Lazarus Ministries serves nearly 30,000 meals a year to Kansas City's homeless, in addition to providing clothes and basic necessities every week. The women's shelter during the cold winter months provides safety, hot meals and most important - an opportunity for these women to focus on rebuilding their lives with the love and support of a community of caring people around them. The provided food, clothing, life necessities and shelter combine to make a powerful, life-changing process for many of Kansas City's urban core. Together, we can make this non-profit the foundation for transitioning people into more enriching lives.
I have been honored to serve on the Board of this wonderful group. They are tireless in determining the needs of the sojourners (homeless population) in metro Kansas City. From a heart perspective, they have boundless compassion for the folks who are struggling on life's journey. From a steward perspective, they always evaluate the needs, make sure not to duplicate services of others and adjust to their findings. They are able to balance both sides of the equation.
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for three years now my family and I have served Dinner meals December 1 - April 1. The ladies we've met are wonderful people wroking to turn their lives around. It's a great experience for family and friends to come together and serve others.
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I have been volunteering at Lazarus for 4 or more years now. This is an organization that ministers to the homeless in KC MO for years. We provide a women's shelter in the winter as no other is available, breakfast and lunches when no others are available, clothing that is quality and church services that are open to everyone. This is a great organization and would leave a gap if we no longer existed,
We have visited and volunteered and were struck by the genuine and heartfelt mission of the folks who serve week in and weekout. They are providing a place for homeless men and women to belong, find friends and benefit from the food, shelter, books and services while experiencing God's unending love for them.
Lazarus Ministries moved me to become very involved because it puts into practice what Christ taught us - help those who are in greatest need. Weekend meals for the poor and homeless, winter shelter for homeless women, a free health clinic; but more importantly, we get the opportunity to be a friend to those we serve. That is the most important part of what we do.
I have been a part of Lazarus Ministries for approximately 1 1/2 years through assistance with meals, clothing pantry and on committees of service to the community of people. The most valuable part of the experience is meeting the people that are served which turns out to be all of us that participate in this experience. In getting to know one another through Lazarus Ministries we learn more about ourselves and our gifts we bring to the table to share. It is truly an opportunity of learning, of sharing, of giving and of receiving the many gifts through this program. If I thought that I had was coming to bring something to give and that would make me feel better as it turns out I have received more through communication and sharing of words, of touch, of smiles, of music, of bread, than i ever could have imagined and I am thankful for this ongoing program that touches each of us.
I have been apart of Lazarus Ministries at Grand Avenue Temple for the past two years. What the shelter represents, the women and it's mission to serve is what makes me proud to be apart of the GAT family. The experience has enabled me to build friendships and become familiar with a way of life I was not exposed to. The women have taught me more than what I could ever hope to give them by volunteering my time. I am looking forward to my third year.
Lazarus Ministries at Grand Avenue Temple does a fabulous job meeting the needs of people in the community by showing them the love of God. LM provides food, medical care, clothing, and provides an emergency winter shelter for women. But the most important things LM provides is love and compassion and a welcoming embrace. Those without a home who are otherwise invisible on the streets are welcomed into the fellowship of the church. Lazarus Ministries provides clothing in a unique way - by providing a personal shopper to help the guests pick out clothing from the "boutique" that will not only meet their needs but may also make them feel special. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to serve those in need and to see what a difference small gestures can make in their lives.
I volunteered with my cousin and her family. We served pizza, soda and cookies. I taught them to make earrings. It was a wonderful experience for all of us.
Our church has helped out at Lazarus's Ministries by serving meals to the homeless and cleaning the building and grounds area. My own family will be serving meals at the women's shelter that is open December thru March. This ministry is a great place that offers hope to the homeless. Not only do they offer shelter and food, they offer assistance in helping the women to improve their lives. There are not many womens shelters in the area. They have a great location and facility for this ministry. The staff is wonderful and very compassionate. My family and church are dedicated to helping this wonderful ministry.
Lazarus Ministries (LM) provides meals, shelter, clothing, medical services, and a loving spirit to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the homeless of Kansas City. Many of those who seek support from LM are people whose families have given up on them and have no other place to turn. What I've learned from working with those who are served by LM is that life in our society is complicated and not everyone is equipped with the skills to maintain a permanent home, job, car, red tape, insurance, etc. Some lack the ability because of mental illness and others were just born that way. Nevertheless, LM loves them just as God does.
I have contributed to Lazarus Ministries for several years because I value the efforts they make to improve the lives of the downtown Kansas City community. On several occassions I have particpated in worship services, volunteered to serve meals, or just "hung around" witnessing the comings and goings of the other volunteers, staff, and recepients of support.
Lazarus Ministries serves the underserved of downtown Kansas City, with both their physical needs as well as their spritiual needs. They provide a women's shelter during the winter months, a weekend soup kitchen, a Sunday health clinic and a "boutique" for the sojourners to "shop" for clothing. These are vital services to those in need, which is why I serve on the Board.
Lazarus Ministries has been an important part of the downtown Kansas City, MO support network for men and women in need of assistance for many years. It has meant shelter, food, clothing, spiritual support, acceptance, help navigating the red-tape of assistance, employment, counseling, and most of all a place where people can feel they belong. They provide health care exams and services not otherwise availaibe to this segment of the population. The staff is compassionate, understanding, and truly cares about the sojourners who enter their doors.
I am a regular donor to Lazarus Ministries and an occasional volunteer whenever am in town (I live out of state). I am constantly amazed at the dedication of the volunteers, staff, and clients (referred to as Sojourners) to making this program successful. They have youth groups come for work camps from all over the Midwest, they get boxes of donations from people who have simply heard of their work through a friend, and the Sojourners even pitch in when needed with whatever means they have. The staff always manages to pull together meals, clothes, medical treatment, and other necessary services on a shoestring budget. And you can see the appreciation in the faces of those who are helped. This is a truly worthy organization that fills many needs, both physical and spiritual, in the Kansas City downtown community. As the needs of the community change, Lazarus Ministries evaluates their programs and changes too.
