LPCS is an amazing non-profit!!! I've volunteered at LPCS for the past three years and it's changed my outlook on life. Once you've spent time here and see the good that can be done through simple acts of kindness and generosity, you can't help but bring that back to your daily life.
LPCS doesn't create band-aid solutions that will only help individuals on a temporary basis but seeks to find long term solutions for the guests that enter the program so that they can empower the guests to make significant changes in their lives.
The program itself is just genius because it's not like other shelters which are usually overnight. LPCS has a waiting list set up for potential "guests" to enter the program. When entered these individuals are supplied housing, food, job training/classes, and other necessities such as clothes, dentist appointments, glasses, toiletries, etc. The guests meet with counselors on a regular basis to work on their issues that have caused or led to their housing and employment situations in the past and are required to reach certain milestones over time. The shelter doesn't consider it a success case until the guest has housing and a job to support themselves. But even better they make sure that they are a constant resource for the graduates of the program.
They also have several ways for people to volunteer such as overnight volunteers, meal volunteers (great group activity for companies, book clubs, etc.), sack lunch volunteers, activity and class volunteers (have a useful skill that you'd like to share such as computer basics, cooking, etc.?), and so on. And even if you can't do any of these things they'll take any help they can!! Last fall for their fundraising event, a volunteer who was a graphic artist, designed their promotions and invitations that just looked amazing!! They also take most donations such as; food, clothing, books, furniture (for graduates' new homes), etc.
In reference to Chris L.'s comment they do only offer the volunteer orientation about once or twice a month but that's probably because it's very comprehensive and detailed about what you'll be doing as each volunteer has a lot of responsibility.
All in all, if you're looking for an organization to support or to volunteer at you can find no better then LPCS because of all of the love and passion that goes into making it what it is-- a community effort to help change lives. read more