Over the past 40 years, Shepherd has been here, committed, loyal, passionate, and devoted to helping our neighbors break the cycle of poverty and transforming our community. Our neighbors can depend on us at Shepherd to be present, believing in them, and helping them when they are unsure of what to do.

In 2007, Shepherd introduced the Continuum of Care, a complete set of programs that allows us to continuously engage in the lives of neighborhood children, teens, and their families. The Continuum is designed to help our families overcome the physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic challenges of poverty.

What does this really mean? It means no one has to do it alone. It means that when one person connects to Shepherd (like a student starting in our After-School programs), we get to know the entire family and ensure their needs are met or barriers are removed. We become a network of support to connect to jobs and training, provide food, offer compassionate assistance, educate, empower stability, and be the person in their corner to encourage them never to give up. And if Shepherd doesn’t offer the programs or services, we utilize partners, resources, and other organizations to help our families. It isn’t about Shepherd, it’s about caring for every person right where they are.

You’ll hear it time and again: “Shepherd didn’t just take care of me, they cared for my entire family.” That’s the Continuum of Care. That’s what makes Shepherd different.

Like an eternal flame of hope, Shepherd has been meeting the physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs of our neighbors of all ages for the last 40 years. And we couldn’t do it without the generous support and commitment of our partners, and the love and sacrifice of our volunteers and staff.