Frequently asked questions include the following:
How does Love INC work?
Why is Love INC needed?
Who benefits from Love INC?
What area does Love INC serve?
How Does Love INC Work?
Love INC Littleton is made up of three components: the clearinghouse, relational ministry and community development.
The Clearinghouse - The foundation of Love INC of Littleton
The Clearinghouse is the foundation of Love INC of Littleton. Requests for assistance, whether from a church, community organization, or person in need, are sent to the Love INC office. A trained staff person or volunteer collects information, assesses the situation, verifies the need, and refers the request to an appropriate service provider in our area (e.g., network church or community-based organization).
Love INC of Littleton offers assistance to all people, regardless of religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background. The Love INC of Littleton Clearinghouse began taking calls October 29, 2008.
Our clearinghouse is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Mornings from 9:15am- 12 noon. Call 303-794-LOVE.
Relational Ministry - Developing long-term relationships ... transforming lives
With the Clearinghouse Model, Love INC of Littleton can provide essential and immediate help. Yet this approach generally does not allow ministry participants to address the underlying issues that keep individuals and families trapped in poverty.
The Relational Ministry Model equips volunteers from churches in our area to be able to walk alongside people for an extended period of time in order to help them overcome their problems and move toward self-sufficiency. Volunteers offer mentoring, support, and skills training, while serving as role models to those who are struggling.
Relational Ministry surrounds those in need with caring, nurturing and empowering relationships and brings the full array of our Littleton area church and agency services to fruition. It shows that through the power of God's love and with the encouragement of others, people can make meaningful, long-term improvements. A Love INC affiliate usually operates three to five years before moving into the relational ministry phase. Our Littleton affiliate is moving in this direction as gap ministries develop, with follow up calls and services, and with short terms classes, projects and with mentoring.
Community Development - Addressing deeper issues of poverty and hopelessness
As the Love INC of Littleton ministry matures and builds on experience with both the Clearinghouse and Relational Ministry, it is our prayer that we become more deeply involved with our community -- aware of the underlying or systemic social and economic problems of our people.
We pray, too, that we might become a catalyst for change. Our mission is to continue to work in cooperation with other nonprofit agencies and government service providers to fundamentally impact the availability and delivery of resources to the poor.
Community Development ministry targets larger groups of people and broad programs or sectors.
Why Is Love INC Littleton Needed?
Existing resources operating independently are not adequate to meet current (and growing!) levels of need in the Littleton area. Most people don't know that in unincorporated south Jefferson County alone, there are over 5000 students on the government free or reduced cost lunch program. In addition, (in the same geographic area) there were 187 students classified as homeless in 2007 as we began and over 2600 homeless in 2010. Students receiving free and reduced cost lunches in Douglas County is over 4000 students, with homeless students up from 62 in 2008 to over 500 in 2010.
 The churches in the Littleton area often find those in need at their doorstep. However, individual churches alone cannot fully meet the needs of every homeless family, single mom or elderly shut-in who asks for help. In a 2005 survey of a sample of churches in the Littleton area, 83% of the pastors indicated they were unable to meet the needs of those asking for help.
Love INC of Littleton helps churches pool their resources so that those in need are not turned away. Love INC of Littleton helps those in need by working with churches in our area -- helping members identify and use their gifts and talents.
In the process, lives and communities are transformed.
Who Benefits?
Our local churches benefit!
Love INC of Littleton works closely with the local churches, helping them organize to serve people in need in our area. We offer congregations specific, manageable opportunities to serve. We help churches draw out the God-given gifts and talents existing in the Body of Christ.
People in need benefit!
Love INC of Littleton is not just a "handout". We strive to provide those in need with tangible assistance, and we help people learn important life skills so they can become more self-reliant. We offer compassion, collaboration, generosity and action.
Community agencies benefit!
Love INC of Littleton works diligently to develop working partnerships with other agencies, trying to find cost-effective and innovative solutions that supplement current agency efforts.
What Area Does Love INC Littleton Serve?
The Love INC of Littleton service area includes the following:
- The north boundary is Hampden from the foothills to Santa Fe. At Santa Fe the north boundary extends south to Belleview and east to University.
- The east boundary north of Belleview is Santa Fe. The eastern boundary south of Belleview is University Boulevard until University ends. The eastern boundary south of University is Quebec.
- The southern boundary is Titan Road.
- The western boundary is the foothills (just west of C 470).
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