COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES (GENERAL)
Area agencies and contact information: This Community Outreach Resource page includes information for organizations offering services for a variety of Community Outreach needs. These organizations provide assistance for everything from Emergency Shelters to Food Pantries, Meals, Rehousing, and Life Skills training. There are also school-focused agencies whose services include Snack Pantries and Weekend Backpack programs. Other organizations offer Medical care or Psychological/Psychiatric care.
Photo by Hejaar from Pexels
COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES: HOMELESS
The goal of homeless outreach is not to make homelessness more comfortable. Instead, it is to make homelessness rare and facilitate a return to stable housing for both individuals and families.
You can learn more about government point-in-time counts, their importance in determining homeless services, and other governmental resources here: SAMHSA.GOV
Blog Posts:
Best Ways to Help the Homeless: Practical Tips: This article offers information about causes of homelessness and how to help. It also includes information about personal hygiene packs.
Homelessness in America: Up Close and Personal: A personal experience with homelessness in Los Angeles, CA and how to help with homelessness, regardless of location.
How to:
Best Practices for Preparing Personal Hygiene Packs This easy how-to includes links to purchase supplies at a reasonable cost and offers suggestions for engaging your community in the process.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES: SCHOOL BACKPACK/SUPPLEMENTAL WEEKEND FOOD PROGRAMS
School backpack programs provide supplemental weekend food for hunger-at-risk students. They also provide churches and other charitable organizations an opportunity to invest in the lives of students. These programs allow us to love our neighbors as ourselves by helping to meet their most basic needs. In addition, these programs can result in positive changes in student behavior and school performance for years to come.
We work to decrease the risk of childhood hunger through supplemental weekend food programs. In addition, we hope to provide several hundred extra calories per day. We do not attempt to reduce or replace parental responsibility. We want to be a hand UP rather than merely a handout.
Unfortunately, students are not the only ones at risk of hunger. School staff, especially part-time workers earning minimum wage, may also experience life stressors resulting in an increased risk of hunger. In order to provide support for staff as well as students, we stock a “Snack Pantry” for both students and teachers.
Best Practices for Weekend Backpack Programs This article provides information on options for weekend food programs, the reasons for our service, foods to avoid, and foods to include. Not listed are “snack foods” such as sweet treats or chips. They may be included in moderation but the bulk of the food should offer more nutritional value if possible. 
Best Practices for Snack Pantries This article provides information on goals, logistics, suggested food, and optional faith-based items to include in a school snack pantry.
Here’s an in-depth, life-changing digital Bible study to help you grow in your Christian faith:
(This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means we might make a few cents from your purchase but it will not change the price you pay)
You’ve helped us reach around the world through your likes, shares, and pins. Thank you! Please keep up the great work. It makes a huge difference. Thanks for pinning and sharing.
Let’s keep in touch! Sign up for our Faith Lived Out Loud Twice-Monthly Devotionals here: FLOL DEVOTIONALS. In addition to encouragement and inspiration, it’s a great way to keep up to date on the latest improvements and freebies on our website.
Leanna Hollis is a peer-to-peer funded missionary with Global Outreach International. If these resources are helpful, please consider a donation of any size to help cover the cost of providing these resources. Click here to DONATE
* The information and PDF information sheets are provided at no cost to you as a one-time download for personal use only. They are all copyrighted and may not be reproduced for distribution without the express approval of the author.
Leannahollis.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the links to make a purchase, we may make a few cents from your purchase. It will not increase the price you pay in any way.
