About us
At Lake Christian Ministries (LCM), we're dedicated to supporting our neighbors in need with compassion and hope. Since our inception in 1992, we've been driven by the belief that every individual deserves dignity, connection, and a pathway to a better future. LCM serves residents of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties.
Through the generosity of individuals, churches, organizations, and businesses, we provide essential resources such as food, clothing, household items, and crisis financial aid. Our New Tomorrows Program offers personalized support, empowering our neighbors to overcome barriers and build more secure lives.
LCM's ongoing expansion reflects our commitment to meeting growing needs. With a new building underway, we're poised to enhance our services with an expanded clothing area, furniture warehouse, and a Learning Center. Renovating the existing building will provide space to host our community partners who work with us on-site to efficiently address the needs of vulnerable families with food, health, housing, and job readiness services.
What we do
Nourish our community with a central food pantry and two mobile food pantries.
Foster warmth and comfort through clothing, household items, and appliances.
Empower neighbors with our New Tomorrows program, supporting them in overcoming barriers and building a more secure future for themselves and their families.
Extend a helping hand through crisis financial assistance, providing direct payments for housing, utilities, medical, dental, prescription drug expenses, and tailored aid for special situations.
Spread joy during holidays with thoughtfully crafted food baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Brighten children's lives with programs like "A Child’s Christmas" and ensuring a positive start to the school year through back-to-school supplies.
At LCM, each service is a testament to our commitment to positively impacting the lives of our neighbors in need.
Our history
Established in September 1992, Lake Christian Ministries initially operated from various SML locations. In 1998, the Cappellari family relocated their business, Capps Home Building Center, to Westlake and generously donated their former facility to LCM. With the ardent support of volunteers, the space underwent renovations and reopened in early 1999.
Over the years, LCM's services and programs expanded, but by 2021, the existing facility faced space constraints. In response, a successful two-year capital campaign was launched.
In 2023, LCM broke ground on an additional building adjacent to the existing one. This new facility, scheduled to open in the summer of 2024, will house a clothing area, furniture warehouse, and Learning Center, ensuring LCM continues to meet the growing needs of the community with compassion and dedication.
2023 by the numbers:
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 some 60 families 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 35 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.
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.
Board of Directors
Officers
Board Chair – Ron Willard II
Vice Chair – Derek Layman
Secretary – Kate Ellis
Treasurer – Paul Marx
Committee Chairs
Governance Committee – Derek Layman
Communications Committee – Andie Gibson
Finance Committee – Jim Caskie
Fund Development Committee – Jane Winters
Special Committee Chair
Facility Expansion Committee – Jim Bennett
Members at Large
Dave Banks
Andy Crawford
Rev. Scott Davis
Roy Enslow
Jim Gilbert
Rich Sours
Julie VerSluis
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”