Open on Wednesday

We hope everyone got through Hurricane Sandy, Tropical Storm Sandy, Ill Tempered Storm Sandy (she certainly changed her mind and mood a lot) over the past few days with as little damage as possible. To all who did not, especially those who live on the affected coastal areas, our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

We will be opening up our doors to resume operations tomorrow on Wednesday, October 31st. We are not sure what to anticipate as far as our regular deliveries go, because we will not be able to contact places like the Food Bank of Delaware until we get arrive in the morning to find out what shape the FBD is in.
We look forward to seeing folks and hope everyone can make it in. If you are scheduled this week and cannot make it, due to "Sandy," we understand! But please give us a call, so we know not to expect you and can try to find a substitute for you this week. Try contacting your Program Manager first, since they are the ones who schedule you, but if you cannot get through to them, please contact me, the Volunteer Coordinator, Cher Frampton at (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or cframpton@lcsde.org.

Thank you so much for your patience and we look forward to seeing everyone again!

The LCS Staff

LCS Storm Closing Information (Hurricane Sandy)

Dear Friends,

We are closed today (Monday, October 29th) and we will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, October 30th as we ride out Hurricane Sandy. At this point we cannot make any predictions on what will happen on Wednesday, but we are hopeful we can return to providing services. Hurricane Sandy is going to be the one who dictates when and what will happen.

Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers and that we will return as soon as it is possible. Please check this blog for any updates, as we will post them as they become available (providing there is power to do so.)

For updates and to track the storm, visit:  wunderground.com.

Stay safe, stay dry, stay home and please follow any instructions our officials give. If they tell you to evacuate, please do so. Take this storm seriously! 

God Bless,

The Staff of LCS

News You Can Use - November 2012

News You Can Use  Prepared by Steve Tindall

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                   November 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.

LCS & Westminster Presbyterian Partner to Help Clients

Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC), which is located across the street from the Lutheran Community Services (LCS) headquarters on Rodney Street, has been an amazing supporter, especially for the LCS FAITH Center and the St. Stephen’s pantry. “New Life Furnishing” is a new WPC program that aids low income families and individuals by providing much needed furniture and household items. A few months ago, LCS started having some conversations about how some of our clients fit their concept. As a result, clients of LCS have received a wonderful boost toward independence with items from “New Life Furnishing,” including: twin and queen sized beds, bedding, dressers, lamps, cribs, chairs, dishes, toys and a lot more. We are grateful that out neighbor has set up such a fine program, and even more grateful that so many of our clients have benefitted from it. LCS and WPC are working together to offer a hand up to those who need it.

*We are currently looking for a few "good men" to help as movers to load trucks when recipients arrive to pick up furniture. If you are interested and available Mon-Fri 1-4pm. Give us a call. (302) 654-8886, ext 107. We will work on the days that meet your availability. Frequency: 1 to 2 times a month. - Cher

Governor Honors Three LCS Volunteers

The 2012 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award Winners include three hard-working LCS Volunteers. First, Don Schaeffer, a tireless LCS pantry volunteer, was nominated by LCS, and is being honored for serving in a host of community volunteer capacities for the last 30 years. Next, is Nancy Goyda, a past LCS board member and current office volunteer, who is being honored for the work she is doing through Family Promise, a relatively new organization serving homeless families. Marge Altergott, another LCS pantry volunteer, is being honored for her work with the Delaware Center for Horticulture on a program for low-income kids called “The Secret Garden.”

*Look for more on the Governor's Awards and one of the recipients on this blog later this month! - Cher

Job/Volunteer Opportunities

Photographers (2 to 4 Openings) Filled

 

Lutheran Community Services is currently seeking volunteer photographers to cover the various photographic needs of the organization.  We are looking for anyone who is the polished hobbyist to professional photographer and is willing to offer their time and talents on a regular to semi-regular basis.

We need photographers to cover:

Events such as:
-Walk/Run
-Golf Outing
-Formal dinners
-Annual Breakfast
-Large gatherings inside churches and other similar venues

-Intimate gatherings of smaller groups for lunches, working groups on site/ in pantries, outside on city streets, schools, etc.

Requirements:

Equipment:  Your own equipment not necessary but preferred. You will most likely want to use your own, what we have is limited. Photos are needed in a digital format.

Hours:  Mostly weekdays (9 am-2pm) but some evenings and weekends for special events. ]

Most events will be on the schedule but would love someone to be “on call” for the unexpected.

Will be required to provide a valid drivers license or state ID, sign a media release and confidentiality agreement.

Great staff, great volunteers, lots of fun and lot’s of great photo opportunities here at LCS, so we hope someone out there is ready to love taking pictures here at LCS! (See contact info at bottom of this page.)

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Food Drive Coordinators (Unlimited Openings)

Thanksgiving and Christmas are not the only times of the year food drives are needed. People are in need of food year round. But many do not think about this volunteering opportunity during the summer. LCS can provide you with step by step instructions on ideas of how to hold a food drive, or you can get creative and come up with ideas of your own.  Ask your church, schools, employers, boy scouts/girl scouts, community center, book club, family and friends to get involved. 

Food Drives are also an excellent way for high school students to earn their volunteer hours. They learn all about team work, time management, marketing, community and so much more. Every hour they put into planning, meeting and executing their food drive counts as volunteer hours. This has proven to be a very successful volunteer activity for both the students and LCS! 

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Interested candidates for any of the above listed positions should contact the LCS Volunteer Coordinator Cher Frampton at 302-654-8886, ext 107 or cframpton@lcsde.org. 

News You Can Use - October 2012

News You Can Use  Prepared by Steve Tindall

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                      October 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.

21^st Annual Hunger Walk Run … Preliminary Results

On Saturday September 15, LCS held its 21st Annual Hunger Walk Run 5K. 239 people registered and raised $36,000. The top fundraiser was Jan Hufnal from Grace with $4,395. The top youth fundraiser, also from Grace, was Daniel Luettgen, with $2,285. As a result, Grace raised a total of $9,435 and took home the trophy for the greatest amount raised. The trophy for the largest turnout went to St. Marks (43 people). The church with the largest percentage of its congregation participating was Faith which brought 8.9% of its confirmed members (20 people). For many, the Youth Run Against Hunger, a competitive event for those 18 and under, was the highlight of the morning. Thirty boys and girls ran the 5k course. Boys medals went to Brian Colter (20:54), Nathan Galoway (22:20), and David Lu (23:05). Girls medals went to Madelyn Galbus (who is 8 years old and finished with a time of 25:10!), Emma Griffith (27:34), and Danielle Bye (30:24). Thanks to everyone who participated!

Photos coming soon!!

New LVC Volunteer Starts at LCS

LVC Volunteer Laurie Elseroad posing
with LCS Volunteer Nick DeVoe

Laurie Elseroad began her one year stay with LCS recently as Food and Shelter Assistant. She is already hard at work on distributing food and helping housing clients avoid homelessness. Laurie hails from Baltimore where she was a consistent acolyte in her Episcopalian church. She just graduated from college, getting her BA degree from Guilford, which is near Greensboro, NC with a dual major in environmental studies and political science. Her minor in Spanish is already turning out to be big help since so many LCS clients are Latino and struggle with English.  Laurie has 4 roommates at the King House in Wilmington and is excited about what her year here will bring.

Wilmington Award Goes to LCS Nominee

Program Director Sandy Betley nominated Anne Wisnewski (age 94) for a Wilmington Community Award for her 12 years volunteering at LCS’s produce distribution, in addition to her many years of service at St. Hedwigs. She will be recognized at the award ceremony in Oct. 

Miles of Smiles

Nick Hanging with LCS

Miles of Smiles, that's what I call him -- Nick DeVoe. Why that particular nick name? Well let's just say it fits! He is always smiling and big!

Everyone fell in love with Nick on day one and he established himself as a regular in the St. Stephen's pantry quickly. 

I think it is awesome when we have young people come to us to stay busy when they are between jobs and or school. Keeps them busy, helps with job skills, looks good to future employers and they get to help others in need while they are helping themselves.

On Wednesday August 29th we asked Nick if he wouldn't mind speaking to us about his experience as a volunteer at LCS at our Free Feel Good event being held for our Helping Others Circle. If you would like to know more about our Helping Others Circle and how to get involved, you can contact our Executive Director Jean Warren or our Development Director Steve Tindall for more information.

Since Nick did such a good job, I thought the best thing to do would be just to share his words....

"They saw the potential in me that
I was not recognizing myself in a long time
and inspired me to keep trying."

My name is Nicholas Edgar DeVoe and I am proud to tell people I am a volunteer for the St. Stephen’s Food Pantry. Through my time here working for Lutheran Community Services  I’ve had the opportunity to meet some pretty cool individuals. Not only that but I’ve been able to reinforce and cement my retail skill set and that has given me the confidence to handle any retail job. I’m usually a quiet more reserved person, especially in a work place environment, but I’ve been able to express myself, my thoughts and opinions and grow as a leader here at LCS.

Nick in the pantry with LVC Volunteer Laurie Elseroad

Before I was an LCS volunteer I was sitting on my butt twiddling my thumbs. My mother can testify to that! I was trying to get a job and get back in school but I was having trouble with both.

Earlier this year I started a month long weekly program through the Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation where I was hooked up with an organization named “Training for Results.” This wonderful organization was responsible for placing out-of-work individuals like myself into new jobs. They saw the potential in me that I was not recognizing myself in a long time and inspired me to keep trying.

Nick poses with LCS Board President Janice Reissig

They led me to LCS and I found myself in the St. Stephen’s pantry which gave me something to dedicate myself to. Three days a week for the past  month and half I’ve been seeing the impact of my contributions. 

Already, I can see I am doing a lot better! I have a goal to get back into school this spring and I have started to get call backs from the places I have been applying, which is always refreshing. I know now this is a path to success and would benefit anybody who lends a bit of their time.

So to Tonya, Linda, Cher and Aaron, and everybody here that has welcomed me I say “Thank You.” Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for doing God’s Work! LCS for LIFE!!