News You Can Use

News You Can Use - Prepared by Steve Tindall

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                       August 2012

Editors: This information is prepared for church newsletter editors, secretaries and pastors. Your help in getting the word out is appreciated and will help LCS achieve its mission of “Sharing God’s blessings by helping others in need.” Comments about timing or content are welcome. Contact Steve Tindall (stindall@lcsde.org). 302 654 8886.

Raccoons!

Staffers at the LCS FAITH Center went above and beyond for a client that was having trouble with raccoons this month. It’s not the typical kind of help we provide, but given the circumstances, it seemed like the right thing to do. Here’s what happened. An elderly lady from the Southbridge neighborhood called and said construction near her house had driven a family of raccoons into her attic and she couldn’t get them out. “I’m afraid they’ll fall through on my bed!” she said. She had called a lot of agencies in vain trying to find someone to help her. Finally, the city referred her to the LCS FAITH Center. Through many phone calls, FAITH Center staff helped her find a reliable firm to remove the raccoons and worked with the construction firm to assure that they wouldn’t be back. Our client was very pleased and slept well!

Youthful Volunteers at Work  

Over 50 young volunteers from the Del Tech Upward Bound Math & Science Program helped LCS program staff assemble 500 “healthy food boxes” as part of our nutrition initiative that provides specially selected foods to help low income people fight diet-related diseases. The boxes contain a variety of foods low in salt and carbohydrate, and high in protein and fiber. The diseases we are targeting include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity and more. The kids pitched in with more enthusiasm than you can imagine and the job was done in no time.

Partnerships Help LCS Help More

Three new partnerships have resulted in new ways to assist our low income neighbors. First, we entered an arrangement with Clarifi, a firm which will provide financial counseling for our housing clients. Next, we have a new agreement with Ingleside Senior Center and Wilmington’s Licensing and Inspections Department whereby homeless seniors and seniors in unhealthy living environments may be referred to LCS. Finally, we have an agreement with the Westminster Presbyterian Furniture Outreach Program. Under this arrangement, many LCS housing clients will be eligible to receive dishes, linens and furniture for their new apartments.