News You Can Use - December 2014

For Your Church Newsletter

From Lutheran Community Services  - Prepared by Steve Tindall                 

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 Works to Help Vets

LCS recently received a grant from Home Depot that is to be used to help veterans with home repairs. Our first job is to build steps for a disabled veteran. The work will be done by two of our home repair specialists working under our Home Oriented Repairs for the Elderly (HOME) program. The Home Depot grant is for materials only, so we partnered with several other agencies that donated labor costs:  Paralyzed Veterans of America, Thrivent Financial, and Vitas Home Health Care. Plus the Town of Elsmere waived the building permit and license fees. What a partnership! Contact Sandy Betley at 654 8886 x108 for more information about the program.

New Report Says Only the Rich Are Thriving

 

A comprehensive report by the Federal Reserve finds that most American’s incomes have fallen since 2007, and the recovery hasn’t brought them back up. The only Americans who have recovered are wealthy ones. In 1989, the richest 3 percent of the population controlled 45% of the nation’s wealth. By the end of 2013, that number had grown to over 54%. By contrast, the majority of American families cannot even handle an unexpected expense of $400, and would have to sell something, borrow or not pay, according to the report. What’s more, the median net worth of the bottom 20% of US households was only $6,400. Statistics like these demonstrate why many Delawareans need LCS’s help.

LCS to Needs Your Votes for Walmart Holiday Campaign

LCS has been named as a finalist in Walmart’s “Food Pantry Holiday Makeover” Campaign! A total of 150 food pantries from across the country will compete for a share of $1.5 million. The purpose of the campaign is to provide founding for infrastructure or equipment improvements to make it easier for agencies like LCS to help hungry families. The 75 pantries with the most votes at the end of the voting period (Dec. 2 through Dec. 12) will receive a $20,000 grant. The voting site is . This is a great opportunity for LCS, but we need your votes! You can vote every 24 hours using your Facebook account, and you can steer people to vote anytime! Links to vote will also be available on our website (www.lcsde.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lcsde).

www.walmart.com/holidaymakeover

Volunteer to Your Health!

Older Adults Who Volunteer are Happier and Healthier, Study

 

A new study reveals that older adults who remain active by volunteering are much happier and healthier. 

Researchers at the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences looked at the data available on the psychological health benefits older adults receive from formal volunteering. They evaluated 73 studies that were published over 45 years and involved adults aged 50 years and above. All these adults were in formal volunteering roles.

They found that adults involved in volunteering received more... Read More.

2013 Governor's Outstanding Volunteeer Awards LCS Nominee - Richard Porto

This year LCS nominated Richard Porto of Wilmington as our Outstanding Volunteer for the 2013 Governor's Awards.  We had one of our own, Don Schaeffer win one of the coveted spots last year, and so chances of having a repeat two years in a row were tight.  I was contacted by the folks at the Governor's Awards and told it was a very tough decision making process, and that they had lots of entries and unfortunately Richard did not make it. Regardless they loved his story, and assured me that is just as hard for them to pick winners as it is for us to choose a nominee. But we wanted to put Richards story out there because we love Richard, like we love all of our volunteers.

Richard striking a pose at the 22nd Annual Walk/Run on Sept. 21st.

When choosing a volunteer as a nominee for the Governor's Awards, you are not trying to pick a "favorite" volunteer or the "best" volunteer, because we have so many of those. We are trying to pick someone to represent all of us. As I said last year to Don, you are there to "Take one for the team!" We are trying to select a representative for LCS and again, even that is no easy task. It's hard to pick someone, as you never like to be accused of playing favorites. But if we want to get some attention on the state level, someone... we must choose.


Richard Porto came to us after he received aid in the form of a down payment on an apartment after a foreclosure on his house and food for him and his wife. This aide helped them to get back on their feet and he said he wanted to give back to the agency that helped  him out so much.  I asked him to describe how he feels when he volunteers here at LCS and he said "I love the people, the job, the camaraderie - and that it's hard to put into words - It's that warm fuzzy glow you get when working here." 

Richard packing bags at the St. Stephen's pantry.

Richard has been a volunteer that likes variety! Out of the various food distribution locations we have which include stationary pantries, mobile pantries, clothing distribution, and produce distribution; there is always this familiar face at many of the locations. Richard has been working at our St. Stephen's Pantry, Zion Lutheran Church Pantry, Hope Lutheran Church Mobile Pantry, Shiloh Baptist Church Mobile Pantry, Clothing  Distribution and so much more!

Richard helps to unload trucks, pack bags, stock shelves...basically anything and everything we need. He fills in for me when I need folks at various sites while others are on vacation. Basically, Richard is someone we can call on at anytime and know we will get his help. Volunteers like this are a rare breed and we are ever so grateful to have someone like Richard with us.

Richard doing what he does best, working and smiling!

Richard began working with us in 2005 and since then he has put in over 4,000 hours of volunteer work, averaging about 400 hours a year. Richard is very committed to the work he does here and more important he BELIEVES in it and that what he is doing is truly making a difference in the world.

One of Richards hallmarks is that he always ends every conversation in person or on the phone by reminding you to have a "Very Blessed Day."

We want Richard to know how Blessed we are to have him here with us at LCS, that he is our winner, and that we hope he continues to be with us for years to come.

Thank you Richard for all that you do, and.... Have a Very Blessed Day!

What Makes A Successful Team?

TEAM

Trust. Can you be counted on to be there for your team? Being dependable is one of the greatest qualities in life. Being where you are supposed to be – doing your job the ways you are suppose to do. If you want to be a valuable member of a team you must be willing to say, “You can count on me!”

Effort. Giving your all to help the team succeed. Using your energy in a consistent way to make the team better. Dedicating time and talent in a way that gives the team an edge over opponents who are unwilling to work. Not just playing your position – making “plays” from your position. If you want to be a valuable member of a team you must be willing to say, “I will give my best effort!”

Attitude. Being able to focus on the things you can control while blocking out the things you cannot. Not being distracted from your goals. Constantly seeing the possibilities instead of the problems - An ultimate desire to succeed. Most contests are lost because of attitude rather than talent. If you want to be a valuable member of a team you must be willing to say, “We will find a way!”

Morals. The glue of any team is its dedication to each other. Will you be loyal to your teammates? Will you put aside personal glory? Are you willing to sacrifice “me” for “we” in order to make the team successful? If you want to be a valuable member of a team you must be willing to say, “WE will be the best we can be!”

“If you can find a group of people willing to live and work by these standards then you have more than a successful organization. You have a Team.”

 - Tom Krause 

TOM KRAUSE - MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER - "Absolutely the Best!" coachkrause.com

Thank You Laurie Elseroad

A year seems like a long time, until it is time for us to say goodbye to yet another Lutheran Volunteer Corps Superstar like Laurie Elseroad! It feels like she just got here yesterday and yet, here it is time for her to go. And while we are all sad to see her leave, we are all also very proud of the work she has accomplished while here and the great job she has done.  For those of you who are not familiar with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, please visit their website, www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org/

an incredible organization doing amazing work with our young people. And yes, we have a new LVC'r coming our way in August!!!

Naturally I was not going to let Laurie go without asking her some questions, an exit interview and of course a little photo shoot. I have to keep my photographer busy of course! 

So here we go, Laurie's exit interview.
And Thank You Laurie, you have been Wonderful and we are all going to miss you bunches!

God Bless and much luck on all of your future endeavors! 

-The Staff of LCS

- How are you feeling about winding up your time with us here at LCS?

"I am very sad to say goodbye to my LCS family, but I am excited for the opportunities to come that working at LCS has prepared me for"

-Was this the assignment you were looking for?"Working at LCS was exactly what I was looking for, and more!  I wanted to work directly with people, but I walked away with more skills and experiences than I imagined."

 -What were your first impressions when you got here?"At first I was nervous that I would never get the hang of everything, as it was my first full-time job.  While I had a lot of responsibility, I was excited about it, and the staff here are so open to questions and ideas that I felt a part of the team right away.  Their willingness and desire to help, made the transition so much easier."

- What has the work here at LCS meant to you?

"I feel very lucky to have been matched with LCS because I gained experience in several different aspects of non-profit work.  I had the opportunity to work directly with clients, to organize volunteers, to manage small programs, and to complete office duties.  The range of work has provided me with invaluable skills necessary for my future working for social justice with a non-profit."

- What have you learned while working here at LCS? 

"The most important lesson I will take away from my time here at LCS is who are clientele are.  Putting a face to people in need, I found that there is no particular face."

- If you could pick out one moment you say you will never forget while here, what would it be?

"The gratitude evident in folks’ faces and in their actions that I witnessed first-hand when handing out Thanksgiving dinners to families."

 

 - What will you miss the most here at LCS?

"Aaron, I did spend 40 hrs a week with him."

-What are your plans once you return home?

"I will be moving back home to Baltimore to work as a Veterinary Assistant at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter in downtown Baltimore, MD.  I will also be working part-time as a field organizer for the Real Food Challenge throughout the mid-Atlantic region."

Summer 2013 Volunteer Job Openings

Here are a few volunteer opportunities that we currently have open. Please contact Cher Frampton at (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or cframpton @ lcsde.org if you are interested in any of these openings.

Attention Students!
Openings for the 2013 Summer Season is upon us and space in our St. Stephen's pantry is very limited. If you are interested in volunteering give Volunteer Coordinator Cher Frampton a call today! (302) 654-8886, 107 or email at cframpton@lcsde.org. Students 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult to your intake interview. 

Financial Counselor
Our Faith Center located on Walnut Street in Wilmington is in search of a part-time financial counselor. Position is to work with clients who are receiving housing or utility assistance to get some financial training and possibly work in partnership with other organizations who also provide such training. This position could be anywhere from one to three days a week. This is a new position and is still in the development stage. We will try to work with you and your schedule to meet client needs. Interested parties may contact Cher Frampton (302) 654-8886 x 107.

Movers Needed! (1 to 3 Openings)

We are looking for a few good strong men!

LCS is in need of movers to accompany scheduled appointments to the Westminster furniture garage to help load furniture for recipients onto their vehicles.

Frequency: 1 to 2 days a month.

We can work around the days that are best for you, but we need to schedule this during the week between 1 and 4pm.  Individuals must be in good health, and able to lift such items as beds, dressers, and tables. This program has been hugely successful in helping families acquire much needed furniture they otherwise are not able to obtain.

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!

Walk Committee

We are looking for some fresh faces to join us on our Walk Committee. I promise you, you do not have to be in the greatest of shape to be on this committee, I surely am not! You simply have to have the desire to make a difference in your community to fight hunger in Delaware. No running required, unless you want to of course! The Hunger Walk Run 5K is being held on September 21, 2013 at Rockford Park in Wilmington. This is an all inclusive family event, where there is something for everyone. The first Walk Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 25th, 4pm at our Rodney Street Office in Wilmington.

Committee members are responsible for ensuring the walk goes according to plan. Helps to determine the direction of the event, help establish new contacts in the community, and hopefully bring new ideas to the table. New members are welcome to jump at any time, so don't be shy! Give me a call today if you are interested!

Volunteer Job Openings - April 2013

Here are a few volunteer opportunities that we currently have open. Please contact Cher Frampton at (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or cframpton @ lcsde.org if you are interested in any of these openings.

Front Desk Receptionist - Opening Filled

We are currently looking for an individual to help work our front desk on Monday and Friday mornings/early afternoon at our Rodney Street location in Wilmington. We are looking for someone who has strong phone skills, is good with the public and greeting clients, volunteers, donors, or anyone coming through our doors.  

Some duties include:
-Keeping workspace tidy and notices up to date. 

-Explain/talk about LCS to visitors and invite them to monthly food for thought tours.

-Collect voice mails and answer phones

-Cover staff for lunch breaks

-Assist program staff as needed (Making copies, organizing files, shredding etc.) 

Movers Needed! (1 to 3 Openings)

We are looking for a few good strong men!

LCS is in need of movers to accompany scheduled appointments to the Westminster furniture garage to help load furniture for recipients onto their vehicles.

Frequency: 1 to 2 days a month.

We can work around the days that are best for you, but we need to schedule this during the week between 1 and 4pm.  Individuals must be in good health, and able to lift such items as beds, dressers, and tables. This program has been hugely successful in helping families acquire much needed furniture they otherwise are not able to obtain.

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!

Walk Committee

We are looking for some fresh faces to join us on our Walk Committee. I promise you, you do not have to be in the greatest of shape to be on this committee, I surely am not! You simply have to have the desire to make a difference in your community to fight hunger in Delaware. No running required, unless you want to of course! The Hunger Walk Run 5K is being held on September 21, 2013 at Rockford Park in Wilmington. This is an all inclusive family event, where there is something for everyone. The first Walk Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 25th, 4pm at our Rodney Street Office in Wilmington.

Committee members are responsible for ensuring the walk goes according to plan. Helps to determine the direction of the event, help establish new contacts in the community, and hopefully bring new ideas to the table. New members are welcome to jump at any time, so don't be shy! Give me a call today if you are interested!

Volunteer Job Openings - March 2013

Here are a few volunteer opportunities that we currently have open. Please contact Cher Frampton at (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or cframpton @ lcsde.org if you are interested in any of these openings.

NEWFood Pantry Statistician - Opening Filled

Lutheran Community Services is currently looking for a new statistician to start assisting the current volunteer who has been in place for 15 years and eventually take over the entire operation.

Job duties will include:

1.       Type data into an Excel spreadsheet

2.       Eventually tabulate the data to produce the final reports

3.       Be trusted with the information from the intake sheets

Requirements: Person must be willing to take this on as a long term volunteer job. Job takes about 3 hours a week of data entry. Approximately 2 hours a month putting final report together. Person must have a very good understanding of Microsoft office, and Excel. 

Front Desk Receptionist - Opening Filled

We are currently looking for an individual to help work our front desk on Monday and Friday mornings/early afternoon at our Rodney Street location in Wilmington. We are looking for someone who has strong phone skills, is good with the public and greeting clients, volunteers, donors, or anyone coming through our doors.  

Some duties include:

Keeping workspace tidy and notices up to date. 

Explain/talk about LCS to visitors and invite them to monthly food for thought tours.

Collect voice mails and answer phones

Cover staff for lunch breaks

Assist program staff as needed (Making copies, organizing files, shredding etc.) 

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! 

Walk Committee

We are looking for some fresh faces to join us on our Walk Committee. The Hunger Walk Run 5K is being held on September 21, 2013 at Rockford Park in Wilmington. This is an all inclusive family event, where there is something for everyone. The first Walk Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 25th, 4pm at our Rodney Street Office in Wilmington.

Committee members are responsible for ensuring the walk goes according to plan. Helps to determine the direction of the event, help establish new contacts in the community, and hopefully bring new ideas to the table. Starting this month the committee will meet monthly to discuss a plan of action and decide who is going to do what. Cannot make it this month? Never fear! It is not to late...new members can jump on at any time. 

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.