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From
Lutheran Community Services February
2011
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
Thrivent Year-end Support for
LCS
Demand for food and housing help was stronger than ever during 2010, and in recognition of that, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans really stepped up their support. Thrivent has many ways it helps. The Mid-Atlantic Care in Regions program provided us with a $3,000 matching grant for the annual year-end giving project. And the Thrivent Foundation provided LCS a $5,000 Lutheran Community Economic Outreach Bridge Grant in October, then followed it up with an additional $10,000 challenge grant in December. The local Chapter is also a big supporter of LCS events and projects. Sometimes that support is indirect such as the December 2010 donation from Zion Lutheran for $2,000. Those funds came from Zion’s successful Fall Festival that received matching funds from the New Castle County Chapter of Thrivent. We are also the occasional recipient of Thrivent Choice funds. Thank you Thrivent! With their help we can continue “Sharing God’s Blessings by Helping Others in Need” all year long.
Christmas Gifts
Thanks to some wonderful volunteers and donors, LCS helped make Christmas a little brighter and a little more fun for some of our most needy neighbors. What would Christmas be without toys for the kids? To help with that need, Harvey and Hanna & Associates gave us 1000 toys from their 3rd Annual Delaware Kids Fund Holiday Toy Drive. Wonderful! Then Westminster Presbyterian Church gave toys and Christmas dinners (including a gift card for a ham or turkey) for ten families. We also had coats for kids this year – not as many as in the past – but we were pleased that the Clothing Bank could spare us enough of their Operation Warm consignment to help keep kids from some of our grocery clubs and the FAITH Center warm and healthy. Speaking of warm, Bank of America donated to LCS 442 twin-size fleece blankets (with sports logos) that were a big hit with kids in need of all ages. And, we can’t overlook the gifts of time provided by youthful pantry volunteers – from Middletown, Tower Hill, Wilmington Christian and Lincoln University. They were a wonderful sight to behold. Finally, a surprise Christmastime donation of $7,500 from Blue Cross Blue Shield was a much-needed gift!