Ways To Give

Your generous donations allow us to provide year-round shelter, food, and basic needs to Douglas County residents experiencing homelessness and poverty. There are a variety of ways to support the shelter!

Give a Monetary Gift

Donate today by mail, in person, or online.  We accept all credit and debit cards, checks and cash. Please mail checks or drop off monetary donations to the address below. Donations can also be sent through bill pay at your bank to the same address.

Attn: Director of Finance
Lawrence Community Shelter
3655 E. 25th St.
Lawrence, KS 66046

Become a Monthly Donor

Please consider giving monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually! Your ongoing support will help us sustain our programs year round. To become a monthly donor, visit our donate page and select your frequency and amount on Step 1.

Employee Matching Gifts

Many companies want to support the causes their employees care about by offering corporate matching gift programs, and they may even double or triple the amount of your gift! Many companies even provide monetary grants to nonprofits where their employees or retirees regularly volunteer. Ask your employer if they can match your gift today!

If your employer can match your gift, on the second page of the donation form (“Details”), please include your employer’s contact information, and then on the last page of the form (“Finish”), please check the box next to “Does your employer/business/foundation match funds?”

If your company is a United Way member, please choose the Lawrence Community Shelter for your donation designation.

Planned Gifts

Planned giving is easy! Reach out to your lawyer to add a charitable designation as an amount or percentage of your will. Your planned gift may also have significant tax benefits for you and your heirs. By including the Lawrence Community Shelter in your estate plans, you will help ensure that your community has access to shelter and housing services for years to come.

If you’d like to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact Melanie Valdez by calling 785-856-2060 or emailing melaniev@lawrenceshelter.org.

Host a Fundraiser

Starting your own fundraiser can be easy and fun! Private individuals, businesses, or social clubs can plan and host a fundraising drive to benefit LCS. This is a great way to spread the word about our mission and fund our shelter and services. Click here to download our fundraising toolkit.

Examples include:

  • Asking for donations in place of birthday gifts
  • Hosting a yard sale or car wash
  • Restaurant Percentage Nights
  • School Fundraisers
  • Game Nights
  • Charity Auctions
  • Charity Marathons
  • Storefront Fundraising
  • Facebook Fundraiser

If you’re interested in starting your own fundraiser, please do not hesitate to contact Lacee Roe by calling 785-856-0580 or emailing laceer@lawrenceshelter.org.

AmazonSmile

Did you know that you can shop on Amazon and benefit the Lawrence Community Shelter at the same time? AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. When you shop on AmazonSmile and select the Lawrence Community Shelter as your nonprofit of choice, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates a percentage of sales to your selected nonprofit!

To turn on AmazonSmile on your phone, open the app and find ‘Settings’ in the main menu (☰). Tap on ‘AmazonSmile’ and follow the on-screen instructions.

Dillons Rewards

Dillons Community Rewards makes donating easy by supporting LCS with the shopping you do every day. Link your Dillons Plus Card to Lawrence Community Shelter, and then all you have to do is swipe your Plus Card when you shop at Dillons! A digital account is needed to participate in Dillons Community Rewards.

Honorary & Memorial Gifts

Donate in someone’s honor to recognize them and support LCS in helping Douglas County residents experiencing homelessness or poverty. You can make an honorary or memorial gift online now using our donate form and selecting the checkbox in Step 1.

In-Kind Gifts

Through your generosity, our guests have their basic needs met while staying at the shelter. Our current needs list can be found on the donate page, under the “DONATE GOODS” tab. Donations are accepted at the front desk every day between 8 AM – 6 PM. Furniture donations MUST be scheduled ahead of time. Volunteers and/or staff will be there to assist you. 

Donations can also be shipped directly to 3655 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. Click here to view our Amazon Wishlist.

To donate furniture to people leaving the shelter for a fresh start in their new homes, visit our Move-Out Program page.

We cannot accept damaged items or used clothing with holes, rips, or stains. Please DO NOT leave donations by the door without notifying staff. If you have any questions regarding donations, please email Mercedes Roland at mercedess@lawrenceshelter.org.

Give the Gift of Your Time

Volunteers are indispensable to the work we do at LCS. When you sign up, you can either select a one-time volunteer opportunity, a group opportunity, or join our volunteer app to set your own schedule and pick up open shifts. We are happy to partner with community members of all abilities and talents in support of people experiencing homelessness in our shelter. Click here to view opportunities and sign up as an individual or as a group.

Give Care Packages

What better way to show how much you care for your community than to give care packages? Care packages can include hygiene kits, snack bags, or seasonal essentials. Making care packages is a fun activity to do with your family, friends, classmates, or co-workers! Click here to download our How-To PDF.