Serving our Neighbors
The mission of the Luther Community Service Center, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to help low income families and individuals in and around Luther, Oklahoma with food, clothing, furniture, and other necessities of life.
Volunteers from Gallatin, Tennessee sort clothes and prepare food boxes at the Luther Community Service Center.
The Luther Community Service Center was established as a nonprofit organization in 2007 to provide food, clothing, and furniture to those suffering economic hardship in the community.
Luther is a small town with approximately 1,000 residents within the town limits and around 2,000 people counting the surrounding area. The community is made up of many low-income families that have a constant financial struggle. Our goal is to help meet these families’ needs.
Each month, we distribute food to approximately 120 families. Eligible families receive a box containing non-perishable goods, frozen foods, fresh produce, and, when available, hygiene and cleaning products—amounting to about 130 pounds of food per household. Additionally, twice a week, we offer clothing, household items, toys, and other necessities at no cost. Our facility, located in a former grocery store, is affectionately known by locals as the "free store." On average, 100 people visit each week to select clothing, appliances, and other household essentials. It is estimated we serve more than 800 individuals every month.
Beyond food and clothing, our outreach extends to other forms of assistance, including home repairs such as roofing, painting, and cleaning. We also provide school supplies to local students. Nearly all of the clothing and household goods we distribute come from generous donations.
Our efforts are made possible by approximately 30 dedicated volunteers from the community. Monday through Thursday, they arrive at 8:15 a.m. and work until noon. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and education levels, yet they share a common commitment to service. We foster an environment where no one feels more important than another, and we treat those we serve with dignity and respect. We have an atmosphere where no one is ashamed to receive help for his or her needs.
Much of the food we distribute is purchased from the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, which supplies charitable organizations like ours with food at significantly reduced costs. Helping to meet people’s need for food and clothing is one of the ways we help those in our community.
Our mission is to help low-income families and individuals in Luther, Oklahoma with food, clothing, and other necessities of life.
Luther is a small town with approximately 1,000 residents within the town limits and around 2,000 people counting the surrounding area. The community is made up of many low-income families that have a constant financial struggle. Our goal is to help meet these families’ needs.
Each month, we distribute food to approximately 120 families. Eligible families receive a box containing non-perishable goods, frozen foods, fresh produce, and, when available, hygiene and cleaning products—amounting to about 130 pounds of food per household. Additionally, twice a week, we offer clothing, household items, toys, and other necessities at no cost. Our facility, located in a former grocery store, is affectionately known by locals as the "free store." On average, 100 people visit each week to select clothing, appliances, and other household essentials. It is estimated we serve more than 800 individuals every month.
Beyond food and clothing, our outreach extends to other forms of assistance, including home repairs such as roofing, painting, and cleaning. We also provide school supplies to local students. Nearly all of the clothing and household goods we distribute come from generous donations.
Our efforts are made possible by approximately 30 dedicated volunteers from the community. Monday through Thursday, they arrive at 8:15 a.m. and work until noon. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and education levels, yet they share a common commitment to service. We foster an environment where no one feels more important than another, and we treat those we serve with dignity and respect. We have an atmosphere where no one is ashamed to receive help for his or her needs.
Much of the food we distribute is purchased from the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, which supplies charitable organizations like ours with food at significantly reduced costs. Helping to meet people’s need for food and clothing is one of the ways we help those in our community.
Our mission is to help low-income families and individuals in Luther, Oklahoma with food, clothing, and other necessities of life.
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Feeding the Hungry
Food is distributed on the first and third Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. We purchase food from the Regional Food Bank and from local stores. We also receive donations from churches, local schools, the Post Office, and other individuals and groups. Food is delivered from the Regional Food Bank twice a month.
How you can help:
How you can help:
- Volunteer. Help unload the truck and prepare food boxes.
- Hold a Food Drive. We greatly appreciate donations.
- Donate. Although we receive large discounts from our suppliers, it still takes over $1000.00 a month to feed this many families.
The Oklahoma Regional Food Bank truck delivers food to Luther.
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Volunteers prepare food to be given to the community.
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Volunteers get ready to distribute food to families.
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Providing Clothing and Other Necessities
We operate a free store where families can receive clothing, furniture, diapers, and other essential items on Mondays from 10:00–11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
How you can help:
How you can help:
- Volunteer. On Mondays- Thursdays from 8:15 a.m. - Noon. Volunteers help sort donations, fill the clothing racks. You can strive to be an example of Christian service to those who volunteer with you.
- Hold a clothing drive or coat drive. We greatly appreciate donations.
- Donate. Money helps keep the lights and heat on while we serve others.
On Thursday evenings, members of the community look for clothing and furniture.
Prisoner Rehabilitation
We are work with inmates from the Clara Waters Community Corrections Center, Oklahoma City Community Correctional Center, Union City Community Correctional Center and other facilities. The inmates participate in classes coordinated by Erma Wright. There was a time in Mrs. Wright’s life when she was headed down the wrong path and spent time behind bars. She turned her life around and now helps people who struggle in life just as she did. Mrs. Wright brings inmates to the Service Center twice a month on Thursday mornings to help distribute food and do other good works. We have opportunities to get to know them as we work together. We have a meal together and give them an opportunity to take food, clothes, and hygiene items back with them to a correctional facility.
On November 12, 2014, Erma Wright received a full pardon from the State of Oklahoma, signed by Governor Mary Fallin.
How you can help:
On November 12, 2014, Erma Wright received a full pardon from the State of Oklahoma, signed by Governor Mary Fallin.
How you can help:
- Volunteer. Take time to work with and get to know one of our volunteers from the correctional center. Your good example means a lot.
- Donate. These volunteers greatly appreciate clothing, toothpaste and toothbrushes and deodorant that they can take back with them to the correctional center.
Volunteers from the Luther Community Service Center work with men from the Oklahoma City Community Corrections Center.
Children's Activities
We reach out to the community at every opportunity. We offer character-building activities and classes for children in the community several times a year. These are hosted by different groups from Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee. We also partner with Feed the Children to host a summer reading program for children.
How you can help:
How you can help:
- Volunteer. Be encouraging and take an interest in people. Bring your kids.
- Provide snacks. Kids love homemade snacks. Your love of baking can be a tool used to reach the community.
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Disaster Aid
At the Luther Community Service Center, we strive to be known for our extraordinary kindness. In addition to meeting daily needs, we proactively prepare for future disasters by maintaining a supply of food and essential equipment. Following the large fire in Luther and other crises, we played a key role in organizing volunteers from across the region to assist with recovery efforts. Once our community was back on its feet, we extended aid to other areas in need.
How you can help:
How you can help:
- Volunteer. Let us know that you want to help when disasters happen.
- Donate Supplies. Gloves, tools, Generators, Chain saws.
- Donate Funds. We can use funds to purchase supplies to be ready at a moment’s notice.
Volunteers lay sod around a family's new mobile home after their home was destroyed in a 2013 tornado.
Thanksgiving Aid
Thanks to generous donations from area churches, schools, and other charitable organizations, we are able to provide a nice Thanksgiving basket to Luther families. Volunteers from Oklahoma Christian University and Abilene Christian University help get the food organized and distributed the weekend before Thanksgiving. The Memorial Road Church of Christ provides hot meals on Thanksgiving Day and the Wild Turkey Federation and Memorial Road Church of Christ provides frozen turkeys for the Thanksgiving Baskets.
How to help:
How to help:
- Volunteer. Pick up food from local churches, help get the food ready, distribute.
- Donate Supplies. Hold a food drive.
- Donate Funds. We can use funds to purchase supplies to make someone’s Thanksgiving great!
Fresh, hot thanksgiving meals are prepared by volunteers from the Memorial Road Church of Christ and delivered to Luther on Thanksgiving morning to be shared with the community,
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Volunteers from Abilene Christian University load thanksgiving food boxes into vehicles.
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Christmas Outreach
Each year, through the Luther Community Service Center, we adopt approximately 200 children up to age 12, ensuring they receive a special Christmas gift. Volunteers receive cards with the child’s clothing sizes and wants. Once the items are purchased and delivered to the Service Center, volunteers put everything in a box and wrap the box in Christmas paper. On distribution day, children are invited to enjoy a special skit prepared by volunteers before receiving their gift boxes, making the holiday season a little brighter for families in need
How to help:
How to help:
- Volunteer. Wrap boxes.
- Adopt a child. Purchase clothing and a toy to help a child from Luther.
- Donate Funds. We can use funds to purchase clothing to make someone’s Christmas great!
A child opens his Christmas box.
As you can see, this is a “hands – on” work. Would you like to be a part of it? Call or text me any time at the number on the front. We have a place for you!
Joe Caruthers, Director
405-225-6839 (Luther Community Service Center)
Chris Hill, Minister of the Luther church of Christ
405-596-3167 (Mobile Phone)
Joe Caruthers, Director
405-225-6839 (Luther Community Service Center)
Chris Hill, Minister of the Luther church of Christ
405-596-3167 (Mobile Phone)
