Late last year, Nest Community Shelter was bestowed a historic gift from St. Paul’s parish in Michigan City. This generous gift was given to Nest Community Shelter after the sale of the parish school. When asked why the parish of St. Paul’s decided to bless Nest Community Shelter with this gift, St. Paul’s Pastor Mark Reshan said, When we sold the school, we determined we’d give half away, particularly to those we’d been involved with in the past. We hosted a men and women’s shelter for years. Harry started here. This is where he received the bulk of his training.”

These funds are one of the largest single gifts ever bestowed upon Nest Community Shelter. The funds will be invested in order to ensure that the gift will continue to support Nest Community Shelter’s mission and St. Paul’s parish’s wish that these funds will make a long-lasting gift for those who need it most in our community. “What we want to do is ensure that this gift can be a lasting legacy for the parish of St. Paul’s. We are creating opportunities for these funds to grow so that this gift may live on and empower the lives of our guests for years to come,” said Nest Community Shelter Director Harrison Holtkamp. He continued on to say, “Funding our operations can be complex. Most people don’t realize that the work we do is exceptionally labor intensive in order to ensure a safe site for our guests and the community. In most cases, grants cannot be used to fund staffing. The investment of the gift from St. Paul’s will, in part, ensure that we can shore up adequate staffing costs when other solutions might not be present.”

Nest Community Shelter plans to publicly thank the parish of St. Paul’s for their generous gift by sharing the impact of these funds at a Sunday morning service in the next few months. St. Paul’s parish Treasurer, Karen Fleming, said, “We felt that the shelter has been a part of our mission. At the beginning, we were part of it. We have some ownership there. The shelter operations moved out, but we’re still connected to it. Nest Community Shelter is vitally important to us.” Fleming went on to say, “We want to help Nest Community Shelter be a great success and reduce homelessness and the issues surrounding it.

On behalf of all those at Nest Community Shelter, we want to extend our most heartfelt gratitude to the entire congregation at St. Paul’s parish for this life-changing gift. These funds will have a long-lasting, multi-generational impact on those that we serve, our entire community, and beyond. Furthermore, these gifts will not only allow us to continue to live our mission but, by extension, it will allow us to live the mission that St. Paul’s helped us begin, to serve those in our community in need with dignity, determination, and love.

The post St. Paul’s Lutheran of Michigan City Makes A Life-Changing Donation to Nest Community Shelter appeared first on Nest Community Shelter.

Since the challenging days of 2020, when COVID-19 first struck our community, The Salvation Army has been a beacon of hope, support, and partnership for Nest. Their support, which began as a response to an unprecedented crisis, has evolved into a lasting commitment that significantly impacts our operations. The weekly meal they provide is not just a meal; it’s a cornerstone of our planning and preparation, allowing us to focus on other aspects of our work. This support has been instrumental in our ability to serve our guests, and we are deeply grateful for it.

Every week, without fail, The Salvation Army provides a hearty, cooked meal for our shelter guests. This may seem like a simple act, but its impact resonates far beyond the dining hall. For our staff and volunteers, it means a night where we can focus on meal planning and prep work for the week ahead, knowing that our guests will be well-fed. For our guests, it’s a moment of comfort and dignity in what can often be challenging times.

The meals, lovingly prepared by Salvation Army volunteers, are more than just sustenance – they’re a testament to the care and dedication of our community. Each plate is a balanced, thoughtful meal that many of us might prepare for our own families, complete with a fresh salad, a protein-rich meat dish, comforting starches, nutritious vegetables, and even a sweet treat for dessert.

In 2023 alone, this incredible partnership resulted in nearly 2,900 meals served to our shelter guests provided by The Salvation Army. That’s 2,900 moments of care and 2,900 opportunities for our guests to feel valued and supported by their community. When asked about what this meal means to the Salvation Army, Major Rebecca Simmons said, “Our incredible volunteers want to provide high-quality meals. They want to give their best, and they put their hearts and souls into this weekly meal.”

“Our incredible volunteers want to provide high-quality meals. They want to give their best, and they put their hearts and souls into this weekly meal.” Salvation Army Major Rebecca Simmons

The Salvation Army’s consistency and quality of support have been unwavering to Nest and her guests. Through changing seasons and evolving challenges, they have stood by us and our guests, exemplifying the true spirit of community service.

To the Salvation Army and all the volunteers who make this weekly meal possible, we are deeply grateful. Your dedication, compassion, and delicious cooking make a world of difference. You’re not just feeding bodies; you’re nourishing hope and strengthening our community, one meal at a time. Thank you.

At Nest, we are profoundly grateful for partners like The Salvation Army. Together, we’re making our community a little bit warmer, a little more caring, and a whole lot stronger.

The post Celebrating Our Community Heroes: The Salvation Army appeared first on Nest Community Shelter.

Pastor Darrell Crots, overseeing Congregational Care at Liberty Bible Church, emphasized the pivotal role of the congregation in enabling such acts of benevolence. His words resonate deeply with us as he expressed gratitude for the congregants’ generosity, attributing the successful donation to their commitment to the benevolence fund. “God has touched the hearts of many of our congregants to faithfully give towards the benevolence fund,” Pastor Darrell shared. This fund, fueled by the congregation’s unwavering support, not only aids church members facing genuine needs but also extends its reach to partner with external organizations, such as the Nest Community Shelter.

“God has touched the hearts of many of our congregants to faithfully give towards the benevolence fund.”

The recent donation from Liberty Bible Church serves as a powerful testament to the positive impact that can be achieved when a community comes together for a common cause. This act of kindness aligns seamlessly with our mission of providing shelter, sustenance, and support to those in need. Pastor Darrell Crots acknowledged the growing needs of the Nest Community Shelter and highlighted the importance of expanding services to accommodate more individuals in need. His confidence in our ability to utilize the funds judiciously echoes the trust placed in us to navigate the complexities of homelessness, stating, “We trust Harrison and his team to use these funds wisely and apply them to current areas of need, but also applying some to further help you do what you do…even better. May God use these funds to help many people in the coming days and years.”

In addition to supporting the Nest Community Shelter, Liberty Bible Church actively collaborates with other local churches to contribute to organizations like First Contact and First Step. This collaborative effort aims to streamline assistance to those in need within the community, preventing the burden of constant requests on individual churches.

Furthermore, when Liberty Bible Church has surplus funds, it reaches out to various local agencies and ministries to offer one-time donations, expanding its impact across the wider community. Some of the organizations benefiting from these donations include Neighborlink, Housing Opportunities, Three 20 Recovery in Chesterton, New Creation Men’s Center, Worthy Women Transformation in LaPorte, Habitat for Humanity, Gabriel’s Horn in South Haven, Valparaiso, Hilltop Food Pantry.

The church’s commitment extends to regular contributions to local food pantries, addressing not only food-related challenges but also financial needs that these pantries may encounter. Liberty Bible Church strives to make a difference, one act of kindness at a time, demonstrating the profound impact a united community can have on the lives of those in need. The generosity exhibited by Liberty Bible Church is a shining example of the transformative power of compassion and community service, inspiring others to follow suit and contribute to the betterment of society.

“We are so grateful to Pastor Darrell and his congregation for the abundant generosity to Nest. These needed funds will aid us in providing lasting positive change in the lives of our guests. We are honored to be a recipient of their generosity,” Harrison Holtkamp, the Nest Community Shelter’s leader, remarked about the donation.

“We are so grateful to Pastor Darrell and his congregation for the abundant generosity to Nest. These needed funds will aid us in providing lasting positive change in the lives of our guests. We are honored to be a recipient of their generosity.”

As a shelter, we are always on the lookout for new donor partners. The journey to rebuild lives is ongoing, and your support can make a significant difference. Whether you are an individual, business, or organization, consider becoming a part of our community of donor partners. Your involvement contributes to the success of our mission and ensures that no one faces the challenges of homelessness alone.

The Nest Community Shelter is deeply grateful for the generous donation from Liberty Bible Church. These funds are not just financial support; they are a lifeline, enabling us to provide lasting positive change in the lives of our guests.

In a world where compassion knows no bounds, the partnership between Liberty Bible Church and Nest Community Shelter stands as a testament to the transformative power of collective kindness. We invite others to join the ranks of our donor partners, creating a ripple effect of hope and resilience that uplifts our community as a whole. Together, we nurture hope, one act of generosity at a time.

The post Nurturing Hope: Liberty Bible Church’s Impact on Nest Community Shelter appeared first on Nest Community Shelter.

In that time, we have grown from a volunteer-led program operating out of church basements to a fully-established nonprofit organization run by trained staff with a permanent location.

All of our progress is thanks to YOU!

ICPADS was, is, and will always be a community project, fueled by the generosity of La Porte county citizens who want to help the homeless in our area.

For this reason, we are asking you to join us for our 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign, which will run through the end of December.

Click here to support our fundraiser, or read on to get more details!

Why Are We Running a Holiday Giving Campaign?

The ICPADS 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign is aimed at raising monetary funds for our operation throughout the new year.

Your donation is tax deductible and will help us cover new expenses we have incurred now that we have a permanent location, including heating and other utilities, trained staff, food, and supplies.

• Although we started out as a winter-only shelter, we now run year round.
• Every night we offer guests a safe place to sleep and a warm meal at our permanent location on 8th Street in Michigan City. We also provide breakfast in the morning.
• Our trained staff oversee guests and connect them with resources they need to address the issues that are causing their homelessness and help them secure their own housing.
• Although we started out as a men’s-only shelter, we now offer services to men, women and children.

In the past 12 months, we have had the pleasure of serving 177 guests!

The need for our services in La Porte County is real and ongoing, which is why we are asking for your support during our 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD and he will repay him for his deed. 

Proverbs 19:17.

2021 Holiday Giving Campaign: How You Can Help

Giving is simple: just head over to our donations page, choose a donation amount, and then follow the prompts to complete your donation.

Donations are given through PayPal, but you do NOT have to have a PayPal account to give.

If you don’t have one, just choose “Donate with a Debit or Credit Card” to use a card of your choice.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check to P.O. Box 38  Michigan City, IN 46361.

Every little bit helps and we greatly appreciate your generosity!

You can also support the 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign by sharing it with your friends and family. 

Share this blog post or head over to our Facebook page and join in the fun by liking, commenting and sharing the posts we make about the fundraiser.

Thank you for helping us make our 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign a success!

The post Join the ICPADS 2021 Holiday Giving Campaign! appeared first on Nest Community Shelter.

ICPADS is a faith-based organization. You’ve probably heard that term before, as many businesses and organizations may describe themselves in a similar manner. But what does ‘faith-based’ really mean? In this article, we are going to look at the term ‘faith-based’ and define what it means to our mission and work.

The Term ‘Faith-Based’

The adjective ‘faith-based’ can be used to describe any number of things. For example: 

• Faith-based organization
• Faith-based business/brand
• Faith-based movie
• Faith-based counseling

And the list goes on…any number of things may be described with the adjective ‘faith-based.’

When we look at the words ‘faith-based,’ the surface-level definition seems pretty self-explanatory: it means that something is based on faith…in other words, that the thing to which you are referring (the organization, business, movie, etc.) gets its information or ideas using faith as the source.

Faith is tied to religion, and we see this in formal definitions of faith-based. For example, Dictionary.com defines faith-based as, “affiliated with, supported by, or based on a religion or a religious group.”

And this is where the confusion starts. According to Wikipedia, there are roughly 4,200 different religions in the world today. So if ‘faith-based’ means being affiliated with a religion or getting one’s ideas from a religion, then ‘faith-based’ can mean a lot of different things! 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Our Faith-Based Roots

The faith-based roots of ICPADS go back to when the program was first started.

The program, originally called Interfaith Community Men’s Shelter, was founded in 2002 by two ladies who were concerned about the homeless men during the cold winter months. They organized churches within the community to share in the responsibility of caring for these men who had no place to go or no food to eat. 

Although the name eventually changed to ICPADS, up until the summer of 2020, the program was still supported by local churches in Michigan City. These churches would take turns hosting the homeless guests. They would rotate to share responsibilities so that the ‘location’ of the shelter changed every day and ran on an organized schedule.

The participating churches were affiliated with many denominations and used different names to describe themselves, including ‘non-denominational,’ ‘Pentecostal,’ ‘evangelical,’ ‘Presbyterian,’ ‘Lutheran,’ and ‘Missionary.’ 

But the one thing they all had in common is that they were all Christian churches, meaning that they teach forgiveness and redemption through belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.

What Faith-Based Means to Us

In the summer of 2020, ICPADS purchased the Sacred Heart Church building and established a permanent location for the shelter.

Therefore, our daily operations no longer happen at local churches but, instead, everything happens at our own ‘headquarters.’

We are still a faith-based organization though, and here is why.

To us, ‘faith-based’ means…

• Support: Despite having a permanent home for the shelter, we are still supported by local Christian churches.
• Love: We believe that God has told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we do our work out of a spirit of love.
• Service: We are committed to serving others, especially the less fortunate in our community.
• Stewardship: We have the responsibility to be good stewards over what we have been given, and we apply this idea to how we manage our facility, donations of goods, and monetary gifts.
• Partnership: We believe that we are doing this work with and for God, so we look to Him for support and guidance as we make decisions.

Now that we’ve defined what faith-based is, it is equally important to be clear about what faith-based does not mean to us.

Faith-based does not mean discrimination based on faith/religion NOR does it mean that we have any faith-related requirements for homeless guests who stay with us. Guests, volunteers, staff, donors…we treasure the opportunity to work with people of all faiths/religions.

And we would love for you to join our mission too! If you are interested in working with us, check out these pages for more information: volunteering, donating goods, monetary gifts.

We also have a big event coming up in November and we would appreciate your help in making it a huge success!

Stay tuned, as we will be sharing the details in our next blog post.

The post What Does It Mean to Be Faith-Based? appeared first on Nest Community Shelter.