Quakers and Home

the word “home” mean to you? From a laundry ministry on the streets of San Francisco to a Quaker refuge during World War II, Friends are reimagining what it means to offer shelter, connection, and belonging. Our episode gets its inspiration from the May 2025 issue of Friends Journal.

Peterson: Gabe Ehri writes in the opening editorial, “In a world as profoundly abundant as ours, it is a societal failure of monumental proportions that anyone go without safe and comfortable housing.”

Sweet Miche: And he ends with this reminder from scripture and Woolman: “Think on these things and do them.” That’s what we’re exploring today—what it means to actually do something.

In This Episode:

Zae Illo, an Earlham School of Religion graduate and a longtime public theologian, shares how his lived experience of homelessness informs his ministry among unhoused neighbors in San Francisco. Outside the Friends meetinghouse, his laundry ministry provides more than clean clothes—it offers presence, listening, and dignity. Read his article: Laundry Chaplaincy for Unsheltered Souls

Sharlee DiMenichi, staff writer at Friends Journal, highlights how Quaker meetings across North America care for unhoused neighbors. From shelter partnerships in Arizona to memorials for unhoused Friends in California, her reporting centers spiritual practice and community action. Read her article: Solidarity with Our Unhoused Neighbors

Michael Luick-Thrams reflects on Scattergood Hostel, the Iowa Quaker school that transformed into a refuge for Jewish children fleeing the Holocaust. Watch the QuakerSpeak video: Scattergood: A Quaker Response to the Holocaust Read the book: Scattergood by H.M. Bouwman

Book Review We feature Bird, Bee, and Bug Homes and Habitats for Garden Wildlife, a vibrant guide for helping our smallest neighbors. It is recommended for ages 6–12 and curious adults. Read the review: Bird, Bee and Bug Homes

Monthly Question

We asked listeners: Beyond a roof and four walls, what does the word “home” mean to you? Thank you to Mario, Sonia, Erin, and Ben for sharing heartfelt reflections. From childhood memories to chosen neighborhoods, your answers grounded this episode in personal truth.

Next question: What is your favorite Quaker term—one common among Friends but strange to outsiders? Leave a voicemail at 317-QUAKERS or comment on our socials.

Credits & Links

• • Quakers Today is a podcast from Friends Publishing Corporation
  • Hosted by Peterson Toscano and Sweet Miche

• QuakerSpeak Video recorded by Layla Cuthrell

• Season 4 is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee
• Music comes from Epidemic Sound. Closing song: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis.
• Visit QuakersToday.org for a full transcript and more.
• Learn more about Zae Illo at ZaeIllo.com

Contact us: podcast@friendsjournal.org

Season Four of Quakers Today is Sponsored by:

Friends Fiduciary

Since 1898, Friends Fiduciary has provided values-aligned investment services for Quaker organizations, consistently achieving strong financial returns while upholding Quaker testimonies. They also assist individuals in supporting beloved organizations through donor-advised funds, charitable gift annuities, and stock gifts. Learn more at FriendsFiduciary.org.

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

Vulnerable communities and the planet are counting on Quakers to take action for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. AFSC works at the forefront of social change movements to meet urgent humanitarian needs, challenge injustice, and build peace. Learn more at AFSC.org.

Feel free to email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org with​​ comments, questions, and requests for our show. Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound.

Follow Quakers Today on TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more episodes and a full transcript of this episode, visit QuakersToday.org.