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About

Our Mission

To honor God in our work by serving every person we encounter with dignity and respect. We offer community, food, shelter, clothing, and advocacy services with an open and non-judgmental heart.

Our Vision

To always be “the place” in the Merrimack Valley where people facing poverty, homelessness and food insecurity choose to go for services, guidance and support.

Who We Are

Since opening its doors as an emergency shelter in 1983, Lazarus House Ministries has been serving people struggling with poverty from its base in Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of the poorest cities in New England. Our food and clothing programs assist families by stretching their dollars so they can afford rent and utilities. Emergency and transitional housing programs provide a place for homeless families and individuals.to live, stabilize, learn and grow.

Our services and care are offered openly and lovingly to anyone who comes through our doors and our work is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.

Our Values

Faith

We honor God by welcoming all who come to us in need, sharing His love and serving our Guests with Empathy. Our service is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36

Dignity

We believe each person is worthy of honor, dignity and respect, deserves to be treated without judgment, and that every person has God-given gifts to share.

Compassion

We acknowledge that people’s lives are unique and complex, that not everyone’s 24 hours are the same, not everyone’s access is equal and that there are inequities for people struggling with poverty.

Collaboration

We work in partnership with our Guests, generous donors and volunteers, government agencies and other non-profits to continually explore new ways to meet our Guests’ needs.

Faith

We honor God by welcoming all who come to us in need, sharing His love and serving our Guests with Empathy. Our service is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36

Dignity

We believe each person is worthy of honor, dignity and respect, deserves to be treated without judgment, and that every person has God-given gifts to share.

Compassion

We acknowledge that people’s lives are unique and complex, that not everyone’s 24 hours are the same, not everyone’s access is equal and that there are inequities for people struggling with poverty.

Collaboration

We work in partnership with our Guests, generous donors and volunteers, government agencies and other non-profits to continually explore new ways to meet our Guests’ needs.

Who We Are

Since opening its doors as an emergency shelter in 1983, Lazarus House Ministries has been serving people struggling with poverty from its base in Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of the poorest cities in New England. Our food and clothing programs assist families by stretching their dollars so they can afford rent and utilities. Emergency and transitional housing programs provide a place for homeless families and individuals.to live, stabilize, learn and grow.

Our services and care are offered openly and lovingly to anyone who comes through our doors and our work is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.

Our Values

Faith

We honor God by welcoming all who come to us in need, sharing his love and serving our Guests with Empathy. Our service is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36

Dignity

We believe each person is worthy of honor, dignity and respect, deserves to be treated without judgment, and that every person has God-given gifts to share.

Compassion

We acknowledge that people’s lives are unique and complex, that not everyone’s 24 hours are the same, not everyone’s access is equal and that there are inequities for people struggling with poverty.

Collaboration

We work in partnership with our Guests, generous donors and volunteers, government agencies and other non-profits to continually explore new ways to meet our Guests’ needs.

Faith

We honor God by welcoming all who come to us in need, sharing His love and serving our Guests with Empathy. Our service is based on the words found in Matthew 25:35-36

Dignity

We believe each person is worthy of honor, dignity and respect, deserves to be treated without judgment, and that every person has God-given gifts to share.

Compassion

We acknowledge that people’s lives are unique and complex, that not everyone’s 24 hours are the same, not everyone’s access is equal and that there are inequities for people struggling with poverty.

Collaboration

We work in partnership with our Guests, generous donors and volunteers, government agencies and other non-profits to continually explore new ways to meet our Guests’ needs.

Artwork by Jefte Santos, Lazarus House Partner

Who We Serve

The people of Lawrence MA and the Merrimack Valley who live a daily struggle to get their most basic needs met.

Where We Serve

Known as the “Immigrant City”, Lawrence and some of the surrounding area has always been a multi-ethnic and multicultural gateway city with a high percentage of foreign-born residents.

Unemployment is typically twice the national average. Food insecurity is the rule rather than the exception (in fact 92% of school children in Lawrence use free or subsidized meal services (2020)).

How We Can Serve

YOU – we can serve only because of the abundant generosity of our individual donors, partners, volunteers, sponsors, foundations, community groups, corporations, schools and faith organizations and prayer partners.

The Lazarus House Prayer is said daily throughout the Ministry and read aloud before board and management meetings to remind us of our purpose and reliance on God. It was written years ago by one of our long-time volunteers and reflects our call to minister to families struggling with poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.

Lazarus House Daily Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to remember all those whom you keep under your special care; the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the forgotten. Unlike the Rich Man who ignored Lazarus begging for food from his table, give us the strength and courage to embrace the poor and abandoned, giving them of our substance and inviting them to be guests at our table.

Teach us Jesus to be sensitive to the sufferings and needs of others, to recognize in them your Divine Presence.

Grant us, O loving savior, the strength to work for justice through peace and love; the spirit of self-denial in order to help those who are in need; the courage needed to side with the downtrodden in their hour of need; the strength to be your sign of compassion and light in a dark, hard world and, above all, O Lord, let me live my life so as to bring your love to the unloved and outcast.

I ask the Father for these gifts in Your Name and through the power of Your most Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Oración Diaria de Lazarus House Ministries

Señor Jesus, ayudanos a recordar a todos los que mantienes sobre tu cuidado, en especial los pobres, los enfermos, los oprimidos y los olvidados. Diferente al hombre rico que ignoro a Lazaro cuando pedia comida de su mesa. Danos la fuerza y el valor para abrazar al pobre y abandonado. Dandole de nuestra sustancia e invitandolos para que sean parte de nuestra mesa.

Enseñanos Jesus, a ser sensible al sufrimiento y nesesidad de otros, para reconocerlos en tu presencia Divina.

Consedenos, O Padre amado, la fuerza para trabajar por la justicia a traves de la paz y el amor; el espiritu de abnegacion para ayudar a los nececitados; el coraje necesario para acompañar a los oprimidos en su hora de necesidad; la fuerza para ser la señal de compasion y la luz en un mundo oscuro, y sobre todo, Señor Jesus, dejame vivir mi vida para llevar tu amor a los no amados y marginados.

Le pido al Padre los dones en tu nombre, y por el poder del Espiritu Santo.

Amen.

Our Facts

Lazarus House Daily Prayer

The Lazarus House Prayer is said daily throughout the Ministry and read aloud before board and management meetings to remind us of our purpose and reliance on God. It was written years ago by one of our long-time volunteers and reflects our call to minister to families struggling with poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.

Lord Jesus, help us to remember all those whom you keep under your special care; the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the forgotten. Unlike the Rich Man who ignored Lazarus begging for food from his table, give us the strength and courage to embrace the poor and abandoned, giving them of our substance and inviting them to be guests at our table.

Teach us Jesus to be sensitive to the sufferings and needs of others, to recognize in them your Divine Presence.

Grant us, O loving savior, the strength to work for justice through peace and love; the spirit of self-denial in order to help those who are in need; the courage needed to side with the downtrodden in their hour of need; the strength to be your sign of compassion and light in a dark, hard world and, above all, O Lord, let me live my life so as to bring your love to the unloved and outcast.

I ask the Father for these gifts in Your Name and through the power of Your most Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Oración Diaria de Lazarus House Ministries

Señor Jesus, ayudanos a recordar a todos los que mantienes sobre tu cuidado, en especial los pobres, los enfermos, los oprimidos y los olvidados. Diferente al hombre rico que ignoro a Lazaro cuando pedia comida de su mesa. Danos la fuerza y el valor para abrazar al pobre y abandonado. Dandole de nuestra sustancia e invitandolos para que sean parte de nuestra mesa.

Enseñanos Jesus, a ser sensible al sufrimiento y nesesidad de otros, para reconocerlos en tu presencia Divina.

Consedenos, O Padre amado, la fuerza para trabajar por la justicia a traves de la paz y el amor; el espiritu de abnegacion para ayudar a los nececitados; el coraje necesario para acompañar a los oprimidos en su hora de necesidad; la fuerza para ser la señal de compasion y la luz en un mundo oscuro, y sobre todo, Señor Jesus, dejame vivir mi vida para llevar tu amor a los no amados y marginados.

Le pido al Padre los dones en tu nombre, y por el poder del Espiritu Santo.

Amen.

Lazarus House
Daily Prayer

The Lazarus House Prayer is said daily throughout the Ministry and read aloud before board and management meetings to remind us of our purpose and reliance on God. It was written years ago by one of our long-time volunteers and reflects our call to minister to families struggling with poverty, homelessness and food insecurity.

Lord Jesus, help us to remember all those whom you keep under your special care; the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the forgotten. Unlike the Rich Man who ignored Lazarus begging for food from his table, give us the strength and courage to embrace the poor and abandoned, giving them of our substance and inviting them to be guests at our table.

Teach us Jesus to be sensitive to the sufferings and needs of others, to recognize in them your Divine Presence.

Grant us, O loving savior, the strength to work for justice through peace and love; the spirit of self-denial in order to help those who are in need; the courage needed to side with the downtrodden in their hour of need; the strength to be your sign of compassion and light in a dark, hard world and, above all, O Lord, let me live my life so as to bring your love to the unloved and outcast.

I ask the Father for these gifts in Your Name and through the power of Your most Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Oración Diaria de Lazarus House Ministries

Señor Jesus, ayudanos a recordar a todos los que mantienes sobre tu cuidado, en especial los pobres, los enfermos, los oprimidos y los olvidados. Diferente al hombre rico que ignoro a Lazaro cuando pedia comida de su mesa. Danos la fuerza y el valor para abrazar al pobre y abandonado. Dandole de nuestra sustancia e invitandolos para que sean parte de nuestra mesa.

Enseñanos Jesus, a ser sensible al sufrimiento y nesesidad de otros, para reconocerlos en tu presencia Divina.

Consedenos, O Padre amado, la fuerza para trabajar por la justicia a traves de la paz y el amor; el espiritu de abnegacion para ayudar a los nececitados; el coraje necesario para acompañar a los oprimidos en su hora de necesidad; la fuerza para ser la señal de compasion y la luz en un mundo oscuro, y sobre todo, Señor Jesus, dejame vivir mi vida para llevar tu amor a los no amados y marginados.

Le pido al Padre los dones en tu nombre, y por el poder del Espiritu Santo.

Amen.