Questions we are asked every week

Any household living in Lansing, East Lansing, Holt, Okemos, Mason, or Delhi and Meridian townships. There is no religious requirement, no citizenship test and no referral needed. Assistance is based on the situation you describe and the documents relevant to the specific program.

A coordinator returns every assistance enquiry within one business day. Urgent utility shut-offs and eviction dates inside 72 hours are escalated the same day — say so clearly when you call and we will treat it that way.

No. Every grant is paid straight to the landlord, utility company or vendor. This protects both the household and the conference, and it is the practice our board requires.

Emergency grants generally fall between $150 and $850 per household per calendar year, depending on available funds and the nature of the need. Food pantry access is not counted against that limit.

Photo ID for the head of household, proof of address, and the notice that prompted your request. If a document is missing, come anyway — we will work out what is possible.

Yes. Case records are stored securely, accessible only to the coordinators and the volunteers assigned to your case, and are never sold or shared for marketing. Full detail is in our Privacy Policy.

Food pantry access is twice per month, ongoing. Financial grants are normally once per calendar year, though the board can approve exceptions in genuine emergencies.

We do not pay for vehicle purchase or medical procedures. We do help review medical bills, apply for hospital charity care, and occasionally fund a specific repair that is preventing someone from getting to work.

The conference takes its name and its ethos from a Catholic lay tradition, but assistance is entirely unconditional. Nobody will be asked about belief, invited to a service or handed literature.

81 cents of every dollar went to direct household assistance in 2025. Our annual financial summary is reviewed by an independent Michigan CPA and sent to anyone who emails and asks.

Coats, boots and winter accessories in genuinely wearable condition, yes — especially during the October drive. General used clothing we redirect to partners with the sorting capacity we lack.

Yes, and it helps enormously. Email the director at least three weeks ahead so we can supply collection boxes, a current needs list and someone to collect the pallet at the end.