News You Can Use - June 2012

News You Can Use - Prepared by Steve Tindall

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services      June 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.

Gimme Shelter

The Gimme Shelter Golf Tournament provided friendly competition for 19 foursomes on May 14, and resulted in a cash contribution to LCS of almost $11,000! Tournament director Larry Friday was pumped up about all the positive comments about the tournament – the course, the company, the club, the rivalries, and the message that LCS is there to extend the hand of help to low income people in the middle of housing emergencies. Winners of the tournament were members of the foursome headed up by Elmo Byer, from Zion Lutheran. Their score?  61!

Utility Bill Rescue

We recently helped a man who lost his job, his unemployment insurance and – almost – his self respect. When he came to us, his back utility bills were the most glaring problem for him and he was facing the possibility of immediate shut-off, and eviction following that. We helped him with his bills, then referred him to Friendship House, where he got bus tickets to apply for a new job, which he got! We also referred him to nearby churches. When he called a month later he thanked us for helping him at a time that he was so low in spirit that he did not know if he would survive. We thank God that he did.

Annual Breakfast Report

This year’s Room at the Table free fundraising breakfast on May 9 at the Dupont Country Club

turned out to be one of the best ever. 275 people joined us for breakfast, a video, impassioned speakers and testimonials. When all was said and done, LCS received contributions, pledges, and commitments for over $200,000 during the next five years. The breakfast is a wonderful fundraiser for LCS because it provides unrestricted operating expenses. Grants generally have lots of strings attached, but our breakfast provides support for salaries and whatever we need most. It’s one of the reasons we are here, year in and year out, “Sharing God’s Blessings by Helping Others in Need.”