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Welcome and thanks for visiting our website!
We are the Center for Lay Ministries, Inc. - Community Services (Ph: 812-282-0063)
We are the Center for Lay Ministries, Inc. - Community Services (Ph: 812-282-0063)
ANNUAL REPORT: The Center for Lay Ministries 2015 ANNUAL REPORT is available for review. Please click HERE if you wish to request a copy.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CENTER FOR LAY MINISTRIES (CLM) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
KARA'S UPDATE:
Dear Friends of the Center for Lay Ministries,
As the new executive director, I’m so excited to join the Center for Lay Ministries. I feel like all my previous life and work experiences have led me to this position. I am passionate about the work we are doing in our community and feel like we are making a difference every day in the lives of our Food Pantry clients and our Bliss House residents.We are expanding our hours for the CLM Food Pantry. Beginning on Tuesday, January 8, we will be open every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We will remain open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. We hope to provide services to more Food Pantry clients with our extended Tuesday hours.
And, we need your help to continue providing our services to those in need in our community. Would you consider getting involved to help the vulnerable people in our local community? We believe everyone has something to give. There are many ways you could help…
- Monetary Donations—Not only will we need a new furnace soon for the Bliss House, we are also facing needed repairs of our food pantry freezer. And, like most nonprofit organizations, we are always in need of general operating funds to pay our bills.
- Food donations—While we always accept food donations at the pantry, one great way to donate food is through the Meijer Simply Give Program. The Jeffersonville Meijer will generously match dollar for dollar your minimum $10 donation in food gift cards for the Center for Lay Ministries. The program runs now through December 29.
- Volunteer—We need volunteers in our food pantry, as well as on committees for Bliss House, Fund Development, and Maintenance. Let us know if you’d be interested in volunteering with us!
- Prayer—Our clients, residents, volunteers, and staff could always use your prayers.
I hope you will consider helping CLM provide services to the local community by making a donation or volunteering. We appreciate how supportive our community has always been toward our mission. You are helping to make a difference in the lives of our clients and residents too!
Kara Brown, Executive Director
Center for Lay Ministries
Please check out (below) our video relating to the CLM Bonnie's Food Pantry.
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HOLIDAY GIVING OPPORTUNITY AT MEIJER HAS STARTED ! When you shop at Meijer, we hope you will consider making a donation to their Simply Give program (and CLM)
Once again, Meijer in Jeffersonville is sponsoring their Simply Give campaign to benefit the Center for Lay Ministries Food Pantry. Look for the Simply Give cards near the checkout lanes! Now through December 29, dollars donated ($10 minimum) at the Meijer in Jeffersonville will DOUBLE your donation with food cards to Center for Lay Ministries. For example, you donate $20, the Center for Lay Ministries gets $40 in food only gift cards that they will use to buy items to stock their shelves. PLUS on Friday, December 7th will be Double Match day! If you donate $20 during these two days, CLM will receive $60 in food cards. This is a fantastic opportunity for CLM and their clients served!
We are so very grateful to Meijer and our community for ensuring the Simply Give campaign to help CLM is a huge success.
We hope all of our supporters (and new supporters) can help
CLM and take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you. For more information about the Meijer Simply Give program, please click on this direct link: MEIJER SIMPLY GIVE
The Center for Lay Ministries (CLM) welcomes new executive director, Kara Dietrich Brown.
Brown has more than 20-years of experience working for non-profit organizations, most recently with Metro United Way and The Center for Women and Families Southern Indiana Campus. "I've admired the work that Greg Henderzahs, the board members, staff and volunteers have accomplished with both the food pantry and Bliss House," said Brown. "I'm excited to be a part of CLM and look forward to expanding our mission in the community."
Brown has been and will continue to be active in the community. She currently serves on the board for Communities in Schools of Clark County. She is a 2018 Leadership Southern Indiana Engage Graduate and was named One Southern Indiana's 2017 Ambassador of the Year. She lives in Charlestown with her husband Keith and son Deke.
With his retirement, Greg Henderzahs, previous Executive Director, is confident Brown will do an excellent job for CLM. Henderzahs stated, “Kara is very well qualified to take over as CLM’s executive director.” Henderzahs continued, “I have met and become friends with many volunteers, donors and clients in the past 5 years. I will miss seeing them as I close another chapter in my life. The Center for Lay Ministries provides a great service to our community. With the help of our generous community, the Center has grown significantly and will continue to grow under Kara’s leadership.”
The Center for Lay Ministries' Board, Staff and many volunteers say goodbye to our retiring Executive Director, Greg Henderzahs. Greg Henderzahs lead the organization for over 5 years.
Henderzahs moved the Center forward by initiating the use of a computer client data base software from manual index cards. He also acquired computers for the food pantry, procured donations in order to have the Bliss House and Bliss Too renovated/remodeled, and acquired the funds for new refrigeration units for the food pantry. In addition, Herderzahs received a grant for security cameras, obtained the use of the adjacent Bell Telephone parking lot, expanded the Center's donor base, and created a balanced budget. He was able to do all of this (and more) while maintaining a team spirit and warm work atmosphere with staff, volunteers and clients. When asked what he plans in the future, Henderzahs stated, "I intend to take guitar lessons and perhaps explore cooking. I like to leave my options open for new endeavors. My time at the Center was extremely rewarding; however, it is time to move on to new things. I leave the Center in good hands."
Greg's easy personality and genuine smile will be greatly missed and we look forward to having him come back to play some music on his guitar for his friends at the Center.
Below: Greg and his wife (and another CLM volunteer) were honored with a gathering of CLM staff, volunteers and friends at Cast Iron Grill. Best wishes, Greg.
This is the newest video for the CLM Bonnie's Food Pantry. Please watch this short video showing what we do at CLM. As always, thank you to all of our volunteers and staff. If you are interested in volunteering, we are always in need of help, even on Saturdays.
CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LINK TO FIND US ON FACEBOOK (and please "like" us while you are there):
We hope you can find everything you need to know about the Center for Lay Ministries (CLM) and our programs on our website. CLM is focused on providing high-quality service and client satisfaction - we will do everything we can to meet your expectations and serve the community with respect and dignity.
Look around our website and if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact us.
We hope to see you again! Check back later for new updates to our website. There's much more to come!
WELCOME TO THE CENTER FOR LAY MINISTRIES.
HOW MAY WE HELP YOU?
Comments from those we serve:
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have to come to a food pantry, but here I am and this place means food for my family!"
"I could write a book on how grateful I am for the Bliss House...my family actually loves having me around and I'm even trusted now. "
"I was told about the pantry when I was unemployed. We have three children and didn't know what to do. Thank you for being there in our time of need. I started a new job and would like to give back to help another family."
"All my papers were destroyed in the storm and somebody told me you would help. You did - thank you."
"I graduated Bliss House in April 2011. I have learned a new way of living and it's to live sober, happy, and productive..."
"You gave us our daughter back - the Bliss House saved her life...thank you just doesn't seem to be enough."
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By partnering with organizations, individuals, businesses, churches and government entities, the greeting and philosophy at the Center for Lay Ministries, to provide assistance to those in need, will continue.
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OUR CLM THANK YOU SECTION TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
WOW!
Thanks to our faithful community of volunteers and supporters, we swept the Clark County Reader's Choice awards this year.
The CLM Bliss House was selected as the Best Non-Profit!
The Center for Lay Ministries was selected as the Best Social Services, AND the CLM Bliss House Valentine Bliss was selected as the Best Charitable Event!
The CLM Staff and Volunteers who work so hard to ensure we meet and surpass our goals couldn't be more grateful to all who voted and believe us to be doing our jobs well in the community. You are the best and we truly are pleased to be able to serve Clark County, Indiana. Thank you, News and Tribune for having this poll each year.
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Our Food Pantry
The Bonnie Ryan Food Pantry of Center for Lay Ministries
Valentine Bliss
The 2017 Sue LaRue Award Recipients were the
Harrison County Probation Department Staff and Award Winners: L to R: Tiffany Hutchins, Elaine Zipp, Sheila Tempel, Sue LaRue, Jeff Skaggs, Otto Schalk, Melanie Wood, Jacki Byerly, and Cherie Walther.
