Lakewood Christian Service Center - Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Lakewood Christian Service Center
A Helping Place

We've Moved!
As of February 10, 2009, we are at
14230 Madison Avenue (corner of Roosevelt) [see a map]

Our new building on Madison Ave
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Providing assistance
to our neighbors in need:
Emergency Food
Community Meals
Social Service Assistance
Supportive Housing Program
More

Contact us
Phone 216-226-6466
Fax: 216-226-8493
e-mail: lcsc@bge.net

Open Hours

Tuesday-Friday: 10 AM - 1:45 PM
Wednesday evening: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Community Meal Locations: Lakewood    Cleveland

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LAKEWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER — HISTORY

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Lakewood Christian Service Center is a collaborative organization of individuals, Lakewood churches, businesses and civic organizations. The organization was begun in 1982 as twelve Lakewood churches combined their resources to provide a Hunger Center for local residents. Soon after its founding the volunteers made a commitment to address the deeper questions of why clients were coming in need of food. Throughout its history the Center has been dedicated to addressing the needs of Lakewood citizens who are jobless, hungry, and/or in crisis. The Center provides job-search assistance; emergency food; advocacy with housing, utilities and public assistance; and information and referral services. Originally an all-volunteer organization, the Lakewood Christian Service Center now employs six part-time and two full-time staff members. More than 100 volunteers who provide auxiliary and direct client service further support the work of the Center.  The Center is an independent 501(C)(3) organization. The Board membership consists of representatives from 22 sponsoring churches and at-large seats filled by representatives of businesses and community organizations.

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SERVICES
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EMERGENCY FOOD

The Center provides a 3-day supply of food every 30 days to Lakewood and Westlake residents who meet income guidelines (see guidelines below). To receive this service, you must provide:

Failure to bring in these documents when requested may result in services not being provided to you.

Household Size Income Guidelines (effective July 1, 2008)
  Year Month Week
1 $20,799 $1,733 $399
2 $27,999 $2,333 $538
3 $35,199 $2,933 $676
4 $42,399 $3,533 $815
5 $49,599 $4,133 $953
6 $56,799 $4,733 $1,092
For each additional family member add: $ 7,199 $  599 $ 138

COMMUNITY MEALS
LCSC is instrumental in establishing and coordinating a network of free community meals hosted by Lakewood Churches. We also have information about free community meals in Cleveland.

Community Meal Locations: Lakewood    Cleveland

SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE
The Center offers referrals to community resources, which help with rent, utilities, clothing, health issues, etc. Many of these programs have specific guidelines such as residency, income, etc., which clients must meet to be eligible for service.

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM
The Center offers a HUD-sponsored program for individuals who are homeless or about to become homeless and in need of shelter referrals as well as individuals/families who are in need of housing. This program is open to individuals/families who live in Western Cuyahoga County and meet HUD guidelines.

OTHER ONSITE SERVICES
During Wednesday evening hours a representative from the Cleveland Tenants Organization is present to offer information, referrals and assistance to clients. The Cuyahoga Ombudsman Office will be present on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance will be available on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This service is available to anyone with a civil (not criminal) complaint. Each Wednesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. there is a person available to help with food stamp applications. Please call on scheduled day to confirm service availability.

AGENCY GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If you have problems with any of our services, please feel free to use the grievance procedure that you received during the intake process.

Since Lakewood Christian Service Center provides services on a walk-in basis, clients are normally seen in the order in which they arrive. However, clients are divided into two groups: food only and those who are here for food and/or additional service. As a result a client may not be seen in the exact sign-in order. Please be patient in waiting for your turn.

Because Lakewood Christian Service Center does not provide day care services to clients during the intake process, each client is solely responsible for watching his or her own children while at the Center.

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MISSION
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Lakewood Christian Service Center serves the Lakewood and Westlake communities by providing basic need assistance and personalized resource and referral services, thereby empowering each individual to move toward greater self-sufficiency.

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BE A VOLUNTEER!
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Lakewood Christian Service Center volunteers typically serve from 2-4 hours on one or more days each week. They greet our clients, stock the shelves, bag the groceries, answer the phones, and help with recordkeeping. If you are interested, print, fill out, and return the LCSC Volunteer Application [PDF], which will open in a new window (close when done). Thank you!

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