PCM Shares History, Plans for the Future in Honor of 115-Year-Anniversary
This year the People’s City Mission (PCM, www.pcmlincoln.org) is excited to be celebrating 115 years of service to the Lincoln community! During this time, they have been able to assist over one million individuals struggling with homelessness and poverty. Even more, their doors have stayed open for more than one million continuous hours to those seeking their help.
Did you know that PCM has a history that is deeply tied to this city? In 1925, they were the primary force behind starting a Community Chest which soon turned into the United Way. In 1929, PCM mortgaged its debt-free building and created work projects to help Lincoln weather the Great Depression. During the 1930s PCM started the Police Corp Chaplaincy and what was then called the Urban Indian Center.
But what does the future hold for PCM? They believe it means an increasing need for their services. Lincoln’s expanding growth has been wonderful, but it has also grown the number of homeless and impoverished among us. This has put a tremendous strain on PCM because they are the only homeless shelter in the city (where anyone can come and stay). In the next 10-15 years our community is going to need a lot more beds in order to meet the demand for shelter. That is why PCM is looking to build a new and much larger facility over the next three to four years.
No matter how much PCM builds, the most important solution to changing the direction of homelessness remains compassionate people. Over the last 115 years, PCM has housed and fed most the homeless in the city while being funded almost completely through public donations. That is how the homeless have been taken care of in our city. Not by government funding, but through caring and concerned people.
If you would like to get involved in helping PCM reach the homeless this year, here are some ways you can join in:
• Support them financially by clicking the DONATE button at pcmlincoln.org.
• Feed one person, one meal, once a month for $2.77 at buyonemeal.org.
• Like and follow PCM on social media and share their posts with your friends to spread the word about what’s going on at PCM and specific ways you can get involved (@pcmlincoln on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
• Spend time volunteering. Contact Beneen at ballen@pcmlincoln.org for more information.
• Hold a fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram and choose PCM as your nonprofit.
• Hold a drive for needed items: diapers, food, socks, shoes, hygiene supplies, etc. For more ideas and information, contact Michele at morth@pcmlincoln.org.
• Donate your stuff: clothing, shoes, housewares, and furniture. These items can be dropped off at PCM’s Help Center at 6800 P St. at the donation dock at the back of the building. Donation hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon – 5 p.m. on Sunday. If you have textiles only (clothing, shoes, purses, and belts), you can drop them off at any of PCM’s toss boxes around town. For a current list of toss boxes, visit pcmlincoln.org/tossboxes.
For more information about People’s City Mission, visit www.pcmlincoln.org or call (402) 475-1303.