History

1983 On March 14, Lazarus House opens a 5-bed emergency shelter and begins an Advocacy program.

1984 The Good Shepherd Thrift Store, the first of three thrift stores, opens.

1986 The Good Shepherd Soup Kitchen starts serving breakfast and lunch.

1987 The St. Martin Food Pantry begins providing groceries to the community.

1988 The Marcellin Champagnet Pre-school is added to the Good Shepherd Center and runs until 2005 when the state began providing pre-school services to children of low-income parents.

1991 St. Martin de Tours, the second thrift store, currently on Essex Street

1997 The third thrift store, St. Francis and St. Clare, opens to serve the people of South Lawrence.

1998 A job training and ESL program is created along with SPARK*L.E Cleaning Company to offer education and work preparation training.

2000 The first Hike for Hope takes place. The 5-mile pledge walk raises funds for the Transitional Housing program.

2007 In October, Capernaum Place opens as part of the Transitional Housing program. The 20-unit apartment building houses families with children and offers individualized programs such as budgeting, ESL and other life skills that help break the cycle of poverty.

2008 The Lebanese-American Awareness Association building was purchased to house the new food pantry. The project is funded in large part by the Hunger Strikers, a group of marathon runners who ran the Boston Marathon to raise funds.

2010 The St. Martha’s food pantry opened in the new St. Claire’s building at 242 Hampshire St. in May. At the new pantry, people are able to regain their dignity by “shopping” in a supermarket environment from 10 am – 2 pm each Wednesday. Also, the new Culinary Training program kicked off in September with a full class. Participating students gain culinary experience through an 8-week classroom training, with the help of volunteer guest chefs, followed by a 3-month paid internship with local food establishments.