Important changes at lccm
Clothing: LCCM recently made changes to its programming to more effectively serve our guests in need of food, utility payment assistance and shelter. To meet the major rise in demand, LCCM (a 501c3 nonprofit organization) no longer has a clothing bank and will not be making clothing appointments. Utility payment assistance: Please be advised starting Sept. 16, […]
‘I try not to let my kids see me cry’: Nurse’s future uncertain after job loss, back surgery
As a nurse, Natalie is used to taking care of people. Over the Christmas season, however, she will be the one needing help as she recovers from back surgery. “I fell on hard times,” Natalie said on a recent December morning. “It’s been a horrible year.”The 41-year-old Lebanon County woman said this year’s hardship began […]
I tried to feed my family on just $40 for 48 hours. Here’s what happened
I tried to feed my family of four on just $40 in 48 hours, and I quickly realized that when I’m not mindful of how much I’m spending, it can add up quickly. Why did I do this? I was trying to fill a space on my bingo card. Let me explain. I’m participating in LCCM’s Hurdles […]
How LCCM is ensuring safety for its FRESH Start emergency shelter guests amid COVID-19 crisis
By Bryan Smith, LCCM Executive Director Providing a homeless shelter is easy, right? I mean, just throw a couple cots on the floor and let folks come in and sleep. Well, the reality is that it isn’t that easy. Add to that when you designate your shelter as a family shelter – where men and […]
How costly is it to live in Lebanon County? A 2-parent household must earn at least $47,000 annually to afford basic household necessities: United Way
Lebanon County Christian Ministries serves thousands of individuals and families each year in Lebanon County by providing supplemental food, clothing and heating assistance, and even shelter, to those who cannot afford the basic cost of living. Nearly 37% of households in Lebanon County lack the income to cover the costs of basic necessities such as […]
How 60 days at the Lebanon County Christian Ministries emergency shelter helped one man save money, secure a full-time job
When Jesse spoke at a United Way event recently, he fought back tears as he spoke about the impact Lebanon County Christian Ministries (LCCM) has had on his life over two difficult months. “It’s just been eye opening to see the services they provide to the community,” the 27-year-old man said after reflecting on his […]
Hospitality on the front lines: The Ministry of Being Seen, Part 2
he Once Lived Among the Dead. Now He Serves the Living on the Margins. Bob is a volunteer chaplain who delivers the gospel to strangers at funerals– the rare moments when hope and life is presented amid grief and death. It’s a role he was born to play, having grown up in a funeral home […]
Hospitality on the Front Lines: The Ministry of Being Seen, Part 1
Part 1: The doorway is sacred space—and some people are called to stand in it. Everyone knows Miguel. He can walk anywhere in Lebanon and hear his name called. It’s to be expected. Four days a week, he is the first face people see at the Market on 7th, LCCM’s charitable food pantry. He stands at […]
Health, community, will play critical role in noon meal’s future
For decades, LCCM’s free noon meal program was a dine-in program open to anyone in the community who needed a meal. COVID-19 brought that model to a screeching halt in 2020. For the next 22 months, guests could only pick up a take-out meal. The noon meal went from serving an average of 75-100 people […]
He just left a career in emergency medical services; now he’s creating LCCM’s COVID-19 pandemic response plan in Lebanon County
Bryan D. Smith, executive director of Lebanon County Christian Ministries, picks up donated meals from Hebron Catering and Events for the free noon meal at LCCM Wednesday, March 18. Bryan D. Smith just exited his role as the executive director of First Aid and Safety Patrol, an ambulance service in Lebanon County. Six months into […]