Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Newsletter
Family Comes First
Fall Quarter
Inside President’s Message pg. 2 A choir made up of members from different congregations sings at last year’s event.
An LSS staff member talks with an attendee about Faith Mission at last year’s meeting.
Tracing its roots to 1912, LSS is a nonprofit social service agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and recognized by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. LSS provides human services for all people according to their needs. These services include food pantries, emergency shelters, affordable senior housing, retirement living, skilled nursing care and other services that strengthen communities.
Yes, I would like to help LSS and its programs
I want to help those in need by giving to Lutheran Social Services, so it may continue to support the mission of Here’s my gift of: $1,000 Please Use it for: The greatest need
Creating a Better World by Serving People in Need.
$500
Other ____________________ I am interested in making an estate gift Check here if you are a Thrivent member
$100
$50
LEADER
THE
This year’s annual meeting will focus on our programs designed to help those who are homeless get back on their feet. Attendees will hear a little on Faith Mission and Faith Housing of Fairfield County as well as client testimonies. The program will kick off and close with performances by local choirs, and an ice cream reception will follow. “This celebration of service is a nice way for all our supporters to get together for some fellowship and also renew their commitment to those we serve,” said The Rev. Larry A. Crowell, President and CEO. The meeting will be held at the Huntington Recital Hall at Capital University on September 23 starting at 4 p.m. We hope to see you there!
2 012
Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless
$25
Method of Payment: Check
Other______________ Visa
Mastercard
AmEx
Discover
Name on credit card (please print)__________________________________________ Card number: ____________/____________/____________/____________ Expiration Month:______________________Year_______________
Providing for the Future pg. 2 A Lesson on Healthy Eating Habits pg. 3 Fundraising Events pg. 3 Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless pg. 4
Tammy thought she had it all – a successful career in management, a nice house and a comfortable savings account. That all changed one night five years ago when her sister died in a car accident, and Tammy gained guardianship of her two nieces. While she knew her sister had issues that were affecting her nieces, she had no idea of the severity until they came to live with her. Both girls, who were 12 and 16 at the time, had been terribly abused for years. All the stress associated with their mom’s passing, moving in with Tammy and the consequences of the abuse took its toll, and the oldest girl suffered a breakdown and had to be institutionalized. The youngest, who also suffers from mental issues, remains with Tammy but only because of years of therapy. The extreme conditions suffered by Tammy’s nieces caused her to lose her job because she had to miss so much work. Soon, after spending all of her savings, she lost her house and had to move in with her mother. Now she turns to the LSS Northern Ohio Ministries food distribution in Richland County to help make ends meet. The food distributions are held in three locations around Ashland, Ohio and provided meals to more than 16,000 people last fiscal year. Each family is able to choose the food they would like to eat and are provided with three days’ worth of meals for each family member. “If I have to do this to take care of my nieces, then I’ll do it,” said Tammy. “Although the circumstances were difficult, I’m so glad I was able to be there to help those girls, and hopefully some day they will be able to have a normal life.”
Tammy selecting food for her family at an LSS Northern Ohio Ministries food distribution. Tammy wanted to gain custody of her nieces, but only has guardianship as she was told she would need for them to be put in foster care for 90 days before she can apply for custody. Without custody, she can’t get assistance for providing for them. “I won’t do it. These girls have been through enough. It would set them back a lot if they had to go to a stranger’s house for 90 days.” Now, she feels incredibly blessed to be able to get food to feed her family from LSS. “This is a godsend. Without this, I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t find a job; I’m overqualified. I’d be happy with minimum wage. If it wasn’t for this program, there’d be a lot of people with nothing. Thank you.”
Signature_____________________________________________________________
Please make your check payable to Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 Name _____________________________________________ or donate online at: www.lssco.org Address ____________________________________________ Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. City/State/Zip_______________________________________ You will receive a receipt. Phone ( )______________________ Email_____________________________
LD1209
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Lutheran Social Services of Northern Ohio · Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio
Creating a Better World by Serving People in Need
1
President’s Message So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another. Romans 12:5
Sign up to Receive The Leader by Email In an effort to be better stewards of our resources - both monetary and natural - LSS is now offering The Leader newsletter in email format. If you would like to receive the quarterly Leader by email, please go to www.lssco.org/ leaderform-optin. asp. Thank you for your support! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Dear Friends, The message of this scripture passage is clear – we are one body in Christ. There are no divisions by social or economic status. No separations by race, political party or education level. And as one body, we are needed for each other’s survival, just as all of the parts of the body are necessary for the survival of the whole. We depend on each other. We can’t look at our neighbor in need and simply ignore his or her plight. I feel so blessed to be a part of an agency that lives out this scripture each and every day.
Our programs reach out to all types of people who are in need. You, our faithful donors and volunteers, also live out this scripture through your gifts of time, talent and treasure. As the weather turns and the temperature decreases, our work here at LSS increases. More people turn to us for shelter, food and healing during this season than any other time of the year. With your help, we will be here for every person that walks through our doors. Because we are all one body. With sincerest thanks,
The Rev. Larry A. Crowell President and CEO
Providing for the Future Did you know there is a way to make a gift to LSS while creating security for you and your loved ones? It’s called a charitable gift annuity. What’s more, it’s as simple as transferring your lowperforming investments such as CDs and stocks to us in exchange for fixed lifetime payments. You might be surprised at
how much higher your income could be and your payment rate will never change. Contact Keith Phillips at 614-228-5200 or kphillips@lssco.org today to learn more about receiving secure income from a charitable gift annuity and begin feeling more secure!
For information on retirement living, please visit our website www.kensingtoncolumbus.com
2
The Leader is written, designed and produced by the Communications Department of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. Copyright © 2012, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 (614) 228-5200 • www.lssco.org
A Lesson on Healthy Eating Habits Five boxes of macaroni and cheese, white bread, canned soup and flour. These items very likely could have been found in most food pantries’ giveaway boxes in the past. Now, many pantries, including LSS’ five pantries, operate on the choice model, meaning clients are able to choose the food their families would like to eat. Besides providing more dignity, the model also organizes food into the USDA food groups, and the number of selections from each food group is based on USDA recommendations. This ensures people leave our pantries with the food to make well-balanced meals for at least three days. In addition, the LSS Food Pantries distribute tons of fresh produce each year. Last fiscal year, $2.5 million worth of produce was given out. Many of our families cannot afford fresh produce and also suffer from diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Fresh fruits and vegetables significantly decrease the effects of these and other diseases. Health screenings provided by local nursing schools at the pantries also help clients know their personal health issues, so they can react appropriately. A recent survey of clients at our Champion Ave. Food Pantry found 75% of those surveyed said they learned about eating a balanced diet
from the pantry, and 84% said they actually prepare more-balanced meals because of the pantry. “Obesity, both in adults and children, is a major problem in the US,” said Brad Draper, corporate director of food pantry services. “We’re trying to combat that, even if only a little, at our pantries and help people learn how to make a wide variety of well-balanced meals.”
Mark Your Calendars! Motorcycle Raffle
Benefitting homeless veterans program Tickets $20 Drawing September 22, 2012 Call 740-653-2012 for details
Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless & LSS Membership Meeting Sunday, September 23, 2012 Huntington Recital Hall Capital University 1 College and Main Columbus, OH 43209 4:00 pm
LSS Food Pantries Golf Outing
Learning the benefits of good eating habits.
Friday, September 28, 2012 York Golf Club Columbus, OH 43235 Call 614-228-5200 for details
Fundraising Events This fall, we’re hosting two special events to help raise funds for two great programs. On September 22, Faith Housing of Fairfield County, along with 2nd Thief Riders Motorcycle Ministry, will host a poker run at VFW Post #1380 in Lancaster. We are also raffling off a 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide or $10,000 – winner’s choice. Tickets are only $20 and all proceeds go toward helping homeless veterans at LSS programs in Lancaster. Only 2,000 raffle tickets will be sold, and the winning ticket will be drawn at the poker run. The winner does not need to be present to win. For more info, call 740-653-2012. Putting for Pantries: A Golf Outing to
Benefit the LSS Food Pantries will be held on September 28 at York Golf Club in Columbus. Proceeds from this event will go to provide food to hungry families at the LSS pantries. The golf outing will be played in a scramble format and entry includes 18-hole green fee, cart, gift, lunch, buffet dinner, beverages and practice tees. There will also be team, proximity and door prizes as well as a 50/50 raffle. The cost is $85 per golfer. Sponsorship opportunities also exist. For more info, please call 419-282-9700 or gsvillamgr@ lssco.org. To see brochures on either of these events, please go to the calendar of events page at lssco. org or call the number listed.
Support for certain LSS programs is provided by:
For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at www.lssco.org
Please use the enclosed gift card and envelope to make a donation to help LSS and its programs.
3
President’s Message So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another. Romans 12:5
Sign up to Receive The Leader by Email In an effort to be better stewards of our resources - both monetary and natural - LSS is now offering The Leader newsletter in email format. If you would like to receive the quarterly Leader by email, please go to www.lssco.org/ leaderform-optin. asp. Thank you for your support! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Dear Friends, The message of this scripture passage is clear – we are one body in Christ. There are no divisions by social or economic status. No separations by race, political party or education level. And as one body, we are needed for each other’s survival, just as all of the parts of the body are necessary for the survival of the whole. We depend on each other. We can’t look at our neighbor in need and simply ignore his or her plight. I feel so blessed to be a part of an agency that lives out this scripture each and every day.
Our programs reach out to all types of people who are in need. You, our faithful donors and volunteers, also live out this scripture through your gifts of time, talent and treasure. As the weather turns and the temperature decreases, our work here at LSS increases. More people turn to us for shelter, food and healing during this season than any other time of the year. With your help, we will be here for every person that walks through our doors. Because we are all one body. With sincerest thanks,
The Rev. Larry A. Crowell President and CEO
Providing for the Future Did you know there is a way to make a gift to LSS while creating security for you and your loved ones? It’s called a charitable gift annuity. What’s more, it’s as simple as transferring your lowperforming investments such as CDs and stocks to us in exchange for fixed lifetime payments. You might be surprised at
how much higher your income could be and your payment rate will never change. Contact Keith Phillips at 614-228-5200 or kphillips@lssco.org today to learn more about receiving secure income from a charitable gift annuity and begin feeling more secure!
For information on retirement living, please visit our website www.kensingtoncolumbus.com
2
The Leader is written, designed and produced by the Communications Department of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. Copyright © 2012, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 (614) 228-5200 • www.lssco.org
A Lesson on Healthy Eating Habits Five boxes of macaroni and cheese, white bread, canned soup and flour. These items very likely could have been found in most food pantries’ giveaway boxes in the past. Now, many pantries, including LSS’ five pantries, operate on the choice model, meaning clients are able to choose the food their families would like to eat. Besides providing more dignity, the model also organizes food into the USDA food groups, and the number of selections from each food group is based on USDA recommendations. This ensures people leave our pantries with the food to make well-balanced meals for at least three days. In addition, the LSS Food Pantries distribute tons of fresh produce each year. Last fiscal year, $2.5 million worth of produce was given out. Many of our families cannot afford fresh produce and also suffer from diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Fresh fruits and vegetables significantly decrease the effects of these and other diseases. Health screenings provided by local nursing schools at the pantries also help clients know their personal health issues, so they can react appropriately. A recent survey of clients at our Champion Ave. Food Pantry found 75% of those surveyed said they learned about eating a balanced diet
from the pantry, and 84% said they actually prepare more-balanced meals because of the pantry. “Obesity, both in adults and children, is a major problem in the US,” said Brad Draper, corporate director of food pantry services. “We’re trying to combat that, even if only a little, at our pantries and help people learn how to make a wide variety of well-balanced meals.”
Mark Your Calendars! Motorcycle Raffle
Benefitting homeless veterans program Tickets $20 Drawing September 22, 2012 Call 740-653-2012 for details
Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless & LSS Membership Meeting Sunday, September 23, 2012 Huntington Recital Hall Capital University 1 College and Main Columbus, OH 43209 4:00 pm
LSS Food Pantries Golf Outing
Learning the benefits of good eating habits.
Friday, September 28, 2012 York Golf Club Columbus, OH 43235 Call 614-228-5200 for details
Fundraising Events This fall, we’re hosting two special events to help raise funds for two great programs. On September 22, Faith Housing of Fairfield County, along with 2nd Thief Riders Motorcycle Ministry, will host a poker run at VFW Post #1380 in Lancaster. We are also raffling off a 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide or $10,000 – winner’s choice. Tickets are only $20 and all proceeds go toward helping homeless veterans at LSS programs in Lancaster. Only 2,000 raffle tickets will be sold, and the winning ticket will be drawn at the poker run. The winner does not need to be present to win. For more info, call 740-653-2012. Putting for Pantries: A Golf Outing to
Benefit the LSS Food Pantries will be held on September 28 at York Golf Club in Columbus. Proceeds from this event will go to provide food to hungry families at the LSS pantries. The golf outing will be played in a scramble format and entry includes 18-hole green fee, cart, gift, lunch, buffet dinner, beverages and practice tees. There will also be team, proximity and door prizes as well as a 50/50 raffle. The cost is $85 per golfer. Sponsorship opportunities also exist. For more info, please call 419-282-9700 or gsvillamgr@lssco.org. To see brochures on either of these events, please go to the calendar of events page at lssco. org or call the number listed.
Support for certain LSS programs is provided by:
For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at www.lssco.org
Please use the enclosed gift card and envelope to make a donation to help LSS and its programs.
3
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Newsletter
Family Comes First
Fall Quarter
Inside President’s Message pg. 2 A choir made up of members from different congregations sings at last year’s event.
An LSS staff member talks with an attendee about Faith Mission at last year’s meeting.
Tracing its roots to 1912, LSS is a nonprofit social service agency affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and recognized by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. LSS provides human services for all people according to their needs. These services include food pantries, emergency shelters, affordable senior housing, retirement living, skilled nursing care and other services that strengthen communities.
Yes, I would like to help LSS and its programs
I want to help those in need by giving to Lutheran Social Services, so it may continue to support the mission of Here’s my gift of: $1,000 Please Use it for: The greatest need
Creating a Better World by Serving People in Need.
$500
Other ____________________ I am interested in making an estate gift Check here if you are a Thrivent member
$100
$50
LEADER
THE
This year’s annual meeting will focus on our programs designed to help those who are homeless get back on their feet. Attendees will hear a little on Faith Mission and Faith Housing of Fairfield County as well as client testimonies. The program will kick off and close with performances by local choirs, and an ice cream reception will follow. “This celebration of service is a nice way for all our supporters to get together for some fellowship and also renew their commitment to those we serve,” said The Rev. Larry A. Crowell, President and CEO. The meeting will be held at the Huntington Recital Hall at Capital University on September 23 starting at 4 p.m. We hope to see you there!
2 012
Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless
$25
Method of Payment: Check
Other______________ Visa
Mastercard
AmEx
Discover
Name on credit card (please print)__________________________________________ Card number: ____________/____________/____________/____________ Expiration Month:______________________Year_______________
Providing for the Future pg. 2 A Lesson on Healthy Eating Habits pg. 3 Fundraising Events pg. 3 Celebration of Service: Caring for the Homeless pg. 4
Tammy thought she had it all – a successful career in management, a nice house and a comfortable savings account. That all changed one night five years ago when her sister died in a car accident, and Tammy gained guardianship of her two nieces. While she knew her sister had issues that were affecting her nieces, she had no idea of the severity until they came to live with her. Both girls, who were 12 and 16 at the time, had been terribly abused for years. All the stress associated with their mom’s passing, moving in with Tammy and the consequences of the abuse took its toll, and the oldest girl suffered a breakdown and had to be institutionalized. The youngest, who also suffers from mental issues, remains with Tammy but only because of years of therapy. The extreme conditions suffered by Tammy’s nieces caused her to lose her job because she had to miss so much work. Soon, after spending all of her savings, she lost her house and had to move in with her mother. Now she turns to the LSS Northern Ohio Ministries food distribution in Richland County to help make ends meet. The food distributions are held in three locations around Ashland, Ohio and provided meals to more than 16,000 people last fiscal year. Each family is able to choose the food they would like to eat and are provided with three days’ worth of meals for each family member. “If I have to do this to take care of my nieces, then I’ll do it,” said Tammy. “Although the circumstances were difficult, I’m so glad I was able to be there to help those girls, and hopefully some day they will be able to have a normal life.”
Tammy selecting food for her family at an LSS Northern Ohio Ministries food distribution. Tammy wanted to gain custody of her nieces, but only has guardianship as she was told she would need for them to be put in foster care for 90 days before she can apply for custody. Without custody, she can’t get assistance for providing for them. “I won’t do it. These girls have been through enough. It would set them back a lot if they had to go to a stranger’s house for 90 days.” Now, she feels incredibly blessed to be able to get food to feed her family from LSS. “This is a godsend. Without this, I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t find a job; I’m overqualified. I’d be happy with minimum wage. If it wasn’t for this program, there’d be a lot of people with nothing. Thank you.”
Signature_____________________________________________________________
Please make your check payable to Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 Name _____________________________________________ or donate online at: www.lssco.org Address ____________________________________________ Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. City/State/Zip_______________________________________ You will receive a receipt. Phone ( )______________________ Email_____________________________
LD1209
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Lutheran Social Services of Northern Ohio · Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio
Creating a Better World by Serving People in Need
1