Thanks for helping us help those in need

I am overcome with gratitude for all the blessings that have been sent to Lazarus House this Christmas season. On Dec. 22, we received eight new guests: a couple who are expecting a child in January, a single mom with four children and a man whose health has not been good.

What a blessing to be able to offer them not just a shelter but a home. And not only a home, but also opportunity and hope for the future. Thank you for all you do to help us care for our neighbors in need throughout the year.

In addition to the 64 men, women and children from our community who are currently living with us, we are helping another 22 households pay their rent every month, enabling them to stay housed.

Through a generous grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority that was renewed two weeks ago and HUD, we are able to pay a significant portion of the rent each month for these households, 13 of which are receiving Social Security disability benefits.

We meet with them monthly to help them stay on track and send a check directly to their landlord.

We are blessed every day at Lazarus House, but feel especially grateful at this time of year, when we remember another homeless family that was wandering in the night about 2,000 years ago and how difficult it was for them to find a place to stay.

Thank you for helping us keep our doors open and find room at the inn for our neighbors in need. We are blessed to be a blessing and want to thank the community for standing with us to care for our neighbors, and may God bless us, every one.

Darlene Marcusson

Executive director

Lazarus House

St. Charles