Leroy Community Chapel supports an array of both foreign and local missions. Project Hope is a local mission, and the only emergency homeless shelter in Lake County. It has expanded its services to the homeless greatly since 1993. It now operates 4 major programs:
- An Adult Shelter: for men and women, open from 7pm-6:30am daily. It also provides resources for budgeting, housing, job skills, mental health, and drug addiction.
- Aftercare: weekly support to former guests, over the phone or in-person. This aids in helping former guests maintain success with budgeting, healthy eating, addiction issues, etc.
- Families Moving Forward: for men and women with children, open 2pm-6:30am. In addition to offering the same resources to the men and women as the adult shelter does, it also provides a nurturing environment for children to receive the care and guidance they need.
- Senior Care: a 3-unit transitional home offsite called Hope House for people ages 62+. This program allows up to 3 guests at a time to stay for up to 3 months on a 24/7 basis as they work to find a stable, safe, and a more permanent housing situation.
Project Hope relies on help from the community for needed supplies. For a current needs list, look at their website: projecthopeforthehomeless.org. Donating tangible items that children can help pick out and buy is an excellent way for parents to teach their children to care for others by providing for others’ needs versus focusing on their own wants.
Other ways to become involved include:
Pray- for the shelter guests, employees, and volunteers
- Volunteer at the shelter
- Pack lunch bags for shelter guests
- Shelter ministry (share through word or song)
- Provide a dinner (make or sponsor)
- Help with labor (facilities work in or around the building)
- Coordinate a collection drive to provide supplies
- Donate
If you know of someone in need of shelter, call 211 from any landline in Lake Co. or call 440-639-4420.