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.

Volunteer Appreciation - Mardi Gras!

It is hard to believe that tomorrow it will be one year since I started working here at LCS. But it has been, and boy did it go by fast! So much has happened, I have met so many wonderful people and lots of positive things have taken place. Wow!

I am so not athletic! But I love to hand out awards!!

My first public appearance was the Annual Volunteer Appreciation event called "Mardi Gras!" only three weeks after I began which gave me a chance to say "Hi" to everyone.  I have enjoyed so much getting to know you and learning how you fit into life here at LCS. Every job no matter how big or small is critical to keep this organization moving and healthy. I also see new volunteers coming in our doors every week. Without them, we could not continue to do the work we do.

So I would like to extend an invitation to all of our volunteers, new or established, active or inactive... to please come out for our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event - Mardi Gras!

   Join us for Cajun snacks, sweets, coffee and tea.
   Entertainment by Joe Cilento Group

   Sunday February 24, 2013
2:00 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
13th and Rodney Street., Wilmington

Bring a Friend! And Please R.S.V.P.
302.654.8886, ext 100
or send an email  -info@lcsde.org
We have directions if you need them. (This is across the street from our main office.) Parking is at the Westminster Park Lot. Enter the Blue Doors on 13th Street.

I hope to see you there. I would love to catch up with as many of you as possible. This event is for YOU! It's a free event, and no we are no asking for donations or money. This is just a gathering and celebration for our volunteers to show all of you how much we appreciate everything you do for us!

Peace,
Cher Frampton

Ending Hunger Conference By The Delaware Anti-Hunger Coalition

I plan on attending, as do a few other staff from LCS. Any other volunteers from LCS interested in going? It is reasonably priced and close by. Sounds like a great day! Let us know if you plan on going by emailing me at cframpton@lcsde.org.  Register early, space is very limited!




Also check out the Food Bank of Delaware Blog on an article they wrote about us after their visit with us this month..."Giving Back and Paying it Forward."

News You Can Use - 2012 Annual Report to Congregations

2012 Annual Report to Congregations

L

ast year, the Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Emergency Food Program served more people than ever before – substantially more. In 2011, our food program served 69,369. In 2012, our food program served 86,750.  That’s an increase in food clients of 25 percent during 2012. Looking at the figures for all services combined, LCS served a total of 83,812 during 2011. During 2012, the total number served zoomed up to 102,715, and for the first time ever, LCS served over 100,000 people. That is an increase of 18,903 or 23 percent in 2012. This growth is part of a long upward trend. The table below illustrates how demand has grown at our three stationery pantries (Hope, St. Stephens and Zion) in the last 15 years. Keep in mind that these figures represent only 3 of our 13 separate food distribution sites.

Individuals Served at Hope, St. Stephens and Zion LCS Food Pantries (1998-2012)

In addition to meeting the burgeoning demand in a quantitative sense, LCS is also committed to improving the quality of service, in all three core areas – food, housing, and more. In the food area, we concentrated on nutrition, handing out thousands of printed inserts dealing with nutrition on a budget in 2012.  We have also held well-attended nutritional seminars which is something that will continue in 2013. Also in 2013, we expect to continue our review of “client choice” options so that people have a role in what foods they receive. In the housing area, we streamlined our procedures dramatically so that while we helped about the same number of people in 2012 as the year before, we interviewed substantially fewer, which saved time and effort for other tasks.  We also enhanced our housing follow up activities so that each client receives four follow-up contacts to assure that they are staying housed. Our emphasis on financial literacy continued in 2012 with a goal of helping people prepare to deal with future financial emergencies without jeopardizing their homes.

When I grow up I want to a be a Super Hero!

"The world can give you a job, and a job can be taken away. But a true calling puts you in a career zone that cannot be taken away. It reflects your willingness to do what you feel inwardly led to do in order to help heal the world. The universe then registers your true substance, your true seriousness, and your true purpose.

Some things you do will bring forth worldly wealth; other things you do will not directly bring forth wealth at all, but -- being the right thing to do -- will summon wealth miraculously from other sources."
- The Law of Divine Compensation

I feel this way about my job. It brings me wealth that no paycheck could ever possibly provide. Where else can I meet incredible people who put so much into helping others with such conviction, love, and purple capes...

This is HUNGERMAN! HungerMan represents and is friends with Clyde Sdale, owner of the Double D Diner, the worlds only virtual diner fighting hunger. Their slogan "Don't Eat It, Donate It!"

HungerMan goes from town to town giving out donations from the Double D Diner to charities such as ours. He arrives in a cape and mask like a super hero! We were honored and blessed to have HungerMan grace our doorsteps on Thursday, December 13. 

He was sincerely interested in what we do, how we do it and why. We loved that he asked questions and wanted to look around. We were more than happy to give him a tour! 

We also admired his fashion sense and are now in the process of trying to find his clothing designer, but to no avail...that also seems to be top secret!! He left us with a $300 cash donation but more than that, he left us with a feeling of being special. Special enough to be chosen by the Double D Diner by the owner Clyde Sdale. There are so many wonderful charities out there, and they choose us! For that, we thank you HungerMan and    Mr. Clyde Sdale!

Who was that masked man?!?

Photos Courtesy of: Jeff Batt
 

Something quick and fun...

I love our volunteers...really I do!

Hard working, dedicated, military precision.

Military precision?

Let me explain. Despite knowing how things work around here, some days I still wonder how our pantries get the tons of food to the thousands of people we serve in such an orderly fashion each year. They make it look easy, and I can tell you unequivocally, it is not. But I got a glimpse into the dedication, pride and military precision it takes to do the job every day when someone sent me an email with a few snap shots they took. Tells you everything you need to know...



"Yesterday I was ready to pack my ones. Don laughed and said, "No one touch that, it was lined up perfectly!" So we took some pics." - Kristie Augenblick, St. Stephens Pantry

Thank you Don and Kristie for submitting. Made me smile and as usual appreciate how hard all of you work for LCS every day!