Community Outreach

We recognize the importance of supporting the community. Our projects have included support of the Thomas J. Pappas school, CASS (Central Arizona Shelter Services), children's Christmas projects and more.

The Logos Starfish Project

Several years ago, Logos adopted CASS (Central Arizona Shelter Services) as part of "The Logos Starfish Project." This is based on the story about the little boy who was throwing starfish back into the ocean. It goes something like ...

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions. Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.” The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.” The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!” (Google The Starfish Story and you will find different versions of it online.) So even though we can't help everyone, we helped nearly 100 homeless people stay warmer during the winter by donating sleeping bags to CASS.

CASS sleeps over 400 men and women nightly in the shelter, and those that they must turn away, sleep in the parking lot next to the facility. The lot is guarded by off-duty policemen for the safety of those sleeping there. CASS is well run, provides job training, showers, clothing and incentives for the homeless becoming self-sufficient. They are doing a very, very good work.

CASS volunteers are needed year round (see their website).

The Development Manager at CASS has this suggestion when you see homeless on the street:

• Keep apples and/or granola bars, and water in your car year-round and give them to the homeless person instead of cash (see also: Blessing Bags).
• Giving cash is usally NOT a good idea.
• What people need most is knowing that there is a place where they can get on-going assistance to get off the streets.

We also suggest the following:

• keep a sleeping bag or blanket in your car and be prepared if someone needs this help.
• Also, get a number of brown envelopes and include a list of the address and location of CASS and other shelters, food banks, etc., along with a bus pass, a card with a message of hope, scripture etc., and perhaps a magazine or an inspirational book.

Lodestar

Lodestar is a faith-based, non-profit, private, and public collaboration that provides wrap-around services for homeless adults. Lodestar serves as a gateway for individuals to access an extensive array of human services needed to begin the transformation from crisis to stability and self-sufficency. Rev. James Betz is our local contact.

Gina's Team

Gina's team actively promotes education and self-sufficiency for the incarcerated at no cost to the institutions. The team iis named for Gina Panetta who died of myeloid leukemia while serving time in an Arizona prison. Their motto is "Education, Not Incarceration."

Gina's team offers Juvenile Programs, Prison Programs and ongoing succfess and leadership support for those released from incarceration.

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Thank you and God Bless You!