News You Can Use

For Your Church Newsletter        Prepared by Steve Tindall

From Lutheran Community Services                       October 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.

New Lutheran Volunteer

Ariana Wakeman – or Ari for short – is our new Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC) volunteer. At LCS, she will fill the position of Food and Shelter Assistant for one year. Her training is underway and soon she will be handling food and housing duties completely on her own. Ari is from the small town of Exeter, NH. She came to LCS after she graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in psychology. She is an active outdoors person. At Rhode Island, she rowed for URI’s Division 1 program. She also enjoys backpacking, climbing, and road biking. Welcome Ari!

More Than One in Five Children Go Hungry

In early September, the USDA announced that nearly 16 million children in America (or approximately one in five) face hunger. In both its housing and its food programs, LCS strives to meet the needs of kids. This is one of the reasons LCS puts so much emphasis on nutrition. Good nutrition among children has implications for a child’s future physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic productivity. Unfortunately, food insecurity is an obstacle to good nutrition, and Delaware’s food security rate is among the lowest in the nation, ranking 48^th, ahead of only Mississippi and Alabama.  LCS tries to help kids whenever it can, which is why we are able to help so many – about 50,000 last year. One of the really special things LCS does for kids is distribute handmade quilts (lovingly made and donated by Phyllis Milby) to families with small children. The supply is not unlimited so LCS is careful how many it gives away. Most of the time we give them to families that are troubled or disturbed. We find that these stressed moms and dads are often astonished and overwhelmed by the gift of a handmade item and the warm sentiment that it carries.

RSVP Award
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has awarded Hortense Priest – one of our long-time volunteers – with its annual Outstanding Senior Service Award for her work with LCS, Grand Opera, Woodlawn Library and many other agencies throughout the community. Congratulations, Hortense!