Voices - December 2022

goins on

By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president

Justice is action “W

ith liberty and justice for all” is well known in the United States Pledge of Allegiance.

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) is proud to serve our nation and our citizens. As to justice, LSC has defined justice as: “God calls us to ‘Do Justice’ to be in a right relationship with God and with each other. Every person should live free of bias, favoritism, and discrimination. The people of LSC will work to create a just culture throughout the organization and in all the communities we serve.”

Justice includes diversity, equity, and inclusion, but it’s even bigger and broad er. LSC has been on the justice journey for many years, but never felt the need to say it in writing. The era of the murder of George Floyd called us to not just quietly serve, but to speak and publish the words of justice, and keep living them.

Justice is flowing through and out of LSC in many ways. We want justice for every person served by LSC, for every LSC team mate, for every person LSC touches, and for our communities and the world. That’s a big sandbox where we can serve.

LSC’s advocacy efforts easily embraced justice. The Carolinas and federal gov ernment/citizenry provide for the least of

these, for the nursing home residents, foster children, and all we serve including our over 1,900 teammates.

LSC’s justice value exposed state/federal reimbursement and regulation as justice issues. If the government is underfunding services, they are not giving residents/clients the services they deserve and they are keep ing many of our teammates in poverty. That may be the biggest justice issue of all, and it most impacts persons of color.

If we can spend billions on professional sports, our lawns, and our pets, we can provide “liberty and justice for all.”

Justice is action. LSC will continue the never-ending journey to justice as a way of life.

Trinity Oaks receives 5-star rating

LSC is extremely pleased to announce that Trinity Oaks health and rehab is the only health care provider in Salisbury rated 5 stars, and one of four rated 5 stars in the region by Medicare. The overall rating is based on a nursing home’s performance on three sources: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.

LSC President and CEO Ted Goins said this is a testament to the amazing Trinity Oaks teammates and its leadership team. Congratulations to all teammates, Trinity Oaks Executive Director Bill Johnson, Trinity Oaks Administrator Tim Cornelison, and former Trinity Oaks Administrator Matt Beam for leading the charge.

Learn more about LSC

• by following LSC on Facebook and Instagram

• by following LSC President Ted Goins on Twitter at TedGoinsLSCPrez

• or by visiting the LSC website at www.LSCarolinas.net.

On the cover: Kinard Manor Recovery client Anika

Five teammates receive Hollar Scholarships

Five LSC teammates were recently honored for receiving Hollar Scholarships. The fund was established in 2011 by Bryce Hol lar in memory of his wife, the late Margie Hefner Hollar, and in tribute to the staff of Lutheran Home — Hickory, which is now Trinity Village, who provided care for her in her final years. Later, Bryce expanded the scholarship opportunity to all LSC employees to empower them to further their education and enhance their abilities to care for those served at LSC.

This year’s scholarship winners are:

• Kelly Moyle — Trinity Place

• Betty Weatherspoon — Trinity Place

• Colleen Dishman — Trinity Village

• Jose Chavez — Trinity Village

• Loretta Elliott — Trinity Village

A reception to celebrate the winners was held at Trinity Village. Mike and Sherrill Hollar attended the event.

The Cheerful Giver Fund

LSC is beyond excited to announce that we received a $10,000 gift from The Cheerful Giver

lina Community Foundation. The Cheerful Giver wants to remain anonymous, but we are so grateful to them for

This

will make a huge impact on our many programs, You can join The Cheerful Giver in improving the lives of others by visiting https://lscarolinas.net/donate/.

Fund of Central Caro

their generosity.

donation

From left: Betty Weatherspoon of Trinity Place, Colleen Dish man of Trinity Village, Loretta Elliott of Trinity Village, Sherrill Hollar and Mike Hollar.

Trinity Village scholarship recipients Colleen Dishman and Loretta Elliott pose with Trinity Village Director of Nursing Amanda Handy.

Trinity Place scholarship recipient Betty Weatherspoon with Director of Nursing Todd Rogers and Administrator Stephanie Herrin-Huneycutt.

you come here, you’ve got a new start.’

Couple has fostered with LSC for 18 years

After having two children of their own, Bruce and Tarsha Adams decided they wanted to look into adoption. They enrolled in an adoption class to learn more, but quickly realized the class focused on therapeutic foster care.

They took the class 18 years ago. Since then, they have fostered 15 children with LSC.

“You want them to have the best life be cause you see a lot of kids out here that don’t have a family,” Tarsha Adams said. “We’ve got to give them what they didn’t get at home. We give it to them and love them.”

A BALANCING ACT

Members of LSC’s foster care team say Bruce and Tarsha add balance to each other’s foster parenting styles. The kids treat them like most kids treat their biological parents, they go to one for one matter and the other parent for another matter.

Each parent has a different approach to addressing the needs of the child they are fostering, especially since those needs might be greater than expected. LSC’s Therapeutic Foster Care program serves youth who need a higher level of care due to their emotional, behavioral, and/or medical needs.

“I always tell the kids, ‘When you come here you’ve got a new start,’” Tarsha Adams said. “What you do here determines your future. You can do better and be better.”

The Adamses have their own farm in rural North Carolina where they raise hogs and cows. The family, including the foster chil dren, work on the farm together. As Bruce Adams says, “If you leave this house off of Highway 97, you are going to know what it’s like to feed hogs.”

“Everything we do, we do together. If I ask you to wash the dishes, we are going to be with you while you are washing the dishes.

and Tarsha Adams

If you are mowing the grass, one of us is out there with you,” Bruce Adams said. “I won’t ask you to do it by yourselves because we are a family, and we have to work as a group.”

Once the foster children get the routine down, then they get to spend more time with Tarsha Adams. Some of her favorite things to do are take them to the movies or to a local theme park to drive go-karts and play mini golf. She said she wants them to have fun and be kids while they still can.

YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME

Tarsha and Bruce smile when they talk about some of the children who were placed in their care. Many of them still call or stop by and visit, even as adults.

One of those children was a girl who lived with them from age 13 to 18. The couple said she was their biggest success story. She is like a biological daughter to them.

“It was nothing for her to have multiple ze ros on her report card. But when she left, she was all but on the A/B Honor Roll,” Bruce Adams said. “She came a long way.”

If their former placements do visit, Bruce Adams says they can guarantee they will get a nice, warm meal around the table.

HAVING A HEART FOR IT

The Adams look forward to continuing to serve many more children with LSC. They added that the training they’ve received through the nonprofit is excellent, especially when they are learning about children in therapeutic care.

“The training is great. You can call the LSC teammates and they will help you figure out any problem,” Bruce Adams said. “We always discuss the best way of addressing the issue before I come back to the kid.”

When asked what qualities people who are thinking about becoming foster parents need, the couple said patience and communication skills. But most importantly, they said people need to have a heart for the children.

“You need to have a good heart,” Tarsha said. “They (the children) are coming from everything they know. You need to have a heart for it.”

‘When

Bruce

uman

Resources Assistant Nehemiah

Cohen selected as You Are the Key winner H

Cohen prefers to be in the back ground, but his hard work keeps the LSC machine moving forward. That’s why his child and family services teammates selected him as the LSC Way 2021 You Are the Key winner.

“This is very cool and much appreciated. I always prefer to work behind the scenes and complete my duties in the background, but it was nice to know that my peers and cowork ers recognize my hard work,” Cohen said.

The LSC Way is a culture of exceptional customer service that aligns the mission, vision, and values of Lutheran Services Carolinas. The program encourages all LSC teammates to lead by example, serve joyfully, communicate consistently, welcome all, and ensure abundant living for all. The You Are the Key Award is given to the exceptional teammate who exemplifies all of these quali ties consistently.

“I was excited to hear that Nehemiah was going to get this award. I know how hard he works. He is doing so many great things behind the scenes that we don’t even know he is doing,” Myra Griffie, chief operating officer of LSC’s child and family services, said. “I am so proud to have Nehemiah at LSC. This is a much-deserved award.”

A RIGHT-HAND MAN

Cohen has been an LSC teammate for 10

years.

In his role as human resources assistant, Cohen delivers a spectrum of human resourc es services including processing new hires, working on bi-weekly payroll, and handling various inquiries and questions from team mates.

Originally, Cohen had a different career path in mind since he majored in ancient history. But then he was hired as an office assistant with LSC. As the child and family services program began to grow, Cohen made the full transition to human resources.

He added that he became a natural at his po sition under the guidance of his supervisors, Stephanie Moore and Syhesia Sharpe.

“Nehemiah is my right hand. He is one of the first people new hires have a dia logue with outside of their supervisor and he handles their inquiries with passion and understanding. He embodies LSC’s values,” Sharpe said. “He has integrity, practices excellence, collaborates daily, and respects everyone regardless of their position or

tenure.”

On the award nomination form, another teammate wrote that Cohen is “someone who has strong character and serves joyfully no matter the circumstances.” This team mate went on to say he always communicat ed quickly and was extremely patient, kind, and understanding as they learned their new position.

“It is clear to me that he is committed to LSC and the clients we serve,” the teammate wrote. “It is truly an honor to work with him.”

When asked about the LSC Way, Cohen said it’s a great way to increase company morale while also recognizing outstanding teammates that go above and beyond to assist fellow teammates or clients.

According to his peers, that sentence above perfectly describes Cohen himself.

“He makes me proud to say that we are teammates,” Sharpe said. “Nehemiah is a great asset to the child and family services program and LSC as a whole.”

LSC’s senior services operations team held its October meeting

LSC’s senior services operations team held its October meeting at Gordon Food Service in Kannapolis.

During the meeting, the Gordon Food team led a teambuilding session to prepare lunch. LSC teammates split into four groups and Gordon Food leaders helped each group with the oversight of Chef Rachel (Gordon’s chef).

The meal was lobster and shrimp ravioli, stuffed noodles and marinara, chicken piccata, two types of salad, crusty bread with sun-dried tomato butter, and two dessert choices. It was all prepared by our team and the Gordon Food team.

Trinity Village celebrates

60th anniversary

Hickory community invited to family-fun event

or 60 years, Trinity Village has provid ed care and services to families and their loved ones in Hickory. The se nior living community celebrated this mile stone with a family-fun event in October.

“It is a joy to be part of the Trinity Village team and to work alongside the 260 dedicat ed team members who make up this work family,” Trinity Village Administrator Mar cheta Campbell said. “Our entire team is happy to celebrate this milestone and we are looking to continue the tradition of serving and caring for others for years to come.”

Trinity Village was established in 1962 as Lutheran Home Hickory. It was the first ministry created by Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA) which was founded by the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to provide for seniors.

In June of 2012, LSA united with Luther an Family Services (LFS) under the name Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC). The introduction of the new name also includ ed new names for the Lutheran Homes. Lutheran Home in Hickory was officially renamed to Trinity Village.

MEMORIES OF TRINITY VILLAGE

Rev. Beth Kearney grew up spending ev ery Sunday at Trinity Village, known to her as Lutheran Home. Her father, Isaac Kuhn, was the administrator of the community for over 10 years.

Every Sunday, the Kuhn family went to church and then went to Lutheran Home for lunch. They would then spend their afternoon visiting with residents and their families.

“It was like having 200 grandparents,” Kearney remembered. “We went from room to room. We knew who told the good stories and who kept the best candy. There was one resident, Virginia, who I give credit for my love of puzzles. She always had one going.”

The first time Betty Kuhn visited Trinity Village was in 1972 when she attended the community’s Christmas Day services with the Kuhn family. At the time she was dating Frank Kuhn, Isaac Kuhn’s son. The two eventually got married.

“Isaac was a role model,” Betty Kuhn said. “He was so devoted to the residents.”

When she took a development position with LSC, Betty Kuhn began visiting the community more frequently to chat with donors. She said she was also fortunate enough to work with Bryce Hollar to estab lish the Hollar Scholarships Fund.

The fund was established in 2011 by Bryce Hollar in memory of his wife, the

late Margie Hefner Hollar, and in tribute to the staff of Lutheran Home — Hickory, which is now Trinity Village, who provided care for her in her final years. Later, Bryce expanded the scholarship opportunity to all LSC employees to empower them to further their education and enhance their abilities to care for those served at LSC.

“They’ve (Trinity Village) been a real blessing to the community,” Betty Kuhn said. “They have provided a family-centered and faith-based place to heal.”

CHEERS TO 60 YEARS

The anniversary celebration was a fun event for the whole family and included live music, food trucks, games, a bounce house, an appearance from Conrad the Crawdad and much more.

“LSC’s over $150 million in services across the Carolinas got its start with one small nursing home in Hickory called The Lutheran Home, now Trinity Village,” said LSC president Ted Goins. “We are humbled to reflect on the church and early board members and leaders who dreamt of abun dant living for seniors. The abundant living LSC still provides 60 years later. Happy Birthday, Trinity Village!”

For more information about Trinity Vil lage, visit https://trinityvillage.net/.

‘Everything fell into place’

Kinard Manor Recovery gives client the tools to continue recovery journey

Kinard Manor Recovery provided client Anika with the foundation she needed to continue her recovery journey. She recently completed the program and received her one-year sober chip. She is rebuilding her life, one step at a time, and said the program gave her the tools to do it.

“It has really blessed me in numerous ways, to be able to be an alum of Kinard Manor,” she said. “I really enjoyed the program. It gave me a sense of belonging and independence.”

ANIKA’S STORY

Anika was in foster care from the time she was six years old until she was adopted at 13. She said she always had a hard time figuring out where she fit in. Her skin would crawl just being around people or sitting in a place for too long.

When she was 18, she gave birth to her son. But it was also around that time that she began smoking marijuana.

After going through a divorce which led to her ex-husband receiving full custody of their son, Anika began using meth and heroin. She said for the first time, the drugs made her feel like she fit in. But that feeling didn’t last.

She knew she had to change her life when friends began to pass away from overdoses.

“I’ve always had an obsessive personality, so I started drinking and smoking pot. Then it escalated,” Anika said. “The people I was hanging around, I was doing what they were doing. I’m not ashamed of it anymore, but I do not wish to be a part of it.”

Anika was in another recovery program when Ashley Meyer, house manager at Kinard Manor Recovery, reached out to her about the program. LSC opened Kinard Manor Recovery, an abstinence-based recovery program for women, in 2021. The home is in Greenwood, South Carolina, and provides a sober living environment for 10 women to learn and grow alongside peers who have experienced similar challenges.

“I came into recovery in kind of a low spot. I had just left another treatment center, but I had left too soon, and I found myself living in a motel and I didn’t have a job,” Anika said. “But God put people in my path to help. I was able to get in contact with someone to drive me to Greenwood. Every thing fell into place, and I was able to start building myself back up.”

The structure and overall feeling of the house were exactly what Anika needed. She said the program helped her be accountable and stay on track. There were still days when she wanted to leave, but she had the support and the right people around her who convinced her to stay.

“I thought that I was one of those people who would never get clean, but here I learned to stay clean,” she said.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

Since completing the Kinard Manor program, Anika has started to rebuild her relation ship with her son and began working at the local hospital. She also joined the Kinard Manor team as a house senior.

In the position, she drives current clients to and from work and is a support system for them when they need it.

“When Ashley has to step away, I’m here and the women still have a place to come and to talk,” she said. “I enjoy just being there and being able to form relationships with the ladies that are coming in.”

The biggest encouragement she has for people who are just starting their recovery journey is to keep an open mind.

“Coming in knowing you want to get sober and build your life, that’s all you need to come in,” Anika said. “It’s that desire, and with all the opportunities and resources, it will help you build onto that so you can get to where you want to go.”

For more information about Kinard Manor Recovery, visit https://lscarolinas.net/ kinard-manor-recovery/.

Food Shuttle staff members transcend language barrier with instant friendship

By Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Intern Gracie Allen

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle brings people from diverse cultures and backgrounds together to make our community a better place. Many wonderful friendships have started at the Food Shuttle! The bond that has formed between Kay Holloway and Younes Alsoqe, two Food Shuttle team members, is a wonderful example of such a friendship.

Younes was born in Syria and lived in Lebanon for a time before returning to Syria in 2007. He fled to Jordan due to military conflict, and finally came to the United States as a refugee in 2021. Younes was able to find temporary work on the warehouse team at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle through LSC, a Food Shuttle partner. Folks at the Food Shuttle were immediately impressed with Younes’ strong work ethic and offered him a permanent job at the end of the threemonth contract. Kay, the Food Shuttle’s Warehouse Associate, was especially pleased with Younes’ work. “He’s extremely efficient, extremely intelligent, and he catches on fast,” Kay explains. “He’s an extremely hard worker.”

Younes does not speak English and was somewhat reserved at the beginning of his time at the Food Shuttle. However, he

became fast friends with Kay as they worked together in the warehouse. Kay helped Younes learn the ropes of his new job, and Younes impressed Kay with his commitment to the job and good sense of humor. Kay says of Younes, “I like to refer to him as both my right and my left hand. It’s a pleasure to work with him.”

Kay and Younes’ friendship is well known throughout the Food Shuttle. “They break the language barrier,” says Mary Janovsky, Director of Human Resources. “They’re always laughing together!” Mary goes on to say that she views their friendship as “The epitome of the Food Shuttle’s core values in action.”

LSC earns Platinum Seal of Transparency

LSC just earned two Platinum Seals— one for Lutheran Family Services and another for Lutheran Services for the Aging— by adding information to its Nonprofit Profile on Can did (formerly GuideStar). This is the highest seal that a nonprofit can earn.

Now LSC’s community members as well as 10+ million Candid users can find in-depth financial information about the organization. These Seals indicate LSC’s commitment to transparency and help to expand funding opportunities for the organization.

According to Candid, the Seals of Trans parency are meant to build on each other. A nonprofit earns the Bronze Seal by providing basic information — mission, leadership team and board names, basic program informa tion, etc. Once an organization has earned a Bronze Seal, it can share financial information to earn Silver; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and vision to earn Gold; and, finally, metrics to show the progress made toward its mission to earn the highest seal, Platinum.

Younes Alsoqe and Kay Holloway

Cycle of Welcome

Pastor rides his bike to raise money and awareness for Be the Light campaign

Written by NC Synod Staff/ Pastor Jonathan Schnibben

At the 2022 NC Synod Gathering, Bishop Tim Smith issued a chal lenge to the synod’s congregations that 70% would become involved in the work of refugee resettlement through LSC.

As a fundraiser and to raise awareness for the LSC  Be The Light campaign to re settle refugees, Pastor Jonathan Schnibben of Good Shepherd, Mt. Holly, rode his bike to and from work Monday through Friday, June 27-July 1. A one-way trip is 19 miles; multiplied by the 10 legs is 190 miles!

Congregation members pledged to

support the vital, biblical work of wel coming refugees by pledging per mile or giving a one-time gift for the whole ride. Each day, Pastor Schnibben shared a brief podcast episode to talk about how the ride went, why welcoming refugees is a part of our faith, and what Lutheran Services Carolinas and the NC Synod are doing to help.

At the end of the trip, Pastor Jonathan reported these numbers:

• Total mileage: 193

• Total feet climbed: 11,326 (that’s approximately twice the height of Grand father Mountain!)

• Total amount raised: $5,500

An additional, beautiful bit of infor

mation also comes from Pastor Jonathan about his bike.

The manufacturer of my bike is a Spanish company called Orbea. Prior to making bikes they were a gun manufactur er but decided over a century ago to stop making guns and use their skills to make bikes instead. Often, in part, it is because of guns that refugees must flee, so it’s in teresting to me that the bike I rode to help — in some small way — with refugees is made by a former gun manufacturer turned bike builder. It’s sort of a swordsbeat-into-plowshares moment for me.

For more information about the Bish op’s Challenge, visit https://nclutheran. org/nc-bishops-challenge/.

Pastor Jonathan Schnibben of Good Shepherd, Mt. Holly, rides his bike to raise money and awareness for the Be the Light campaign.

Be part of the CHANGE

When Cierra Smith started as a CNA at Trinity Elms, she thought it was just going to be another job. But what she found was a second family.

“It was the teamwork thing that meant a lot to me. I learned that it doesn’t matter who you are, you are always making some one’s day just by smiling and saying hello,” she said.

Smith has been with LSC for seven years and has continued to move up in the organization. She is now an onboarding spe cialist in the LSC Administrative Office where she works to fill job openings across the group. She said it’s all about finding the “next best teammate” for LSC.

“If you want a culture change and want to be part of the bigger picture of change that we are looking to see in the world, LSC is the place to be,” Smith said.

Are you the next best teammate? We would love for you to be part of our LSC culture and family.

Email Smith at csmith@lscarolinas.net for any questions about current job openings.

Teammate Additions

LSC is excited to announce two recent teammate additions at Trinity Oaks health and rehab in Salisbury and Trinity Grove in Wilmington.

Tim Cornelison is the new administrator of Trinity Oaks health and rehab.

He comes to the senior living community with over 34 years of long-term healthcare experience, with the last 10 years as a skilled nursing home administrator. He started his career as an activity assistant in 1986 and has worked his way up the ranks of the long-term care industry.

He has been the director of food and nutrition, pay roll bookkeeper/benefits, and administrative manager where

he helped oversee the Environ mental Services and Mainte nance Departments.

Cornelison is a native of Salisbury. He and his wife, Crystal, have been married for 34 years and have two sons,

Ryan and Soyer. Both of their sons have and/or are attending Salisbury High School.

Ed Parrish is the new admin istrator at Trinity Grove.

Parrish has been in long-term care since 1994 where he was the first employee hired at a nursing home in his hometown of Yadkinville, NC. He worked at this nursing home for 22 years as the EVS director until beginning his AIT to become an administrator in 2016.

While going out of facility visits, Parrish visited the LSC Administrative Office and felt right at home. Six years and many emails later, he was given the opportunity to apply for Trinity Grove as the adminis trator.

Parrish has three children; Elizabeth 33, Damon 28, and Kinley, 11, and three grandchil dren who are his heart. Away from work Ed loves fishing, refereeing soccer, and spending time with family.

Tim Cornelison

Cierra Smith

Ed Parrish

Trinity Ridge Alzheimer’s Walk

Roughly 100 supporters came out for Trinity Ridge’s Alzhei mer’s Walk, which was orga nized by Social Worker Rhonda White.

Participants were led in prayer before walking laps around the campus in support of those who live with Alzheimer’s each day.

Aston Park Health Care Center and Lutheran Services Carolinas partner

Aston Park Health Care Center and LSC recently announced a strong nonprofit partnership to continue to serve Asheville’s seniors. Aston Park’s legacy in the Asheville area, along with LSC’s position as the largest nonprofit skilled nursing provider in the state, combine to continue to provide the seniors of Buncombe County high-quality care. Aston Park has served the Asheville area for over 42 years, and with this partnership, LSC and Aston Park look forward to continuing to serve for many years to come.

Executive Director Marsha McClure, who has devoted over four decades to the community and its residents, will continue to lead As ton Park. “We are excited about this partnership and look forward to strength ening Aston Park and LSC to serve in the future,” said McClure.

The partnership will include collabo rating to support Aston Park’s dedicated team, improve workforce issues, provide

operational support, and continue to explore Aston Park’s dream of adding apartments for seniors on the campus.

“I have known and respected Marsha McClure and Aston Park for over 30 years,” said LSC Presi dent Ted Goins. “It is an honor to partner with such a strong non profit to serve the Asheville/Bun combe area for years to come.”

Aston Park is one of the few nonprofit health care providers remaining in western North Caroli na.

Aston Park was founded as a community-based nonprofit in Asheville in 1980 and has 120 skilled nursing beds and 19 assisted living beds. Aston Park provides rehabilitation, long-term care, and memory care services to its residents and has been a strong community partner since its inception.

Letter to Trinity Village

Diane Hayes Wilcox, daughter of Ted and Coleen Hayes, sent this message to Trinity Village Administrator Marcheta Campbell. Coleen passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.

I appreciate so much you, your staff and the outpouring of love, respect, and dignity that was shown to our family over the last few weeks while mom was sick. I can’t stress enough what an incredible staff you have there and the heart that they all have for the residents there. I can honestly say that they never treated her as “just a resident” but al ways as family. I wish I could find the words, but there aren’t enough. What a fine facility you have there with good hearted people who visibly follow their calling.

I also want to share with you what the Prayer Quilt Service meant to our family. I

cried through the whole thing! It was the most touching service I have ever experi enced. Even my “rough and tough” brothers were in tears. What an honor for our mother and our entire family! Please never stop doing this for families!

The other thing that was an absolute heart melting experience was when the funeral home came to pick up mom’s body on Sunday, the staff that lined the hallway as her body was being carried out!!! WOW! What

a class act!!! It made us feel so honored that the staff thought so much of her. Even her nursing staff from Dogwood came over to stand along the walls. The whole experience gave me chills!

Mom was so blessed by the activities department on Dogwood! Sharon, Tina, Revonda, and Darlene were so good to fill mom’s days with Bingo, crafts, birthday par ties, snacks, bubbles, outdoor time, music, and the Prayer Quilt Service, that we are requesting memorials/donations be sent to Trinity Village Activities Department. Hope fully, it will allow those kinds of things to continue making life joyful for others as well. That would make mother so happy!

With love and appreciation for all Trinity Village has done for my parents, — Diane Hayes Wilcox

Pictured from left to right are: LSC Director of Business De velopment Courtney Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Senior Services Kesha Smith, Aston Park Executive Director Marsha McClure, and LSC President and CEO Ted Goins.

think we are going to change a lot of lives in this space’

LSC opens WeCo Cottage to support college students in recovery

LSC is pleased to announce it has expanded recovery services with the opening of WeCo Cottage, a collegiate recovery house in West Co lumbia, South Carolina. It is the first and only collegiate recovery house in South Carolina.

LSC invited the community to celebrate WeCo Cot tage with an open house and dedication earlier this year.

“I think we are going to change a lot of lives in this space,” Aimee Hourigan, director of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Office at the Universi ty of South Carolina, told the crowd at the open house. She added that students in recovery have always needed a space to feel like they are part of the community, and

‘I

now they have one.

“In 2016 when I started, people whispered about recovery on campus, and now we are celebrating it,” Hourigan said. “I think when we look back on 2022, we are going to talk about how we finally got to this place where we realized that vision of a community that was oriented to support people in recovery across the spectrum.”

The concept of WeCo Cottage began when LSC teammates and Gamecock Recov ery staff started a discussion on the need for safe, supportive recovery housing for college students. The development of WeCo Cottage continued through the collaborative efforts of LSC, Gamecock Recovery, Columbia College, and The Courage Center.

Gamecock Recovery is a safe space, a bridge to resources, and a supportive community for students in recovery at the University of South Carolina. The Courage Center works to advance and broaden access to substance use disorder recovery and com munity in Lexington, South Carolina.

“We are excited to partner with Lutheran Services Carolinas because this is needed. Those in recovery need to find a place where they feel like they are part of the communi ty,” Randy Rush, executive director of The Courage Center, said at the open house. “In recovery, to move it forward, we all need to be in this together.”

WeCo Cottage and its house manager will encourage students to build a community that supports them on their recovery journey. It will also provide them with opportunities to make new friends and allies who have similar lived experiences as they pursue a life in recovery amidst the temptations of college life.

In addition to residential services, the cottage has a large indoor community room and an expansive outdoor area with ample parking. These areas will be used for intercollegiate recovery meetings, as well as substance-free gatherings and recreational events.

LSC is qualified to operate this new program due to its experience operating Kinard Manor, a certified recovery residence

in Greenwood, South Carolina, and its many years of operating supportive residential ser vices for adults with intellectual disabilities.

“LSC’s new recovery residence provides a safe space for students to balance the demands of academics and recovery,” LSC President and CEO Ted Goins said. “This is

truly a one-of-a-kind project, and we can’t thank our partners enough for making the vision a reality.”

For more information about WeCo Cot tage or to complete a residency application form, visit https://lscarolinas.net/weco-cot tage/.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Salisbury, N.C. Permit #98

(Lutheran Services for the Aging, Inc.)

Post Office Box 947 Salisbury, North Carolina 28145

Phone: 704-637-2870

Toll free: 1-800-HELPING www.LSCarolinas.net

Return Service Requested

If you are receiving multiple copies of LSC Voices or no longer wish to receive the newsletter or other mailings which might include LSC fundraising requests, please call or send the mailing label from this page along with your request to LSC at the above address.

“Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.”

LSC teammates go to long-term care conference

LSC teammates spent three days learning about new regulations and rules for long-term care at the North Carolina Directors of Nursing Administration of Long-Term Care’s conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The LSC Administrative Office was represented by Electronic Medical Records Consultant Kim Hathcock, Director of Clinical Services Lydia Foy, Nurse Consultant May Theo and Nurse Consultant Donna Little. Also in attendance were Amanda Handy from Trinity Village, Sherrie Hester from GlenFlora, Michelle Springer of Trinity Place, Kim Price of Trinity Ridge, Kasey Bowman from Trinity Ridge, Jeanne Smart from Trin ity Elms HR, Tamika Greene from Trinity Oaks Health and Rehab, Pepper Dedrick from Trinity Grove, and Ann Corns from Trinity Glen.

Voices is a publication of Lutheran Services Carolinas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health and human services organization and a social ministry serving children and families in North and South Carolina and older adults in North Carolina. Content for Voices is written by Amy Estridge, director of communications and marketing, and Erin Kidd, communications manager. Questions or comments should be directed to Amy Estridge at aestridge@lscarolinas.net

LSC Administrative Office 1416 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Post Office Box 947 Salisbury, N.C. 28145 704-637-2870

LSC Charlotte Post Office Box 30066 Charlotte, N.C. 28230 704-940-3333

LSC Columbia Office 1118 Union St. Columbia, S.C. 29201 803-750-9917

LSC Raleigh Office 4020 Wake Forest Road Suite 301 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 919-832-2620