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, Lake Christian Ministries’ services and programs significantly expanded. The existing facility faced space constraints. In response, a successful capital campaign was launched in 2021 and successfully completed in 2023 to generate $1 million to construct a second building.
In September 2024, Lake Christian Ministries opened Building 2 adjacent to the existing one. This new facility houses a clothing area, furniture warehouse, and a Wish You Well Learning Center, ensuring Lake Christian Ministries continues to meet the growing needs of the community with compassion and dedication.
2024 by the numbers:
Food assistance to fulfill over 14,178 requests, which provided 254,400 meals for food-insecure families – a 16% increase over 2023.
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 1,690 individuals in 544 families. A total of $212,823 was paid directly to service providers for housing, utilities, medical, dental & prescription drug expenses, and other types of crisis assistance.
Individual relationship-based support for 323 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 135 individuals, helping them move to a more secure future.
Holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to more than 3,200 individuals.
Back-to-school supplies to 235 children in grades K-12.
Warm clothing and gifts to 778 children in vulnerable families, through “A Child’s Christmas” – a 13% increase over 2023.
Dental and denture assistance for over 50 neighbors.
33,100 volunteer hours were provided by 275 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 – Dave Banks
Fund Development Committee – Jane Winters
Members at Large
Andy Crawford
Roy Enslow
Bob Evans
Jim Gilbert
Rich Sours
Julie VerSluis
Rev. Jeffrey White
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”