News You Can Use - April 2013

For Your Church Newsletter - Prepared by Steve Tindall

From Lutheran Community Services     April 2013

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.

Need for Housing Assistance Grows

A new report released by the Delaware Housing Coalition shows that 6 of every 10 low income renters in Delaware are often unable to find an apartment they can afford. 75% of extremely low income families end up spending more than half of their incomes on housing costs.  According to LCS Program Director Sandy Betley, the number of people asking LCS for housing assistance continues to expand. With limited capacity, there is no way LCS can accommodate more clients, so staff is regularly asked to stop making appointments for a few days. Once they catch up, the program reopens. LCS housing assistance loans and grants average about $400 per family. Last year, LCS housing assistance activities helped over 1300 people avoid homelessness.

A Client Freeing Herself From Nicotine Addiction

In addition to its core housing and food programs, LCS operates some smaller ones, such as the Smoking Cessation Voucher Program. Our role is to assure that low income folks who desire to free themselves from the yoke of tobacco addiction get the proper pharmaceutical support. A client recently emailed us: “My counselor and I speak each week and this is going great. Thank you for helping me rid myself of a habit I have had for a very long time. I started saving up for a new washer/dryer with the money from not purchasing cigarettes. What a blessing.”

LCS Gimme Shelter Golf Tournament Makes Changes

Organizers are gearing up for a great 2013 Gimme Shelter Golf Tournament on Friday, May 17 at Chesapeake Bay Golf Course in Northeast, MD. What’s new? Plenty. For one, Shone Lumber stepped up as the title sponsor. Thank you! What else? Well, the event will be held on a Friday for the first time; and the shotgun start will be at 1 pm, another first.  There will also be a dinner after golf, which is one more first. The great thing about the dinner is that it will feature the best of “Grandma’s Italian Kitchen” with spaghetti, meatballs, chicken parmesan, Caesar salad and lots more! Dinner tickets for nongolfers are available for $25. To register for the tournament or to get tickets, contact Larry Friday at (302) 438-1290 or fridayla@msn.com.