19 Brewster Cross Road, Orleans, MA 02653                  

Phone: 508.240.0694 or 866.TRY.LCOC

Hours: Mon.- Thu. 9:30 am-3:30 pm;    Fri: 9:30 am-12:30 pm

Director of Human Services:  Robin Carroll                       

Website:  Lower Cape Outreach Council

The mission of the Lower Cape Outreach Council, “neighbors helping neighbors,” is to provide emergency assistance of food, clothing and financial support to individuals and families in the eight towns of the lower and outer cape.

Food: 

The organization runs food pantries in each of the eight towns.  Clients may visit the pantries every two weeks, and are asked to call first.  They receive a $10 food card once per month when available.

Clothing:

LCOC manages Katy’s Korner, a free clothing store located at LCOC headquarters in Orleans, where qualified clients can get clothing and bedding.

Emergency Financial Assistance:  

A team of advocates screens clients for emergency financial assistance.  LCOC might pay a month’s rent or mortgage, a car repair to ensure getting to work, a mounting heating fuel bill, a critical prescription drug expense, or a variety of other expenses that can break an already stretched budget.  There is no red tape or waiting.  Clients receive help immediately.  Financial assistance is short-term, designed to help people make ends meet until they can help themselves.

Other Programs:

Other LCOC programs include:

    Santa’s Stop:  Santa’s Stop is open seasonally at LCOC headquarters in Orleans.  It is stocked with donated toys and gifts to ensure that children whose families are struggling will still have gifts under their tree. Because older children and teens can be hard to buy for, LCOC encourages donations of gift certificates as well.

    Holiday Food Baskets: 

Special Fundraisers:

    Hope Chest:  The Hope Chest, located at the Friend’s Marketplace in Orleans, is a consignment and thrift shop which sells used clothing, furniture and household items.  The  3000-square-foot-space is staffed by a paid manager and volunteers.  It is open year-round.

    Gifts of Hope:  The Cape Codder sponsors the annual Gifts of Hope campaign in December.  The local newspaper seeks to raise awareness of the work LCOC does in the lower and outer cape, and encourages donations for it to continue its programs and services.

    Giving Tree:  The “Giving Tree” is set up each year for three weeks in the Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham.  People are encouraged to bring in donations and put them under the tree.  There are festivities for kids and refreshments at the “kickoff” usually held in late November or early December.

    “Yule for Fuel”:  The Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre (WHAT) ran a holiday variety show on its Julie Harris Stage for four consecutive Saturdays last year that raised $4,000 for LCOC’s fuel assistance program.  Also supporting the endeavor were four outer cape fuel companies. 

    Annual Dinner:

Support: 

In 2008, LCOC provided more than $700,000 in the form of food, clothing and emergency financial assistance to residents of the lower and outer cape.  During the first two months of 2009, the number of people visiting the panties was 48% over the first two months of 2008; the number of seniors 145%; the number of children 31%; the total number of households 40%; and the total volume of food 46%.  The total value of the food for the January and February 2009 period was $69,000, up 44% from the same period last year. 

Support is through the donations of individuals, businesses, and grants. 

 PLEASE WRITE ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS BELOW. OTHER COMMENTS ARE ALSO WELCOME.