LUCY Outreach

In 1985, thanks to the vision of then-pastor Monsignor Robert McDermott, the "St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Youth Ministry" began to provide Camden teens with year-round educational and social opportunities outside of school. In 2008, the program restructured to address the challenges faced by Camden’s youth: teen delinquency, gang and drug involvement, substance abuse in the home, and teen pregnancy. This created new innovative programs along with a new name, LUCY Outreach, an acronym for “Lifting Up Camden’s Youth”, coined by the teens themselves. In April 2016, LUCY transitioned from a parish initiative to an independent nonprofit organization, positioning LUCY for growth into the future. 

LUCY offers multi-lingual, culturally sensitive services to low-income Camden County youth and young adults ages 7 through 25, as well as to and their families. The organization welcomes all to take part in educational, social, spiritual and service‑oriented programming, including LGTBQIA youth. LUCY works to empower these young people to form healthy relationships, make good choices, and develop into compassionate and socially responsible adults who make a positive difference in their community. LUCY also addresses all of the societal systems that impact these youth -- their home life, peers, schools, and neighborhood environment -- with appropriate programs, resources, and support.

LUCY is growing rapidly, and we has plans to build on its mission. In 2021, it broke ground on the LUCY Center, a new 10,000-square-foot, multi-purpose building adjacent to LUCY’s Federal Street ihome. The building will substantially expand LUCY’s capacity to serve youth and positively their lives.