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
$25
Method of Payment: Check
Other______________ Visa
Mastercard
AmEx
Discover
Name on credit card (please print)__________________________________________ Card number: ____________/____________/____________/____________ Expiration Month:______________________Year_______________
LEADER
THE
Seventy years ago, Roger Jones had just started a new phase in The ceremony was attended by staff and his life. His son had recently been born, but then, like so many residents, several veterans from The Good Shepherd others, he was drafted. Sent to the South Pacific, Roger said at Rehabilitation and Healthcare Campus next door, the time he didn’t want to leave but now he looks back at it as a as well as the local honor guard. The flag pole was good life education opportunity. made possible by financing through the facility as After three years in the army, Roger returned home to become well as donations from current and former residents. a farmer until he retired at age 60 and then became a minister until age 85. Now 95, Roger has lived at the Good Shepherd Villa, an LSS affordable housing community for low-income seniors in Ashland, for three years. After many years of work, the Good Shepherd Villa was able to honor Roger and Bob Nesbitt, another resident and fellow World War II veteran, at a flag pole dedication ceremony. Through the persistence of staff and residents, the City Historical Preservation Committee gave approval to add the flag pole to the grounds. Assistant Director of Facilities Maintenance Ritchie Leibolt, who spearheaded the effort, stated his perseverance stemmed from the desire to support the veterans and those of that generation who live at the Good Shepherd Villa. Roger Jones helps to raise the flag as other veterans and staff look on.
2 013
Honoring Our Vets
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Newsletter
When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn
Winter Quarter
Inside President’s Message pg. 2 End of Year Giving pg. 2 Make a Difference Tomorrow pg. 3 New Pantry System to Offer More Healthy Food to More Families pg. 3 Honoring Our Vets pg. 4
Christina never thought she would have to use a food pantry, but an unfortunate series of events changed that. At 22 years old, she had an apartment, worked as a cashier at a grocery store and was attending Columbus State Community College to get her associate’s degree to become a dental assistant. Then she was diagnosed with Celiac disease, which necessitates a gluten-free diet. This diet, which includes a lot of fresh produce and specialty gluten-free foods, is much more expensive than the average diet. Christina is also lactose intolerant. After adjusting her budget to incorporate her new diet, Christina thought she was back on track. Then the problems with her landlord started. First the issues were small, like not fixing a jammed window. But when he refused to fix the refrigerator for 18 days, it caused most of Christina’s expensive gluten-free food to go bad. This began the cycle of refrigerator repairs, break downs and then waiting many days for the next repair. As her resources for purchasing food started to dwindle, Christina applied for SNAP (food stamp) benefits, but has not yet been approved. That’s when she turned to the LSS Westside Food Pantry for the very first time. “I had nowhere else to turn,” Christina said. “I’ve exhausted everything else – support from family, friends, neighbors. I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t absolutely have to.” To top off her string of bad luck, Christina had just been released from the hospital before coming to the pantry after a surgery to remove several cysts from her arm. “I really appreciate all the fresh produce and even a couple gluten-free items that the pantry has. I never would have expected a
pantry to offer this kind of food, but it makes a world of difference to a person like me.” If you’d like to help support the LSS Food Pantries, please go to www. lssfoodpantries.org/donations.
“I had nowhere else to turn,” Christina said. “I’ve exhausted everything else – support from family, friends, neighbors. I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t absolutely have to.”
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_____________________________
LD1312
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
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, As I think about the upcoming Christmas season, I’m reminded of what the spirit of Christmas is all about: unconditional love, compassion and mercy. Many times these gifts are overshadowed by the ones under the tree. As Christians, we empathize with those who are suffering. We take action in the spirit of God’s loving kindness. Many of the people who need our help are so lonely and afraid. Tired and worn down. Every day I witness lives being transformed by our work: nutritious meals, job and housing assistance, emergency groceries through our food pantries and mobile distributions and other programs that bring the help people need to get their lives back on track. But we can’t do it alone. We need loyal donors like – YOU. The support of our community makes the services we offer possible.
It has become an LSS tradition to offer special Christmas angel ornaments as a token of our thanks for your generous holiday donation. We’d love to send you a silver angel for your gift of $75 – or a gold angel ornament if you donate $150 or more. With your special gift today, you show your neighbors the true spirit of Christmas. You embrace Jesus’ message of unconditional love and understanding. During this season of peace and joy, as we celebrate the Christmas spirit, let me sincerely thank you for your selfless commitment. Please know that your gift today will extend a helping hand – and hope – to those who need it most. If you’d like to be a Christmas “angel,” please call 614.228.5200, ext. 1650 or make your donation on our secure website by going to www.lssco.org and clicking on the angel ornament graphic. Thank you! May you and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas season.
The Rev. Larry A. Crowell President and CEO
End of Year Giving The remaining weeks of the year give you a final opportunity to take advantage of lower tax rates. When you give a gift to Lutheran Social Services, you receive an income tax deduction. Even if your income is less this year than it was last year, you may still want
to offset it with a tax deductible contribution. Your gift can go a long way toward helping others this holiday season. For more information, contact Michele Cenci, vice president of development, at 614-429-5494 or mcenci@lssco.org.
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 © 2013, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 (614) 228-5200 • www.lssco.org
Mark Your Calendars!
Make a Difference Tomorrow With some organization and a dedicated group of volunteers, a little paint and some new flooring can go a long way. On October 26, 36 volunteers, a number of whom were high school students, helped spruce up the LSS Fairfield County Emergency Shelter and Fairhaven Place permanent supportive housing building as part of Make a Difference Day, which is the largest national day of community service and promoted by USA WEEKEND Magazine and Points of Light. As part of the day-long event, LSS received a $5,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation. This money went to purchasing paint, laminate wood flooring and a dishwasher, as well as new couches and chairs. “The building really needed the renovation work, and it was a good opportunity to share with volunteers, especially the students, that there is a homelessness issue in Lancaster,” said Eddie Rapp, director of Faith Housing of Fairfield County. The upgrades come at a good time as cold weather encroaches and the shelter increases
Souper Bowl Sunday February 2, 2014 Stay tuned for more information on how you and your church or business can help raise food and donations for the LSS Food Pantries!
Volunteers paint a shelter dorm room its capacity from 24 individuals to 32, with it occasionally reaching as high as 45. While we believe everyone deserves shelter for the night and access to services to help them become selfsufficient, these services come with a price. If you’d like to help ensure a warm bed and a hot meal for homeless people in Fairfield County, please go to www.lssco.org and select Fairfield County Emergency Shelter on the donate page.
For more information on this and other events, please call (614) 228-5200 or go to www.lssco.org.
New Pantry System to Offer More Healthy Food to More Families A new pantry system is being implemented at the LSS Food Pantries that will provide more fresh produce to clients. The new system, which is already being utilized at the Westside and Champion Ave. pantries and will roll out to the other storefront pantries in the coming months, will allow clients to come once a month for their regular visit and once a week to get fresh produce and other surplus foods. Previously, LSS Food Pantry clients could come to the four LSS storefront pantries twice a month. The LSS Food Pantries are switching to this new model for three reasons. It allows us to provide more food to hungry families in need. We will be able to provide more healthy food
options to clients, which helps families and the community as a whole as poor nutrition and obesity-related health issues are wide-spread, especially in low-income families. Finally, it allows us to be better stewards of our resources. The pantries can provide fresh produce for a fraction of the cost of shelf-stable items, allowing us to distribute more total food to more total families. “We hope to make a real impact in the quality of the foods our families eat,” Brad Draper, corporate director of food pantry services, said. “There are always people who are hungry, so being able to distribute more food is something we strive for.”
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
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, As I think about the upcoming Christmas season, I’m reminded of what the spirit of Christmas is all about: unconditional love, compassion and mercy. Many times these gifts are overshadowed by the ones under the tree. As Christians, we empathize with those who are suffering. We take action in the spirit of God’s loving kindness. Many of the people who need our help are so lonely and afraid. Tired and worn down. Every day I witness lives being transformed by our work: nutritious meals, job and housing assistance, emergency groceries through our food pantries and mobile distributions and other programs that bring the help people need to get their lives back on track. But we can’t do it alone. We need loyal donors like – YOU. The support of our community makes the services we offer possible.
It has become an LSS tradition to offer special Christmas angel ornaments as a token of our thanks for your generous holiday donation. We’d love to send you a silver angel for your gift of $75 – or a gold angel ornament if you donate $150 or more. With your special gift today, you show your neighbors the true spirit of Christmas. You embrace Jesus’ message of unconditional love and understanding. During this season of peace and joy, as we celebrate the Christmas spirit, let me sincerely thank you for your selfless commitment. Please know that your gift today will extend a helping hand – and hope – to those who need it most. If you’d like to be a Christmas “angel,” please call 614.228.5200, ext. 1650 or make your donation on our secure website by going to www.lssco.org and clicking on the angel ornament graphic. Thank you! May you and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas season.
The Rev. Larry A. Crowell President and CEO
End of Year Giving The remaining weeks of the year give you a final opportunity to take advantage of lower tax rates. When you give a gift to Lutheran Social Services, you receive an income tax deduction. Even if your income is less this year than it was last year, you may still want
to offset it with a tax deductible contribution. Your gift can go a long way toward helping others this holiday season. For more information, contact Michele Cenci, vice president of development, at 614-429-5494 or mcenci@lssco.org.
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 © 2013, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. 500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245 • Worthington, Ohio 43085 (614) 228-5200 • www.lssco.org
Mark Your Calendars!
Make a Difference Tomorrow With some organization and a dedicated group of volunteers, a little paint and some new flooring can go a long way. On October 26, 36 volunteers, a number of whom were high school students, helped spruce up the LSS Fairfield County Emergency Shelter and Fairhaven Place permanent supportive housing building as part of Make a Difference Day, which is the largest national day of community service and promoted by USA WEEKEND Magazine and Points of Light. As part of the day-long event, LSS received a $5,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation. This money went to purchasing paint, laminate wood flooring and a dishwasher, as well as new couches and chairs. “The building really needed the renovation work, and it was a good opportunity to share with volunteers, especially the students, that there is a homelessness issue in Lancaster,” said Eddie Rapp, director of Faith Housing of Fairfield County. The upgrades come at a good time as cold weather encroaches and the shelter increases
Souper Bowl Sunday February 2, 2014 Stay tuned for more information on how you and your church or business can help raise food and donations for the LSS Food Pantries!
Volunteers paint a shelter dorm room its capacity from 24 individuals to 32, with it occasionally reaching as high as 45. While we believe everyone deserves shelter for the night and access to services to help them become selfsufficient, these services come with a price. If you’d like to help ensure a warm bed and a hot meal for homeless people in Fairfield County, please go to www.lssco.org and select Fairfield County Emergency Shelter on the donate page.
For more information on this and other events, please call (614) 228-5200 or go to www.lssco.org.
New Pantry System to Offer More Healthy Food to More Families A new pantry system is being implemented at the LSS Food Pantries that will provide more fresh produce to clients. The new system, which is already being utilized at the Westside and Champion Ave. pantries and will roll out to the other storefront pantries in the coming months, will allow clients to come once a month for their regular visit and once a week to get fresh produce and other surplus foods. Previously, LSS Food Pantry clients could come to the four LSS storefront pantries twice a month. The LSS Food Pantries are switching to this new model for three reasons. It allows us to provide more food to hungry families in need. We will be able to provide more healthy food
options to clients, which helps families and the community as a whole as poor nutrition and obesity-related health issues are wide-spread, especially in low-income families. Finally, it allows us to be better stewards of our resources. The pantries can provide fresh produce for a fraction of the cost of shelf-stable items, allowing us to distribute more total food to more total families. “We hope to make a real impact in the quality of the foods our families eat,” Brad Draper, corporate director of food pantry services, said. “There are always people who are hungry, so being able to distribute more food is something we strive for.”
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
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
$25
Method of Payment: Check
Other______________ Visa
Mastercard
AmEx
Discover
Name on credit card (please print)__________________________________________ Card number: ____________/____________/____________/____________ Expiration Month:______________________Year_______________
LEADER
THE
Seventy years ago, Roger Jones had just started a new phase in The ceremony was attended by staff and his life. His son had recently been born, but then, like so many residents, several veterans from The Good Shepherd others, he was drafted. Sent to the South Pacific, Roger said at Rehabilitation and Healthcare Campus next door, the time he didn’t want to leave but now he looks back at it as a as well as the local honor guard. The flag pole was good life education opportunity. made possible by financing through the facility as After three years in the army, Roger returned home to become well as donations from current and former residents. a farmer until he retired at age 60 and then became a minister until age 85. Now 95, Roger has lived at the Good Shepherd Villa, an LSS affordable housing community for low-income seniors in Ashland, for three years. After many years of work, the Good Shepherd Villa was able to honor Roger and Bob Nesbitt, another resident and fellow World War II veteran, at a flag pole dedication ceremony. Through the persistence of staff and residents, the City Historical Preservation Committee gave approval to add the flag pole to the grounds. Assistant Director of Facilities Maintenance Ritchie Leibolt, who spearheaded the effort, stated his perseverance stemmed from the desire to support the veterans and those of that generation who live at the Good Shepherd Villa. Roger Jones helps to raise the flag as other veterans and staff look on.
2 013
Honoring Our Vets
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Newsletter
When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn
Winter Quarter
Inside President’s Message pg. 2 End of Year Giving pg. 2 Make a Difference Tomorrow pg. 3 New Pantry System to Offer More Healthy Food to More Families pg. 3 Honoring Our Vets pg. 4
Christina never thought she would have to use a food pantry, but an unfortunate series of events changed that. At 22 years old, she had an apartment, worked as a cashier at a grocery store and was attending Columbus State Community College to get her associate’s degree to become a dental assistant. Then she was diagnosed with Celiac disease, which necessitates a gluten-free diet. This diet, which includes a lot of fresh produce and specialty gluten-free foods, is much more expensive than the average diet. Christina is also lactose intolerant. After adjusting her budget to incorporate her new diet, Christina thought she was back on track. Then the problems with her landlord started. First the issues were small, like not fixing a jammed window. But when he refused to fix the refrigerator for 18 days, it caused most of Christina’s expensive gluten-free food to go bad. This began the cycle of refrigerator repairs, break downs and then waiting many days for the next repair. As her resources for purchasing food started to dwindle, Christina applied for SNAP (food stamp) benefits, but has not yet been approved. That’s when she turned to the LSS Westside Food Pantry for the very first time. “I had nowhere else to turn,” Christina said. “I’ve exhausted everything else – support from family, friends, neighbors. I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t absolutely have to.” To top off her string of bad luck, Christina had just been released from the hospital before coming to the pantry after a surgery to remove several cysts from her arm. “I really appreciate all the fresh produce and even a couple gluten-free items that the pantry has. I never would have expected a
pantry to offer this kind of food, but it makes a world of difference to a person like me.” If you’d like to help support the LSS Food Pantries, please go to www. lssfoodpantries.org/donations.
“I had nowhere else to turn,” Christina said. “I’ve exhausted everything else – support from family, friends, neighbors. I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t absolutely have to.”
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_____________________________
LD1312
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