LFCS has been in the business of growing hope for 139 years. our ministry began in 1868 with our orphanage in Des Peres, Missouri, and quickly grew --- today providing adoption services, counseling, day care, foster care, youth mentoring, crisis pregnancy counseling and disaster response services throughout Missouri. We touch the lives of more than 22,000 persons annually.
Our Southeast Missouri office has been a longtime member of the Cape Girardeau community, opening in 1973 with one staff member. Today we are proud to have a full-time staff of seven, plus one part-time person and two student interns.
To continue our history of responding to those in need, the Foundation of LFCS is seeking to raise $8.75 million through our statewide growing hope capital campaign. The campaign, which began with a quiet phase in February 2006, is raising $4.55 million in endowment funds to be used to stabilize and sustain core programs well into the future, $2.1 million to eliminate LFCS’ facility debt and free up an additional $150,000 a year to assist the many children and families needing care, and $2.1 million in capital improvements. For southeast Missouri, our goal is $1 million, which includes $370,000 in endowment to allow the WINGS program to continue at its current level and the CALL mentoring program to expand into south Cape Girardeau. Also, we are seeking $80,000 to apply to debt elimination and $550,000 for a new 6,700-square-foot building for expanded program and office areas. Currently, both the CALL mentoring and Family Foundations programs are severely hampered by space limitations. Workspace is crowded, and there is not adequate room to provide services, hold meetings, or to store baby supplies and equipment.
