Each week a small group of parishioners of St Philips Episcopal Church on Bestgate Rd, in Annapolis, gather together at the church to prepare lunches for the Light House: Homeless Prevention and Support Center.
Led by Linda Boyd, the group meets once a month to fill over 100 bag lunches that are distributed by the shelter to those in the Annapolis community in need. Complete with a sandwich, drinks, fruit and snacks, the paper bags are filled and then delivered the next day to the shelter for distribution.
Lorraine Thomas and her husband, Arand have been making sandwiches for over 5 years, “it’s a way for us to give back. There are those in the community that are in need and we enjoy being able to help.”
“Tonight is a little special”, explained Ms. Boyd, “Rev. John Naegele asked the parishioners to donate loaves of bread. We had an overwhelming response, collecting over 30 loaves and Rev. John blessed the bread. He actually took the loaves to the Giant who graciously sliced it for him.”
Over a year ago, the Light House: Homeless Prevention and Support Center in Annapolis moved into its new 24,000 square foot facility on Hudson Street. In addition to providing shelter to 45 individuals and five families, Light House provides over 150 bag lunches everyday to those in need in our community and distributes over 6,000 bags of groceries each year through the pantry program thanks to the generosity of volunteers. The shelter has also opened a Clothing Closet and will provide Winter Relief starting in mid-November to chronically homeless individuals, seven nights a week until March, to keep them from freezing and going hungry during inclement weather.
It is the goal of the Light House to evaluate immediate needs of homeless individuals and families, assess the root causes of homelessness and empower them with the education, financial, job and life skills needed to sustain employment, permanent housing and independence.
For more information or to volunteer at the Light House, please contact Michele Marshall at 410.349.5056 or by email at marshall@ annapolislighthouse.org.
