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THE
LEADER
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Newsletter
Behind the Thankfull Holiday Numbers, Real People, Real Stories
Winter Quarter
Inside President’s Message pg. 2 End of Year Giving pg. 2 The Home of the Free pg. 3 Memory Care at Kensington Place pg. 3 Mutually Beneficial Learning pg. 4
This year, with your continued support and the backing of generous sponsors, the LSS Food Pantries helped nearly 3,000 households celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday through the Thankfull Holiday initiative. Families took home food to make the day special, including a turkey, fixings, fresh produce and even a pie. One of those families included Sabrena and her daughter Bella. The Lancaster Thanksgiving distribution was the first time Sabrena had ever used the services of a food pantry. She has been off work caring for her father who has Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Tending to her own young family and an ailing parent proved to be too much Sabrena and Bella on her husband’s single income, so she recently returned to work. What a blessing for Sabrena to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table during hard times and to know her family will not go without. Ronald was another neighbor we met. A retired Vietnam veteran, this was his first visit to the Champion Avenue pantry. Ronald was deeply appreciative of the friendliness of the volunteers and staff, but we are appreciative of Ronald. It was an honor, in a very small way, to serve him after his service to us Ronald and our nation. So many people in our community make tough choices each day between food and other
necessities such as utilities, housing and medicine. We talked with Christine at our Westside pantry. When her medical bills get to be too much and she must choose between food and medicine, she visits the pantry to make ends meet. “The pantry has been a godsend to me and my family,” she says. She was especially excited to have a Thanksgiving meal with all of the trimmings. The true meaning of Thanksgiving—to be thankful for what we have, honor traditions, share with our neighbors, and be hopeful for the future—was embodied by Myra, who we also met at the Westside pantry. Myra planned to honor her departed mother by making all of her favorite recipes for Thanksgiving, including homemade bread, sweet potatoes and noodles. With her limited income, she was delighted to be able to receive many of Myra the recipe ingredients she needed from the pantry. She hoped to enlist the help of her grandchildren to make the pies. These stories of hope and joy are possible because of you and your continued support, and the support of Presenting Sponsors Advanced Drainage Systems, Alliance Data and the Speaks Family Foundation, as well as our other sponsors. From all of us at LSS, and on behalf of the wonderful people we serve, thank you for making this a truly Thankfull Holiday: full plates, full stomachs and hearts full of gratitude.
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio Lutheran Social Services of Northern Ohio · Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio
Creating a Better World by Serving People in Need
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