ABOUT THE LAZARUS HOUSE 

For the past 38 years, Lazarus House has provided programs and services to restore dignity and self-respect to empower families and individuals struggling with food insecurity, poverty and homelessness. Throughout the challenges posed by the pandemic, Lazarus House has focused our efforts on maintaining our most critical services – food distribution, shelter and housing for families. Through the current health crisis and its devastating financial impact, both of which have affected our Lawrence community disproportionately, we have to re-imagine how to serve our Guests safely while meeting their most pressing needs. The support of our generous community allows us to open doors for more than 18,000 unique families every year, a number that keeps growing as our community grapples with the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19.

Access to safe and stable housing, healthful food, and a caring case manager can make all the difference in someone’s ability to see new possibilities and thrive. Your support of HIKE for HOPE benefits the women, men, and children we assist to find safety, rediscover hope, and carry the goodness they find in the Lazarus House community out into the world.

THE NEED

Both our Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen have seen a tremendous increase in need since last March and we do not expect the increased need for food assistance to subside any time soon. Based on Lawrence residents’ experience of earlier crises, the economic impact from COVID-19 has hit the community hard and recovery of households will be a longer-term process than elsewhere in the Commonwealth.  We will continue, as we have done for the past 38 years, to open the door and welcome each Guest with kindness and compassion and walk alongside them as they stabilize, recover and rebuild their lives.

RESPONDING TO THE NEED

With your support, Lazarus House will continue to battle against food insecurity and assist anyone who comes to our door in need.  Through expanded program hours, additional staffing, enhanced safety measures, significant investments in food and your support, we will continue to be a beacon of light in the darkness of poverty for individuals living with the unimaginable stress and uncertainty of not being able to provide enough food for their families.

In addition, Lazarus House Ministries is preparing to launch a full renovation and enhancement of our current Soup Kitchen. These renovations will improve quality, efficiency and capacity to serve our cherished Guests for years to come.

Lazarus House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization filled with caring staff whose compassion and support give strength, healing and hope to everyone who come through its doors in need of help.