Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Witt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always enjoyed making a difference. From coaching little league soccer in High School to leading games at Summer Camps, challenge, teaching, struggle, and progress were what I always wanted to experience alongside other people.
When I arrived in St Louis to start my Biblical Studies, my route into helping people just clicked into place. I was a decent student, but I spent as much time as I could in my church’s neighborhood, one of the roughest in the city. The route was riddled with crumbled buildings, long grass, and broken everything. Most of our people lived nearby and were the only beacon of hope in the Hyde Park area. Our Church’s Pastor had started and non-profit that had build an apartment complex, kids programming, and basketball teams amidst sobering stories of members’ cousins getting shot blocks away. As a farm boy from Iowa, I Iearned so much and just loved being in that area.
When I came to Southwest Baltimore in 2012 for my year-long internship, it all felt the same. Even before the small summer camp I lead, I somehow I became the guy that kids near Wilkins &Monroe knew they could knock on my door after work and receive help with their broken bicycles. But didn’t just do it for them, I had learned to show them so they could try to fix it next time.
I moved back to Baltimore with a wife and kids in 2019, and after the funding ran out on a struggling initiative, I was asked to direct Compassion Place Ministries. I’ve been on this new adventure for almost two years.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had plenty of smooth roads, but there are struggles for sure and they only get more frequent in life. Yet, every one teaches a lesson. How much change can you really be making if it all comes easy?
When teaching at school in Michigan, we routinely couldn’t pay bills. That was nerve wracking, and yet made me realize just how much I despised needing to rely on free handouts at the end of the month. As a man, I take great pride in providing for my family (more on that later).
When we got to Baltimore, Spring of 2020 was going to be the start of a huge community engagement initiative…until I was told the world is shutting down at 5:00 due to Corona Virus. We never opened up the same way again. That is still a momentum killer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Compassion Place is known for the reasonable rates and personal care in our six Centers around Maryland. Each of our Centers has a space for people to simply come in, sit, relax, listen to music, and even have a listening ear if you ask for one. Most helpers we have a willing to pray with you. We have a personal interest that says everyone matters. Our Coordinators can tell me the name of the majority of people in their Center at any given moment!
Thanks to the help of donors who give materials, time, energy, funds, and skills, we are most known for our ability to provide clothing, household items, furniture, and food at rates that fit anybody’s budget. We focus on helping those who want to give something and not just be a taker. Everyone has a chance to complete a task and receive with the satisfaction they have made the world better for others today.
What sets us apart is we combine personal compassion and the challenge to fulfill someones potential. Nothing against Goodwill, but I like our name better. Compassion literally means to “sit next to someone and struggle with them”. Our commitment to that mentality sets us apart from most places that are striving to make difference.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We live at the intersection of the Thrifting and Social Support Ministry.
I was not brought on because of my expertise in thrifting, but I do see some trends. Thrifting seems to be increasing in popularity for multiple reasons. The average household is struggling to make ends meet more every passing day in American, and that has been happening for years. Also, I am surprised by the amount of visitors under 30 I see. They often pursue what is simple. efficient, environmentally-friendly, and rescue or even modify to fit them.
We have increases in physical items being donated every year. Older generations have many physical items stored up, and even though younger generations live lighter and simpler, clothing is so cheap to manufacture these days it can be worn once and donated within a week. Look at those TikTok Influencers who wear a Shein outfit only once!
As far as our Social Needs Ministry, I sincerely hope we are part of a trend that preserves the dignity of everyone we serve. It may be quicker to quickly hand out some instant food or clothes, but real change requires a commitment to sit down and listen to somebody, and then remind them they are a one-of-a-kind creature who has unique skills, talents and gifts that are designed change the world together with us! Books like “The Crisis of Dependency”, “When Helping Hurts”, and “The Tragedy of American Compassion” highlight a decade-old awareness of the real way to change for the better. We will see huge strides of generational progress if we are willing to learn and adjust.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CompassionPlace.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/CompassionPlace.Lms.md
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionplace/
