Lake Christian Ministries, Inc

Helping Our Neighbors in Need and Providing Hope for the Future

Lake Christian Ministries (LCM) is a regional non-profit that provides food, clothing, household items, crisis financial aid, and community connections to assist individuals and families in need in Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties.  LCM’s vision is to create a poverty-free SML community where each individual is valued, is connected and lives in hope. To address this vision, LCM's New Tomorrows Program assists neighbors with job readiness, educational opportunities, and community connections. Included in this program is a 14-week Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World class that helps participants better understand the barriers that are keeping them in poverty and develop a plan to move toward a more secure future.  

Prolonged inflation has taken a toll on low income families. Rising costs for food, housing and utilities have increased the number of families seeking Lake Christian Ministries services by 40% over the past year. We need your help to address growing needs. Make a donation on SML Gives Day and every $1 donated (up to $15,000) will be matched by three anonymous LCM volunteers. These volunteers see firsthand the worry in the faces of the people we assist. Together they are offering $15,000 in matching funds to encourage community support.               

In 2023, LCM provided:

• Food assistance to fulfill over 12,187 requests, which provided 224,480 meals for food-insecure families – a 36% increase over 2022.     
• Two mobile food pantries provided food monthly to families in need in the Penhook area. A partnership with Bedford Ride and Franklin County Community Healthcare workers provided the delivery of monthly food supplies from LCM to neighbors who are shut-in at home due to health, age and/or disability.  
• Crisis financial aid was provided to support 1,914 individuals in 626 families. A total of $274,257 was paid directly to service providers for housing; utilities; medical, dental and prescription drug expenses; and other types of crisis assistance – representing a 28% annual increase in the number of families benefiting from financial aid in 2022. 
• Individual relationship-based support for 259 neighbors through the New Tomorrows program. LCM staff and volunteers work together with neighbors one-on-one to make the best use of available services within LCM and in the community; engage in educational support; make community connections; and work toward job readiness.  
• Since its beginning in 2015, the Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World class series has benefitted over 125 individuals, helping them move to a more secure future.  
• Holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to more than 2,700 individuals. 
• Back-to-school supplies to 235 children in grades K-12. 
• Warm clothing and gifts to 687 children in vulnerable families, through “A Child’s Christmas” – a 47% increase over 2022.   
• Dental and denture assistance for over 60 neighbors through restricted grants. 
• 29,750 volunteer hours were provided by 248 volunteers to administer LCM’s programs and services.