2025 Christmas Gift Guide
Let's partner together to make sure no one goes without food or shelter this holiday season. Every gift makes a difference. The one you choose is up to you.
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Friends of LCCM, volunteers, donors, and guests,
As I write this letter (and I pray things are different by the time you read this!), we are sitting in the middle of a perceived “SNAP crisis.” It is hard to believe that we are dealing with no state budget, SNAP benefits being cancelled, and the heating assistance program (LIHEAP) being delayed due to the federal government shutdown! As the “COVID times” were calming down or “ending,” I very vividly remember thinking we would never see something like this again, or at least not in my lifetime. Well, I guess I was wrong.
LCCM is positioned uniquely where we really are a community action agency and are providing more than food. Our organizational mission includes food programs, as well as our shelter, FRESH Start, and our utility assistance program that supports people staying in their homes. So, this perceived crisis impacts us in a number of ways.
As I look back on the last six months, I am reminded of how blessed we are.
We have managed through some very challenging spaces. We are currently operating without the state food purchase program dollars, which at this time is an impact of $100,000, and includes funds we utilize to support other food programs in the county.
We are realizing an uptick of about 10% in our Market on 7th volume over the last two weeks, and our noon meal has experienced an increase over the last two weeks of 15%. We are currently scheduling over 15 appointments each week for heating assistance. These heating dollars are dollars supporting the basic heating needs of our neighbors and an investment of donor dollars that will NOT be reimbursed by government programs.
Additionally, we have not received some grant funds previously provided, such as the Emergency Food and Shelter Program grant.
Our commitment remains strong. We believe deeply in our mission and our vision.
Our board of directors has committed $350,000 of crisis reserve funds to sustain programming and make up for the lack of government support to those requiring heating assistance. We anticipate $150,000 will be reimbursed from our state food purchase program; however, the $200,000 are crisis dollars we desire to raise so we can be prepared for the next crisis.
Please consider investing in LCCM so we can continue to live out our vision statement: Investing in people. Improving lives.
-- Bryan Smith