastructure work. Plumbing and drainage lines were installed in August 2001.
A second pilot program began in May 2002. It taught job preparation skills to both men and women. Classes were held in this trailer next to the Crisis Center.
Each student was paired with a mentor for individual support.
Some of the students with their mentors.
Anne Cuomo (green sweater) and Dave Macleod (second from her right) were the Co-Directors of the second pilot program.
The graduates of the second pilot program.
The pilot sessions indicated that the Workshop should be a residential program and teach job-readiness and life skills rather than particular vocational skills. With a direction set, work continued on repurposing the warehouse.
The decision was also made to limit the Workshop to men. Given the space requirements of a residential facility, the Workshop could not accommodate both men and women.
A tremendous amount of work was needed to create suitable living and classroom space.
Clipping from the Maranatha Manna (Princess Anne, MD), February 2004.
Volunteers helped with beautifying the exterior.
On October 18, 2004, before construction work was completed, the project was blessed by Bishop Michael Saltarelli of Wilmington.
The Bishop (holding a program) is seen here in the procession into the building.
The ribbon-cutting was on June 13, 2005. Clipping from the Maranatha Manna (Princess Anne, MD), July 2005.
At the reception, attendees got to see the mural in the dining room painted by a local artist.
The Workshop was ready for occupancy in September 2005. Here is a photo of an early group of residents.
Clipping from The Dialog (Wilmington, DE), March 2, 2006.
Clipping from The Dialog (Wilmington, DE), March 2, 2006.
Residents of the Workshop share in the household tasks, such as cooking.
The Workshop was soon recognized as a valuable asset for the community. Here is one example.
Sr. Connie with some of the residents and staff from several years ago.
The program has two phases. Phase 1 is classroom-based. During Phase 2, the residents begin working out in the community. Here is a photo of residents in an art class taught by Sr. Virginia.
Two residents showing their designs for a stained glass project.
A resident with a mosaic sign he made.
There is space in the front yard for planting a garden.
Here is another resident with a green thumb.
The residents take good care of the property. Here is a resident doing some painting at the Crisis Center.
The Workshop residents will also gladly help the Little Sisters at the convent. Here are a few doing some snow shoveling.
The Workshop offers a well-rounded program. In addition to work and study there is time for recreation.
The Joseph House Workshop has always been a project of transformation — especially of people. God is so good!
