Since 1890, organization has been rescuing the 'lost'.
By Stephanie Salter
In a society that increasingly views poverty and social marginalization as symptoms of character failure, the Light House Mission is a beacon of countercultural compassion. As one of the organization's slogans declares:
"The Light House Mission stands with the strength of God, committed to serving the last the least and the lost."
The quickest way to understand what staff and volunteers do at 1450 Wabash Ave. is to look up synonyms for "rescue," the word that has identified the kind of mission that Light House has been since its founding in 1890: Deliver. Redeem. Ransom. Reclaim. Save.
The Light House does all that through a dozen programs that range from toy giveaways at Christmas to yearlong, structured recovery for substance abusers.
When a group of Christian folks from the First Congregational Church established Light House Mission in Terre Haute, the average U.S. life expectancy was about 45 years.
Today, it is more than 30 years longer for most people. But the ravages of poverty, addiction and substandard medical care and education continue to cut a wide, grim swath.
U.S. citizens still fall by the thousands through society's cracks. In 19 area counties, including Vigo, the Light House Mission still helps them climb out.
The organization has moved and grown in its 115-year history. It became an official Indiana not-for-profit at the end of the Great Depression in 1939, and received similar federal status in 1956, the post-war, Eisenhower era of prosperity.
Since 1990, home base has been a 100,000-square-foot building on Wabash Avenue that was donated by Patterson Equipment. In 1998, the old Otter Creek High School on Terre Haute's north end became Conners Center, a shelter for women, with or without children.
Since the early 1970s, the mission's daily outlay of meals has risen to about 440 from 40. Its annual budget - provided primarily by individual contributions and charitable grants - has grown during the same period to $1 million from $10,000.
Methamphetamine has shoved aside the hallucinogens of the 1970s, Gulf War veterans have joined aging, homeless survivors of Vietnam's battles, and alcohol still wrecks lives as effectively as it did in Victorian times.
The mission's most recent demographic shift?
"Women with children are one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population," said Development Director Bonnie Wallace. "Until just the last few years, most of the people who came to us were men. We have 13 children living here now and four in Conners Center."
Divorce, domestic abuse, a lost job or prolonged illness brings their mothers to the Light House Mission. Even intact families find themselves needing services.
"We've had people living here who had two jobs, but they're minimum-wage jobs. You have to work more than 80 hours a week at that rate to support a family in this area," said Wallace. "One family had to decide whether they paid their rent or their heating bill in winter. They chose heat, and were evicted."
Most of the parents in these families take the time at the mission "to gather their thoughts and resources," said Wallace. "They work, save their money and get caught up. They won't be here forever."
Tribune-Star reporter Patricia Pastore contributed to this story.
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter |
| Lighthouse: A lighthouse greets people that come to the Light House Mission located at 15th and Wabash. |
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LIGHT HOUSE MISSION FAST FACTS
--The Light House Mission Ministries Inc. is nondenominational and dedicated to advocacy and care for men, women and children in need. It offers free food, clothing, emergency and extended lodging, spiritual and psychological counseling, alcohol and drug recovery programs and daily chapel services.
--Headquarters is 1450 Wabash Ave., and Conners Center for women and children is in North Terre Haute. There are 21 full-time or part-time paid employees and the mission's CEO is the Rev. Timothy J. Fagg.
--In 2004, the organization provided 37,744 nights' lodging, served 149,018 meals, gave 3,710 Christmas toys to children, provided 636 Thanksgiving baskets and shared 10,942 hours of volunteer service.
--The mission always is in need of monetary donations as well as household items, appliances and clothing in good condition, paper products (plates, cups, dinner napkins, bathroom tissue), eggs, butter, sugar, condiments, canned goods, wash cloths and bath towels.
All services can be reached at (812) 232-7001 or www.thlhm.org.