Ways to Give

Your contribution is vital to our mission. From memorial gifts to workplace contributions, we offer many ways for you to give financially, to help through volunteering, running a fundraiser or food drive from your home.

Donate Food

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we are only accepting non-perishable, sealed food donations at St. Martha’s Food Pantry, 242 Hampshire Street Lawrence MA between the hours of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

One of our goals at Lazarus House is to provide food to anyone who is hungry and comes to our door. Difficulty making ends meet is happening to increasing numbers of people. Driven by hunger and unemployment, they are turning to food pantries for assistance in feeding their families. Hardest hit in this area are single mothers with young children and the elderly living on fixed incomes. Often they cannot afford to buy enough food so they eat smaller portions, skip meals or sometimes run out of food altogether.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK FOOD NEEDS for our Guests!

  • Canned Tuna or Chicken
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Pasta –All types
  • White Rice (1lb bag or box)
  • Macaroni & Cheese
  • Canned Ravioli & Spaghetti
  • Canned Spaghetti sauce
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cereal in a Box
  • Diapers
  • Soup (Canned or Dry) – no cardboard containers
  • No glass please


Or if you prefer, you may order online for delivery to Lazarus House.

Please “Click to Care” using one of the wish lists below

Amazon Wish List

Target Wish List

Walmart Wish List

Organize a Food Drive

In Your Community (Community Cares)

At Your School, Faith Organization or Company (Pop Your Trunk)

All Over the World – Virtually (Click to Care)

If you have questions about organizing a food drive, contact Marcy Furse.

About Our Food Distribution

St. Martha’s Food Pantry supplies emergency food supplies to as many as 1100 families each week. In the winter months when people can’t get out to the food pantry, the Soup Van travels throughout Lawrence distributing food. During the pandemic, our Soup Kitchen provides grab and go meals for breakfast and lunch six days a week. How can you help? Consider our Sponsor-a-Meal initiative, volunteer, or make a donation online. Thank you.

Food Donation Drop Off Locations

St. Martha’s Food Pantry
242 Hampshire Street, Lawrence, MA
Weekdays: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The Good Shepherd Center
412 Hampshire Street, Lawrence, MA
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Although we love all of our four-legged friends, we do not accept pet food donations.

FIND US

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, We are not picking up food donations until further notice.

To schedule a large food donation call the Lazarus House Ministries Food Coordinator at (978) 332-5013 for more information.

Volunteer

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we are not offering any on-site volunteer opportunities until further notice. However, VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING is a way for you to use your gifts, talents, creativity and passion for Lazarus House for the good of our Guests while we “Stay apart … so we can come together”. Actually, this way of serving Our Guests can continue long after we have COVID-19 in our rear view mirrors …

There are as many ways to do this as there are people and ideas to make it happen. Here are just a few: Organize your own Porch Pick Up Food Drive in your neighborhood, spruce up gardens at our residential locations, lead a social media campaign to get the word out, Raffle Rallying, or create summer care packages for our youngest Guests. Partner with us to make your unique ideas of service to our Guests become a reality! We invite you to contact Marcy today.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Lazarus House.  There are many ways to become involved and our volunteers are truly valued in every way.  We work closely with our volunteers to match interest and skills with the various important tasks. Below are some of our ongoing volunteer opportunities:

SERVING BREAKFAST or LUNCH AT THE SOUP KITCHEN – this opportunity brings volunteers in direct contact with our guests at breakfast and lunch time. Must be over 16 yrs; if under 18 yrs must be accompanied by an adult.  This is primarily an opportunity for corporate, faith based or civic groups. Best for groups of 3-4 people.

BRINGING AND/OR  SERVING BREAKFAST AT THE SHELTER – another opportunity to interact directly with guests. Bring a prepared breakfast, prepare breakfast from ingredients you bring, or prepare breakfast with food from our pantry.  Anyone under 18 yrs must be accompanied by an adult. A wonderful opportunity for families, sport or school groups.

BRINGING AND/OR  SERVING DINNER AT THE SHELTER – another opportunity to interact directly with guests. Bring a prepared meal, prepare a meal from ingredients you bring, or prepare a meal from our pantry. Anyone under 18 yrs must be accompanied by an adult. A wonderful opportunity for families, sport or school groups

THRIFT STORES – Dedicated volunteers are needed to work 2.5 hour shifts (or more as your schedule may allow) on a regular basis in our Thrift Stores at 412 Hampshire Street or 229 South Union Street in Lawrence.  Be welcomed and trained as a valued team member in serving our Guests for whom we create the opportunity to shop in our clean well-organized and merchandised affordable thrift stores.   Click for more information and to sign up.

INDIVIDUAL SERVICE – individual volunteers serve daily throughout Lazarus House at our thrift stores, soup kitchen, food pantry, shelters, administration office, and as needed across the organization. We match individuals based on their skill set and availability. All are welcome.

A DAY OF SERVICE – coming together as a group to work on a specific project. Yard clean up, painting, sorting food in the food pantry, and participating in special events are a few of the popular group volunteer opportunities.

FOOD, CLOTHING, PAPER GOODS & PERSONAL HYGIENE DRIVES – holding a food, or other type of drive, on our behalf enables all to get involved and contribute. Lazarus House can help determine pressing needs and arrange a welcome and tour upon drop off. Pick ups are sometimes possible.

SEASONAL OPPORTUNITIES

DECORATING – holiday decorating at various Lazarus House locations.

BAKING – home baked goods are always appreciated, but most certainly around the holidays.

THANKSGIVING – assisting with food sorting and distribution of holiday meals

HOLIDAY GIFTS COLLECTION – coordinate holiday gifts collection for individuals and families living in Lazarus House residences.

PROJECT BETHLEHEM – “Adopt a family” and provide Christmas gift for all family members, and other opportunities to contribute to an extensive outreach that brings smiles to many faces.

GIFT WRAPPING – wrapping gifts to support community Giving Trees.

SPECIAL EVENTS – Volunteering at our annual fundraisers – Drive for Dignity Golf Tournament (August), Hike for Hope (September), Sharing Our Bounty Gala (November).  Sponsor a hole, donate auction items, organize a team to participate and fund raise!

For more information, please contact Marcy Furse at 978-269-5217 or Marcy@LazarusHouse.org

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
GROUP VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Sponsorship Opportunities

Each year Lazarus House hosts three major fundraising events as a main source of funding for the life-changing programs we offer our Guests. Your sponsorship can make a positive impact in the lives of so many individuals and their families.

Our three events, Drive for Dignity Golf Tournament, Hike for Hope, and Sharing Our Bounty Gala are all tremendously successful events.

  • The Drive for Dignity event is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to promote your business and connect with C-Level executives in the community.
  • Our Hike for Hope 3 mile walk is an excellent way to receive positive exposure in the Merrimack Valley while team building and making a real difference in people’s lives.
  • Lastly, our Sharing Our Bounty Gala is Merrimack Valley’s most highly regarded and anticipated event of the season. This event attracts over 400 charitable, cause-committed and kind hearted individuals who all share in the belief of giving back to the community.

Click for a detailed listing of our sponsorship opportunities.

Lazarus House is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Holiday Giving

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Amazon Smile

Lazarus House participates in the Amazon Smile program. If you are shopping on Amazon, please consider further supporting Lazarus House using this special opportunity. Simply make sure any time you are on Amazon, your URL begins with “smile.amazon.com.” There is no additional cost to you and Amazon makes a donation to Lazarus House with every purchase you make. Thank you!

Project Bethlehem 2020

The health and safety of everyone involved in Project Bethlehem 2020 is our biggest priority. To that end we have instituted several changes. See below for 2020 program details!

We anticipate meeting the needs of approximately 700 families referred to us by the Lawrence Public Schools and selected local agencies. The need this year is even greater given the pandemic. Many of our families, single moms and essential workers, or those who are unemployed because of the pandemic, are now facing the complexity of home schooling while navigating the challenges of having very limited financial resources.

As a Project Bethlehem donor, you get to be a Christmas angel, providing the priceless gift of your thoughtfulness and caring during a time that has been so challenging!

Once you sign up you will be matched with a specific family. We will begin sending out family matches at the end of October.

The process will be the same as in previous years but the gift guidelines have changed: you will shop, wrap and deliver the gifts to us. We will contact the families who will come pick them up.

The following changes will be implemented in 2020 in response to COVID-19:

1. Gift Purchasing Guidelines

2. Food

3. New Location and Contactless Gift Drop Off Procedures

Gift Purchasing Guidelines

Please follow the guidelines below to help us provide parity among the families we serve and to ensure the safety of our Volunteers and Staff:

  • For the Household
    • One gift card (~$30-$50) for a household item (store preferences will be provided for all gift cards)
    • One or 2 new family games purchased and wrapped (family’s choices provided)
    • One $25 gift card to Market Basket
  • For Each Child
    • One Clothing Gift card (~$30-$40)
    • Two to 3 new toys purchased and wrapped (child’s toy preferences provided)
  • For Each Adult – parent(s), other adults > 18
    •  One Clothing Gift card per person (~$30-$40)

Wrap and tag toys, games and gift cards. Attach a Gift Inventory List to the bag. Further instructions will be provided when you receive your match(es) and drop off date.

Food

Our St. Martha Food Pantry has been distributing food to over 1100 families a week following new safety and COVID-19 protocols. In order to continue uninterrupted weekly food distributions to families through the Fall and winter, our Food Pantry will be unable to provide food for the holidays as in the past. Thank you for providing a gift card to Market Basket to help our families with food in December.

New Location and Contactless Gift Drop Off Procedures

  1. Drop your family gifts off at 87 Summer Street, Lawrence
  2. Pull into the driveway and up to the side door (where the ramp is).
  3. Please wear a mask and stay in your vehicle.
  4. Pop your trunk or unlock the doors so we can access the gifts.
  5. Our Project Bethlehem Elves will record your name and your family’s ID # and collect the gifts from your vehicle.
  6. You will exit the parking lot onto Haverhill Street.

Drop off Hours December 2nd  to 21st , 2020

  • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
  • Saturdays: 9 am – 5 pm

Please note: Our families will be coming to pick up their gifts on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays through December and from Dec 22nd– 24th.  Please deliver your gifts on the day provided in your family match email.

Drop off Location
87 Summer Street, Lawrence, MA
(978) 269-5284
projectbethlehem@lazarushouse.org

Please help us spread the joy of the holidays to families in need in our community!

Please click here to register to receive a family. If you are able to provide more than the suggested guidelines for the gift cards, thank you. If you are able to provide significantly more, please consider helping an additional family and indicate that in the space provided.

Note: If meeting the financial guidelines required to support a whole family is something you cannot do, then please consider providing a gift card or cash donation. Send gift cards to the attention of Monique Morimoto, Project Bethlehem, PO Box 408, Lawrence, MA 01842.

Click here to make a cash donation.

 

PROJECT BETHLEHEM DONOR FORM
PRINTABLE GIFT INVENTORY LIST

Inspired Initiatives

Inspired Initiatives

Infinite possibilities and ideas – use your own passions, network and experience to raise money for Lazarus House Ministries so we can continue to care for our Guests who are struggling with material poverty and homelessness.

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Start a Fundraiser

You say it’s your birthday? Great! Dedicate your birthday to the kids at Lazarus House and give them the ultimate gift. Your friends can honor you and make the Merrimack Valley community a better place at the same time! Are you the competitive type? Challenge your pals to walk, run or some great adventure on behalf of Lazarus House.
Crowdrise
Razoo

Getting Married?
Your wedding will change your life. It could also make a special impact on someone who is homeless or living in poverty. Add hope and dignity to your registry by asking guest to donate to Lazarus House in lieu of gifts.
I Do Foundation

Donate by Shopping
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you.
AmazonSmile

Group/Corporate Partnerships

Volunteer opportunities exist for businesses and corporations. Corporate volunteers often volunteer their time during their workday. Many serve lunch at our Good Shepherd Center Soup Kitchen where warm smiles and caring faces greet each of our guests as they are served a hot nourishing meal daily. Other opportunities include ‘Days of Service’, adopting special projects when extra hands are needed, organizing food and clothing drives, off-site fundraisers, supporting our development staff and volunteering or sponsoring our special events.

Providing everything from financial contributions, to in-kind donations, and volunteer service, corporations play a major role in the services we provide. Please consider making a donation or time for your employees to volunteer to help.

If your company has a matching gifts program, your employee’s gift to help people living in poverty can go twice as far.

Contact our Coordinator of Volunteers if you would like to find out about our corporate volunteer opportunities at (978) 269-5217 or volunteer@lazarushouse.org. For corporate sponsorship information call (978) 269-5222 or events@lazarushouse.org.

GROUP VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

Faith Partnerships

Our mission is to serve the most vulnerable of God’s people, to be his eyes, ears, hands and heart for people in dire need. Although we are not affiliated with any religious organization, several congregations of various denominations generously support us with their time, talent and treasure.

Volunteers come from all areas of our community and serve both on and off-site. For example, many organizations will form small groups to prepare a meal, sponsor a coat or food drive, make sandwiches for bagged lunches or complete service projects that help improve guest care as well as our facilities.

Contact our Coordinator of Volunteers if you would like to find out about our corporate volunteer opportunities at (978) 269-5217 or volunteer@lazarushouse.org. For Hike for Hope information call (978) 269-5222 or events@lazarushouse.org.

Gift Planning

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”

We can work with you to develop the right plan that balances what you wish to accomplish for yourself, your family and your philanthropic interests. No matter the size of the gift, it will ensure a better future for families and individuals living in poverty in the Merrimack Valley.

When you leave a bequest to Lazarus House, you are guaranteeing that the resources you build during your lifetime will continue to serve others after you are gone. By including Lazarus House in your will you are creating a lasting legacy that funds food, shelter, clothing, advocacy, education, work preparation and the restoration of dignity and self-respect, ensuring a vibrant community life for future generations.

To learn more about making a bequest to Lazarus House as well as other gift planning opportunities please call the Development Office at (978) 269-5212, or email giftplanning@lazarushouse.org

Pass on your passion for mission!

Memorial/Tribute Gifts

Making a gift that helps others is an incredible way to remember an important person in your life, honor a loved one or celebrate a milestone. Remembering those who have touched your life in a special way takes on a greater meaning when your generosity helps those in need.

Likewise, celebrating events such as anniversaries, graduations, weddings, birthdays, retirements takes on a new meaning when you help to improve the lives of families. Each gift is acknowledged by a letter sent to the honored person or family of the deceased person in whose name the gift is being made. The notification does not include the amount of the gift. However, as a donor, you will receive a separate acknowledgement for your own records.

To make a memorial or tribute gift click below, call (978) 269-5215, or email stewardship@lazarushouse.org

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