New you can use - July 2016

Community Garden Harvest LCS staff have completed the first harvest of the season. Our community garden yielded over 45 pounds of onions, 8.25 pounds of collard greens, 6.6 pounds of green beans, and 5.5 pounds of herbs, which were subsequently distributed at the pantry at Hanover Presbyterian Church and our own Choice Pantry. More vegetables continue to grow and we look forward to future harvests, including tomatoes and chard.  If you're interested in volunteering in our Community Garden, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Cher Frampton. We'll also happily accept donations of excess produce from home gardens! Smoking Cessation Program Participant Excited for Future Assistant Program Director, Kathy Swanson spoke with John, a longtime Lutheran who had been smoking three packs a day. He was excited about how much money quitting was going to save him. When Kathy asked him what he was going to do with the extra, he immediately answered, "Pay my bills!" After a short pause, and with a smile she could hear over the phone, he added, "I'm going to buy more stuff for my kids." Quilters Needed LCS is looking for one or more quilters to help us with a special project for this year's 25th Annual Walk Run. If you, or someone you know, is interested in helping put together a special anniversary prize, please contact Assistant Marketing Director Heather Teig. Quilt squares and notions will be provided.

25 Annual 5k Walk Run Registration is Now Open!

Join US for the 25th Annual...

On-line Registration is Now Open
Click on Image Above.

Brick Fundraiser

Make a Lasting Donation AND Help LCS Finish Its New Building By Purchasing an Engraved Brick Adjacent to the Front Entrance...

Click Here to order your brick today!

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lcsi/event/769978/?blm_aid=27824

Gardening Help Wanted...

Green Thumbs Needed

We are looking for a few green thumbs to help out with the yard work at our main office and in the community garden. Small to large groups are welcome, there is always plenty to do.

We have a garden that needs cutting back, weeds to be pulled, landscaping to be done.  If you are looking for a great gig for the kids (big kids too!) over the summer, we have the perfect outdoor activity for you!

Interested in helping out around the "yard" at LCS?  Please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Cher Frampton - 302-654-8886, x 107 or cframpton@lcsde.org.

News You Can Use June 2016

Fun with Samples in Choice  Pantry  LCS received a large donation of lentil  casseroles -  ready to cook and packed with protein - but clients  kept passing them by on the shelves. To show  clients how delicious they are, LCS staff cooked up  a batch and pantry volunteer Sam donned a chef's  hat to pass out samples as people shopped.  Sometimes All You Need is a Helping Hand When Luz arrived at the LCS offices looking for a church she was staying with her son after moving from Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, her living situation was not what she had hoped and she needed help collecting paperwork and finding a place to live. Assistant Program Director Jean Washington drove her to the Social Security office and the Wilmington Housing Authority before bringing her back to the office to get some groceries. When Luz came the following week for more food, it was with good news; she had picked up her Social Security card, learned how to navigate the bus system and, best of all, had found an affordable apartment! "Sharing Way" Path Coming  LCS is pleased to announce the "Sharing Way"  personalized brick project. Created to help offset  the cost of additional waterproofing needed at  our headquarters, the bricks will also help  beautify the front of the building once the  waterproofing is complete. Bricks can be  purchased for $150 with 3 lines of up to 20  characters (spaces and punctuation included)  each of custom text. Click here for the online ordering form. Walk Run Organizers Needed We're looking for people interested in helping to organize this year's 25th Annual Hunger Walk Run. If you'd like to represent your church, company, or organization at our planning meetings (two 1-hour meetings to be held between now and the Walk) please contact Steve Tindall at x. 105 or by email.

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Our Contact Information Lutheran Community Services 2809 Baynard Blvd. Wilmington, DE 19802 302.654.8886 www.lcsde.org

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News You Can Use - May 2016

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                         

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.

Big Plans for LCS Garden

LCS has an urban garden at its headquarters location at 2809 Boulevard in Wilmington. With spring in the air, volunteers have turned to the garden with big plans. Last year, the garden raised over 200 lbs. of produce. This year, we can expect at least twice that much since the garden size is being

doubled, with most of the energy coming from volunteers. The produce yield will be divided between LCS for its choice pantry, and Hanover Presbyterian, which helped to secure last year’s start-up grant from the Speer Trust of the New Castle Presbytery. Lead volunteer in this effort is Spencer Hoernes, a student at the University of Delaware’s Ag School. In addition to doubling the garden’s size, Spencer is working hard to make it handicapped accessible. We’ve have also been approached by an Eagle Scout who is exploring the possibility of building steps to the garden which is about 8 feet higher than the parking lot it overlooks.

Plant a Row for the Pantry

Supply problems have made it difficult for LCS and its food distribution partners to obtain fresh produce for their regular distributions. One way regular folks can play a helpful, meaningful role in this is to plant an extra row or two in their gardens. It doesn’t matter too much what they plant and bring to the pantry, as long as it is fresh and ready to be distributed to hungry low income people when it arrives. Gardeners can bring produce to LCS headquarters, or if they are closer to another of our pantry or distribution sites, they can bring it there.

Women Helping Women

About 98% of the clients for our senior home repair program are women, and the majority of them are widows. So it was great to get a $1000 donation for the program from a woman who has a special place in her heart for those in need of a home repair – a broken window, a  new lock, grab bars, or whatever we can do to make them feel safe and secure in their homes..

New Format for LCS News Coming In June 2016! Watch for It!

Help Needed - Food Drive Coordinators

LCS is in need of individuals who are willing to run food drives to help with the growing demand for food at our new Choice Pantry located at 2809 Baynard Blvd in Wilmington.

Food comes to us for the Choice Pantry at this time from two sources,The Food Bank of Delaware and private donations/food drives. Our shelves are growing thin as awareness of our pantry is growing in the community.

We need folks who are willing to do food drives on a regular basis, or every once in awhile or even just once. Any size big or small is welcome, every bit helps.  Or perhaps you have a gift in recruiting others to also hold food drives! The nice thing about food drives is you can make it as simple or as creative as you like.

We have developed an LCS Food Drive Kit which has information for students who are trying to earn their high school credit in volunteer hours. It also explains some of the do's and don'ts even touches on how to use social media when having a food drive.

If you would be interested in holding a food drive, click on the image below to open up a PDF file of our food drive kit that you can down load or print off. Contact me, Cher Frampton at 302-654-8886 x 107 or cframpton@lcsde.org with questions and a list of currently needed food items.

 Click Image Below for Food Drive Kit

Volunteer Openings Available Now...

Immediate Openings at St. Stephen's Pantry - Trolley Square and Choice Pantry on Baynard Blvd.

Lutheran Community Services (LCS) is currently seeking volunteers to work in our St. Stephen’s Food Pantry on N. Broom Street, near Trolley Square and at our Choice Pantry at our main headquarters on Baynard Blvd. in Wilmington.

St. Stephen's Pantry is looking for individuals for all shifts but the greater need is for Fridays 9am - 12pm and the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 4:30-7:00 pm.
St.Stephen Pantry hours are 9am to 12pm
 and the pantry is open Monday – Friday

and 4 - 7 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. 

Duties include stocking, bagging, filling referral requests from clients, and helping with shipments. Schedules are flexible and you can work as many days as you like. St. Stephen’s Pantry serves approximately 25,000 individuals a year, our largest and busiest pantry. 

Our Choice Pantry located at our main headquarters at 2809 Baynard Blvd and is open on Monday,Wednesday and Friday, shifts are from 12:30 - 3:00 pm. Duties include; greeting and assisting clients with filling out forms, stocking shelves and assisting clients with shopping selections. Choice is the newest to our family of food distribution sites and growing every week.

We are also continuing our efforts with food drives, as we are in need of food for all of our stationary pantry locations. If working at one of our pantries does not fit into your schedule, please consider organizing a food drive though your church, club, or employer. If you would like to help out and know that you are making a difference please contact the LCS Volunteer Coordinator, Cher Frampton at 302-654-8886 x 107 or cframpton@lcsde.org to set up an interview.

News You Can Use - April 2016

From Lutheran Community Services                          

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.

Gimme Shelter Golf Tourney May 20!

This year’s Gimme Shelter Golf Tournament is set for May 20, and 100 golfers are being sought. The 2016 event takes place at Ed Oliver’s Golf Course in Wilmington on May 20, and will feature a shotgun start. If you are interested, contact tournament director Larry Friday at

302 438 1290 or fridayla@msn.com. Many registrants are from area Lutheran and non-Lutheran churches, but you don’t need a church to register. All Are Welcome! Go to www.lcsde.org to download a form. The golf tournament benefits LCS’s homelessness prevention programs.

Walk Run Plans Begin for September 17

The annual LCS Walk Run Against Hunger will take place in Rockford Park on Saturday September 17. Lutheran and non-Lutheran teams alike will participate and vie for fundraising honors, prizes, and free T-shirts. If you are interested in getting involved or helping to organize this year’s event, contact Steve Tindall – stindall@lcsde.org or 302 654 8886 x105. Again, all are welcome. The Walk Run Against Hunger benefits LCS’s emergency food programs.

And Don’t Forget This Year’s Breakfast – May 4

Each year over 300 people gather at the Dupont Country Club for LCS’s annual Room at the Table Free Fundraising Breakfast. Each Lutheran Church should have a Table Captain. If you are interested in attending, contact your Table Captain, or Steve Tindall at stindall@lcsde.org, or 302 654 8886 x105. The breakfast raises money for LCS’s general/operating funds.

Home Repair Program Lauded

In a recent letter to Program Director Aaron Ballett, one of our home repair clients said it was “difficult to adequately express my gratitude and appreciation” for LCS’s assistance with her plumbing repairs. What’s more, she gave a thank you and a nod to the repair specialist “for his pleasant professionalism and awesome plumbing skills.” What an endorsement! This program is designed for senior homeowners most of whom are low income and definitely in need.

Help Wanted - Staff Opening at LCS

This is not a volunteer position, this is a paid staff position...

Lutheran Community Services is seeking a full-time Smoking Cessation Voucher Coordinator.

Help people with their quit attempt by phoning eligible clients and faxing vouchers for medications to pharmacies. Excellent telephone and customer service skills and knowledge of MS Office and Access essential. Non-smoker. Bi-lingual English and Spanish preferred.

Send resume and cover letter by 3/11/16 to LCS, 2809 Baynard Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19802 or email info@lcsde.org.

Immediate Openings at St. Stephen's Pantry - Trolley Square

Lutheran Community Services (LCS) is currently seeking volunteers to work in our St. Stephen’s Food Pantry on N. Broom Street, near Trolley Square in Wilmington. 

Hours are 9am to 12pm and the pantry is open Monday – Friday

and 4 - 7 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. 

Duties include stocking, bagging, filling referral requests from clients, and helping with shipments. Schedules are flexible and you can work as many days as you like. St. Stephen’s Pantry serves approximately 25,000 individuals a year, our largest and busiest pantry. 

We are also continuing our efforts with food drives, as we are in need of food for all of our stationary pantry locations. If working at one of our pantries does not fit into your schedule, please consider organizing a food drive though your church, club, or employer. If you would like to help out and know that you are making a difference please contact the LCS Volunteer Coordinator, Cher Frampton at 302-654-8886 x 107 or cframpton@yahoo.com to set up an interview.

Volunteer Open House!

Join the Fun at the LCS Open House

This is our annual celebration for our many fine volunteers.
Come celebrate the opening of our new 

"Choice Pantry!"

Sunday, February 28, 2016

From 1:00 until 4:00 in the Afternoon

Lutheran Community Services
2809 Baynard Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19802 

Bring a Friend and PLEASE RSVP!

302-654-8886, x 102
Or send us an email - info@lcsde.org

We have directions if you need them.

Volunteer Staff Needed for New Choice Pantry & Food Drive Help Fight Hunger ...

Join us as a volunteer at the new “Choice Pantry” at the Lutheran Community Services headquarters at 2809 Baynard Blvd. Wilmington DE, 19802.

The Choice Pantry is designed so LCS clients can “shop” for food. Clients select a specified number of items from each nutrition food group. The Pantry ensures that the clients receive food that will enable well-balanced, nutritious meals.

When?

Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

Why?

Studies show that personal food choice has a positive impact on a person’s self-esteem and can be a part of this meaningful experience.

And...

We are also continuing our Food Drive that we held through December to help get us some start up food for the choice pantry through January. We got a lot of great donations sent our way December - January and we are hoping for more blessings to continue coming in. 

Volunteer Today!

Volunteer today at the Choice Pantry! Experienced or not, we would love to talk with you about fitting into our pantry team, or start a food drive to help keep food coming in to the pantry. Either way, any and all help is so greatly needed and even more so appreciated!

For more information, or to schedule an interview please call Cher Frampton 302-302-654-8886 x 107 office or cframpton@lcsde.org

We look forward to hearing from YOU!

Volunteer Staff Needed for New Choice Pantry & Food Drive

Help Fight Hunger ...

Join us as a volunteer at the new “Choice Pantry” at the Lutheran Community Services headquarters at 2809 Baynard Blvd. Wilmington DE, 19802.

The Choice Pantry is designed so low-income clients can “shop” for food, . Clients select a specified number of items from each nutrition food group. The Pantry ensures that the clients receive food that will enable well-balanced, nutritious meals.

When?

Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The pantry is scheduled to open on February 1st and there is a volunteer training scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th at 1 p.m.

1

Why?

Studies show that personal food choice has a positive impact on a person’s self-esteem and can be a part of this meaningful experience.

And...

We are also extending our Holiday Food Drive that we held through December to help get us some start up food for the choice pantry through January. We got a lot of great donations sent our in December and we are hoping for more blessings to continue coming in. 

Volunteer Today!

Volunteer today at the Choice Pantry! Experienced or not, we would love to talk with you about fitting into our pantry team, or start a food drive to help kick start things off. Either way, any and all help is so greatly needed and even more so appreciated!

For more information, please call Cher Frampton 302-302-654-8886 x 107 office or cframpton@lcsde.org

We look forward to hearing from YOU!

News You Can Use November 2015

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                

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

Additional Resources for Long-Term Help

Our core services here at LCS are food and homelessness prevention assistance for low income people.  But many times interested folks want to know what steps we are taking to help people in need so that they won't need to come and see us again.  For homelessness prevention clients (those we help with back rent, mortgage, security deposits, or utilities), we do this by providing referrals to Clarifi for one-on-one financial literacy help before they come to our offices for their first appointment.  Clarifi is a nonprofit focused on financial literacy education.  Food clients can also attend classroom style financial literacy presentations when they visit LCS's food distributions.  This service is offered through $tand by Me, which is a state initiative.  So far this year, we have made two such presentations, to about 15 people each, and a third is planned.  Presentations begin with a discussion of attitudes about money before moving to traditional topics like credit repair and saving.

 

Another thing we provide for the long-term betterment of our clients is nutrition assistance.  With it, we reason, clients can fuel their bodies so they can do well in school, at home, or on the job.  We provide nutrition education literature at all food sites and classes at selected food sites.  This year we have held three nutrition classes (at Shiloh Baptist and St. Stephen's and Hope Lutheran) with the UD Cooperative Extension program.  Each program attracted 30 participants who are interested in nutrition for their families.  Topics include helpful information like shopping on a budget or making cost-effective nutritional dishes.

 

 LCS Garden Keeps Going

LCS planted a community pantry garden at its new site at 2809 Baynard Boulevard in Wilmington as a result of a grant from the Speer Trust.  So for this year , we have harvested over 200 pounds of fresh vegetables from the garden that we directed to Hanover Presbyterian's food pantry, which is a close and good partner.  We have extended our growing season as much as we could, and replanted (lettuce, carrots, and broccoli) in early October with a final harvest set for early November.  Tools and supplies for the garden were provided at cost by Fairfax Hardware- who we heartily thank.  Just as we want to thank Coverdale Farms for all the seedlings! 

 

Volunteer Opportunities at St. Stephen's Pantry

HELP IS NEEDED NOW!

Lutheran Community Services (LCS) is currently seeking volunteers to work in our St. Stephen’s Food Pantry on N. Broom Street, near Trolley Square in Wilmington. Hours are 9am to 12pm and the pantry is open Monday – Friday and 4 - 7 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Duties include stocking, bagging, filling referral requests from clients, and helping with shipments. Schedules are flexible and you can work as many days as you like. St. Stephen’s Pantry serves approximately 25,000 individuals a year, our largest and busiest pantry. 

If you would like to help and know you are making a difference please contact the LCS Volunteer Coordinator, Cher Frampton at
302-654-8886 x 107 or cframpton@yahoo.com to set up an interview.

News You Can Use - October 2015

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services                   

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.

Hunger Walk Run Results

While funds will continue to trickle in, as of Tuesday, September 22, 2015, the amount raised at the annual LCS Hunger Walk Run was $38,538.27.  You can expect that number to continue to rise and reach approximately $40,000, which is $10,000 less than last year’s $50,000-plus effort. In any event, it was a wonderful day for a great event, which a lot of people thoroughly enjoyed – while they helped raise money for the LCS pantry system.

The church that brought the most people and got the award for the greatest turnout was St. Mark’s. Their group totaled 38 people. The second greatest turnout was a tie between Faith and Grace, which each brought 21 people. Third place in the greatest turnout category was also a tie, between Concordia and Good Shepherd, which each brought 18 people. The church that raised the most money was perennial winner Grace, with $13,727.27. The church which raised second most money was St. Mark’s with $6,697. Third place in terms of money raised went to St. Paul’s with $3,047.  The church that had the greatest participation was Concordia, which brought a number equal to 10.98% of their congregation. Second greatest participation went to Faith, with 8.43% of its congregation, while third went to St. Mark’s, with 7.42%.

The individual winner for the greatest amount raised was perennial winner (just like Grace, where she attends) Jan Hufnal. She raised $5,895 – breaking her own record set last year when she raised $5,130.  The adult raising the second most ($3,072) was James Nichol, from St. Mark’s. Third place went to Cheri Simons, from St. Paul’s, who raised $2,195.

Youth fundraisers were led by Dan Luettgen from Grace, who – following in Jan’s footsteps – raised $3,896! Hope Munson from Grace was second with $1,030. Third place in the youth fundraisers category went to Rachel Ierien,of Good Shepherd who raised $405.

The Youth Run 5K Race Against Hunger provided lots of excitement, as always. The girl’s winner was Jillian Boettler, who came in with a time of 31:44. Second place in the girl’s category went to Megan Derrickson (34:00). Third place went to Riley Keller (34:37). The boy’s winner was Josh Fickes with a time of 21:15. Second place for the boys went to Dan Luettgen (23:17), and third went to George Smallwood with a time of 45:32.
We want to extend our greatest appreciation to DJ GREEN, for answering our last minute post on
Facebook.  On September 16 we founded ourselves in the dire need on finding a DJ for the event. He was gracious enough to come and provide the even with great music and entertainment.

Sooner or Later, Most of Us Will Be Poor...

Check out this article "Sooner or Later, Most of Us Will Be Poor and On Welfare" by Stephen Pimpare from the University of New Hampshire. Sooner or later might mean now...

Click Here for Article