Give a Hand Up! image

Give a Hand Up!

Help Us Care for Our Neighbors from Crisis Through Stability

$395,554 raised

$500,000 goal

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Choose the Services Your Donation Will Support

The need in our community is so great. Only together can we lift each other up.

LifeStyles is committed to providing a complete continuum of care for our neighbors in need throughout Southern Maryland. That means providing assistance and connections to resources across a wide area of services. We invite you to join the effort — and to choose exactly what your donation will support!

From homeless shelter operations to ongoing housing support.

From ending food insecurity to providing essential transportation services.

And a lot more.

At LifeStyles, we don’t give handouts. We offer a hand up. But it isn’t easy. With this campaign, we're aiming to raise $500,000 through donations of funds and resources from individual supporters, businesses and local organizations. Though that number seems large, it's only a fraction of what it takes to provide the services our community needs.

So we need you!

Together, let’s offer a hand up! We invite you to choose the services below that your donation will benefit.


IN MEMORY OF TAMMY GAUSMAN
LifeStyles Volunteer Manager Tammy Gausman passed away in early December 2023 after a battle with cancer. All those who worked with LifeStyles knew Tammy for her bright smile, her quick wit and her huge heart. Anyone wishing to celebrate Tammy’s legacy can make a donation in her honor by selecting "In Memory of Tammy Gausman" from the drop-down menu above.


FOOD INSECURITY
LifeStyles is committed to feeding the hungry in our communities, as well as connecting them to federal nutrition programs, including WIC and SNAP. At our food pantry, we purchase and accept donations of healthy, nourishing foods to distribute through a variety of venues across Southern Maryland.


HOMELESS AND HOUSING SERVICES
LifeStyles works with the homeless, including domestic violence victims, to find them immediate shelter and then short-term housing solutions, including the Robert J. Fuller House, Martha’s Place, Gayle’s House and Havens of Hope. We ultimately work toward more permanent housing. Domestic violence services include case management, transportation, referrals to counseling resources and other supportive services are offered in a safe and comfortable environment for persons who are currently experiencing a domestic violence situation.


PROJECT H.O.P.E
Project H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Others Police Encounters. It’s a collaborative effort between LifeStyles of Maryland and the La Plata Police Department. Through this initiative, LifeStyles and the LPPD will work together to identify individuals in need in La Plata. Then we’ll work together to gather and distribute resources, including food, clothing and monetary support!


SHELTER OPERATIONS
Our 24/7 emergency shelter at the new LifeStyles Center White Plains provides safe housing for families and the elderly. Our Day Center services at the shelter are open to all homeless individuals and families in Charles County. During the winter months, our Safe Nights program works with local faith-based organizations and motels to provide food, warmth and overnight shelter.


SOUTHERN CROSSING
We are working to renovate the old White House Motel on US-301 to create Southern Crossing, a one-of-a-kind facility providing short-term housing, along with career and life skills training, to homeless individuals and families in Southern Maryland. Southern Crossing will house up to 77 residents for up to 18 months. Residence options will feature 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and efficiency units.


THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
LifeStyles is working to provide 1,200 Thanksgiving baskets to families across Southern Maryland. We are accepting monetary contributions, as well as donations of food items. Each basket costs $40 to fill, and we are looking to our community to help us provide a nourishing, healthy holiday meal for our neighbors in need.


TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
LifeStyles provides subsidized transportation for Southern Maryland residents. Transportation services are available for low- to moderate-income households to access community services, employment and medical-related appointments.


XAVIER'S GARDEN
Xavier’s Garden is a calm, peaceful garden on the grounds of our 24/7 emergency shelter at the LifeStyles Center in White Plains. It’s named in honor of Xavier Bean, the son of Kimberley and Chris Bean, two longtime dedicated supporters of LifeStyles. Xavier passed away in 2022, and this garden is a tribute to him and his incredible legacy. Residents of the shelter can help tend the garden or simply sit and enjoy the beautiful flowers and the serenity that the garden brings.


WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST
You may also choose this option for directing your donation. Because urgent needs shift and change throughout the year, donations allocated here could be used to support any and all of our services as the need requires.