I am in my 5 th year of actually assisting LARS mostly as a Laurel VFD member. For the past 2 years i have served as Jolly St Nick working the Turkey Trot as well as the food and gift drop offs at Christmas. I am in the process of gathering fire prevention materials in both english and spanish for all to read. The staff at LARS are true professionals working along the volunteers to make our families feel provided for and helping them out best we can. See you all in thanksgiving morning.
I’m a retiree who believes volunteering is my purpose. I’ve had a fulfilling career and raised a wonderful family. I’ve volunteered at a number of organizations over the years including LARS. I appreciate the work that LARS does to support the community. They provide food and help with housing for some of our most vulnerable citizens. The staff I work with are a dedicated group that supports this mission. I look forward to helping in any way I can.
Beatrice Williams -Volunteer
this year. It's been a great experience!! The staff has shown me that they care and that it's not just another paycheck. I truly love that about them; we work well together!! There are days when we are short on volunteers and the staff will come out of their office, and roll up their sleeves, and work alongside us. When I have questions or make a suggestion, I am received respectfully.
When I decided that I was going to retire and eventually did, one of my goals were to find a place like this to help out. I'm glad that I chose LARS
I have supported LARS for several years as the make a meaningful impact in the community from providing food, diapers, and housing as well as advocating for those who are often marginalized or overlooked
I have had nothing but positive experience with Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services. From the time that I had entered the building the staff was welwcoming and eager to assist that needs that I came seeking assistance for. Evenetually I joined the Self-Sufficiency Program that was fairly new at the time. In that program I was able to work with an incredibly knowledgable case manager that made me feel supported and empowered. She was able to see what areas I had strengths in and also the areas that I could improve in without feeling judged. I had access to the Life Skills classes, now known as the Preparation For Success classes. I met other clients that were in the progam that had similar goals that had such as strengthening my financial literacy skills and budgeting for a family. I went on to find better employment which inreased my income, sharpen my career skills and allowed me to become more optimistic about my career goals. I gained confidence. I am so happy that I chose to become a client at LARS and that I decided to go into the program.
I brought my wife and two daughters to help distribute food at LARS around Thanksgiving and we found the experience to be very rewarding. We helped set up tables as well as bring food up from the pantry for distribution. The LARS staff proved to be extremely professional and courteous to us and the people showing up to receive food.
LARS plays a key role in our community.
I was drawn to the mission, values and incredible work they do with clients to empower self sufficiency, confidence and unlock each client's potential to thrive. Growing up, my family instilled in me the power of community support and advocacy. Serving in my role as Board Member and Volunteer has allowed me the opportunity to contribute to the incredible work that LARS' staff, partners, clients and volunteers do each day. In my time on the Board, I continue to be impressed by the reach LARS has in the community and during events it is apparent the compassion held for each client. The future of this organization and the impact they will continue to have is bright and I am excited to play an active role on the journey.
As both a Board member and regular volunteer, I have had the opportunity to see the incredible services being provided by LARS to the general Laurel community. From operating a food pantry to help those in need obtain nutrition for themselves and their families, to helping people achieve self-sufficiency and financial stability, to helping people avoid eviction and find permanent housing, LARS is top notch. Another thing that is certainly striking about this organization is the complete dedication of the staff to helping people in all these areas. It seems to be a mission and not just a job. It is an honor to be a part of this organization doing so many good things for our community.
LARS is a 501 c-3 non-profit serving people driven organization and exist because of the assistance that comes from others who care about people who have constrained resources and need a helping hand. The mission and the people that are committed to helping LARS in multiple ways recognize the need to do more and have a connecting desire and passion to help the communities that LARS' serves. This message permeates from the people on the front lines who work for LARS such as the executive director and professionals to the board members as well as our community partners. Together we all make a great team striving to make an even better difference that will have a lasting community impact. As we embark upon the last quarter of 2023; I say thank you for those who have helped us and for those who are thinking about it then we welcome your assistance to join us as we look to press forward to do even better things for our communities in 2024 and beyond. Please visit our website at https://www.laureladvocacy.org to find out more about our programs and how you can help LARS.
K. Glasper
I have always had a passion for helping others and positively impacting my community.
One of the reasons I am drawn to serving at LARS is their focus on helping people become self-sufficient. Instead of just providing temporary relief, LARS offers resources and support to help individuals and families overcome their current challenges and build a better future for themselves.
Being a part of LARS has also allowed me to witness the staff and volunteers' incredible dedication and hard work. Seeing how everyone comes together to make a difference in the community is truly inspiring.
For decades I have supported LARS as a donor and more recently as a volunteer working inside the organization. The kindness and commitment of LARS team members are inspiration to me and comfort to low-income and homeless persons who come to the charity in crisis. I observe first-hand how the LARS leadership team works tirelessly with its community partners to maintain the resources and capacity needed to meet the growing demands of its mission. I work alongside devoted case managers as they deliver financial assistance, groceries, diapers, supplies, and moral support to hundreds of individuals and families each year. For persons who are chronically homeless and unable to work, LARS offers permanent supportive housing and ongoing case management services.
Recognizing the need to help its clients develop skills that can permanently lift them out of poverty, LARS operates a self-sufficiency program that provides educational services, counseling, and job support. This program produces many success stories as participants attain gainful employment, stable housing, and economic mobility. The broad services and positive outcomes delivered by LARS motivate me to continue to be a part of this organization’s important work.