Voices Spring 2024

goins on

By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president

Learning and growing: It’s the LSC Way

Each year during our “Tour de LSC” across all LSC operations, I share our vision, mission, and values. They are Lutheran Christian, biblically based. I always add that, while LSC is an unapologetically Christian-based organization, you need not be Lutheran or Christian to be served or employed by LSC. All are welcome. For many years LSC has walked the diversity, equity, and inclusion path. We are proud of our Lutheran/Christian-ness, and we are proud to ally with all who love to serve with love.

I woke up in the middle of the night recently with this on my mind as part of my own diversity journey and growth plan. My thought was: Are we as welcoming and accommodating of non-Christian teammates as we think we are? LSC leaders connected me with seven teammates across LSC who are diverse in culture and religion and who were willing to be interviewed by me to talk through these issues. Two of the Muslim teammates wear the hijab, which makes them more visible. Most I had met before; all were willing to speak freely.

The short answer is yes, LSC is as welcoming and accommodating as we aspire to be. All seven felt welcomed, loved, comfortable, included. Only one teammate noted one

incident where they were not trusted by a family member, but they attributed that to one family member who seemed untrusting of all caregivers. A Jewish teammate shared that as the primarily Christian teammates in her department were decorating for Christmas, they encouraged her to bring in her menorah for Hanukkah. She said she’d never felt so included in her workplace.

LSC is all about learning and growing. The other question asked was, “What can LSC do to be more welcoming and accommodating to persons not of the Christian faith?” Most of the interviewees said they felt welcomed and had no suggestions. Some suggestions came from further discussion.

LSC tries to open meetings with devotions or a prayer in keeping with its Christian tradition. Obviously, people can pray or not, and all expressed support — even comfort — in those prayers. Suggestions to be more inclusive included:

• Explain in new employee orientation materials and during the orientation process that LSC is both Christian and inclusive and that non-Christian teammates are encour-

aged to simultaneously pray in their own tradition or not pray.

• Routinely remind meeting facilitators not to randomly call on someone to pray, as they may not be comfortable or may not be of that faith tradition.

• Find innovative ways to lift up other religious and cultural celebrations — to honor other religions and cultures and to educate all of us.

• Be educated on and supportive of other religions and their practices. For example, one Muslim teammate asked a supervisor if they could work through lunch, then leave a bit earlier to get home earlier while fasting during Ramadan. Working all day and not getting home to break the fast for an extra hour is a hardship. I was thrilled to hear the supervisor was happy to accommodate that request. Now, that’s the LSC Way!

This exercise was important to test LSC’s practices against its principles. There is always more we can learn, and we can always do better. We listened to our teammates (customers) — and as always, we will continue to learn, grow, and improve. It’s the LSC Way.

— Ted Goins, president & CEO

LSC once again earns two Platinum Seals

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) has once again 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 Candid (formerly GuideStar). This is the highest seal that a nonprofit can earn.

These seals indicate LSC’s commitment to transparency and help to expand funding opportunities for the organization. LSC

first earned the seal in 2022.

Now LSC’s community members as well as 10+ million Candid users can find indepth financial information about the organization.

According to Candid, the Seals of Transparency 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 information, 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.

On the cover: Dorothy McLaughlin and her family.

Searstone/LSC award $447,700 to Wake-area nonprofits

The Searstone/Lutheran Services Carolinas Community Benefit Committee recently announced $447,700 in grants to 14 organizations in Wake County.

Since 2014, the committee has directed five percent of revenues from the operation of Searstone, an independent living com-

Lmunity in Cary, to Wake County nonprofit organizations serving seniors, indigent seniors, or other vulnerable populations.

The following organizations received awards for the last grant cycle: Alliance Medical Ministry, Dementia Alliance of NC, Dorcas Ministries, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, InterAct, Meals

on Wheels of Wake County, Pretty in Pink Foundation, Rebuilding Together of the Triangle, Salvation Army, Shepherd’s Table, Ship Community Outreach, Temple’s Table, Transitions LifeCare, Triangle Aphasia Project Unlimited, Triangle Family Services, White Oak Foundation, and Women’s Center of Wake County.

Lutheran Services Carolinas remains largest nonprofit senior service provider in North Carolina, shoots up national rankings

SC is once again the largest nonprofit provider of senior services in North Carolina according to the LeadingAge Ziegler 200 list, which ranks the largest providers of nonprofit aging services in the nation.

In 2023, LSC moved from a national ranking of No. 54 to a national ranking of No. 40 among senior living systems. Its new rank reflects tremendous growth over the past year: in 2023, LSC achieved the fifth greatest increase in number of senior living units and

the third highest aggregate growth by period of any senior living system in the nation.

In North Carolina, LSC operates senior living communities in Salisbury (Trinity Oaks); Albemarle (Trinity Place); Winston-Salem (Trinity Glen); Hickory (Trinity Ridge and Trinity Village); Clemmons (Trinity Elms); Arden (Trinity View); Asheville (Aston Park); Lumberton (GlenFlora); and Wilmington (Trinity Grove and Trinity Landing).

“LSC is humbled to be No. 40 and once

again the largest in North Carolina,” said Ted Goins, president and CEO of LSC. “But more significant than any ranking is the continued growth in the number of lives we touch every day.”

With more than 6,000 members and partners, LeadingAge is the nation’s largest association of not-for-profit aging service providers, with a focus on education, advocacy and applied research. Ziegler is the leading underwriter of tax-exempt and nonprofit financing in the U.S.

Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Heather Sullivan and Director of Marketing and Communications Tara Coppedge from the Pretty in Pink Foundation; VP of Philanthropy Christine Casey and Philanthropy Officer Meredith Poole of Transitions LifeCare; Executive Director Amy Smith of The Women’s Center of Wake County; Regional Resource Development Director Chris Kelley and Area Commander/Corps Officer Major Chuck White of The Salvation Army; Philanthropy & Community Engagement Manager Leigh Ann Miller of Dorcas Ministries; CEO Patricia Burch of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County; Marketing and Communications Manager Traci Hood of Rebuilding Together of the Triangle; Executive Assistant Yvonne Harrison of White Oak Foundation; Executive Director Justine Knight of Triangle Aphasia Project; Co-Founder Jacqueline Jones of Ship Outreach; Executive Director Alan Winstead, Assistant Director of Development and Communications Amy Akroyd, and Board Member Deborah Meehan of Meals on Wheels of Wake County; Volunteer Coordinator Kiran Saini of Shepherd’s Table; Pastor Michael Parnell of Temple’s Table; Executive Director Rhonda Ramey and Chief Development Officer Lori Richards of Interact; Director of Development and Communications Kim Whitley of Alliance Medical Ministry; Lutheran Services Carolinas Director of Communications Erin Kidd, Searstone Grant Committee member Joan DeBruin, and Executive Director of Searstone Derrick Moore.

LSC holds Blessing of the Build for Trinity Village Independent Living

Trinity Village, an LSC senior living community, has been a vital part of Hickory, N.C., for over 60 years. Now, it will expand its services to offer independent living senior apartments.

“This community has embraced LSC and allowed us to continue to serve and grow. It has taken our church family and community family to make that happen,” LSC President and CEO Ted Goins said. “The dream has always been to do this, and now we are seeing it happen.”

Trinity Village Independent Living will offer faith-based, nonprofit, and reasonably priced independent living senior apartments designed to meet the evolving needs of our aging population, providing them with a vibrant and fulfilling living experience. This community will offer a wide range of amenities and services tailored to support independence and well-being. The project will begin with 72 one-and-two-bedroom apartments on Springs Rd. on the campus of Trinity Village.

LSC officially broke ground on the apartments in October and celebrated this milestone with a Blessing of the Build on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The ceremony included speeches from The Chamber of Catawba County President/CEO Lindsay Keisler and City of Hickory Mayor Hank Guess.

Keisler remembers attending a listening session years ago where community members discussed the need for additional senior housing in the county. She commended LSC for recognizing this need and filling it.

“May this new venture provide more than just housing. May it provide a sense of community, quality of life, safety, stability, and most importantly a place to call home,” Keisler said.

Mayor Guess added that the City of Hickory’s goal has always been to grow its population, grow jobs, and increase its tax base. He said projects like this one are a tremendous part of that.

“I get asked from time to time, what is the

key to our success. The key to our success is our people. We have some of the greatest people anyone can ever ask for,” Guess said about the Hickory community. “We want to congratulate everyone who has had a part in this. We are so grateful to everyone here. We want to extend our welcome and continue our partnership and relationship.”

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Senior Pastor Chris Webb ended the ceremony by officially blessing the construction site.

“We give you thanks, O God, as we set apart this land to your glory and praise. We ask your blessing for those who labor in the design and construction of the homes being built on this ground, for those who have spent countless hours planning for its building, and for those who have given of their time to enable this apartment independent living facility to be built,” Webb prayed.

“Prosper this work to the glory of your holy name.”

LSC has served the Catawba County area for over 60 years with Hickory’s two premier health care communities, Trinity Village and Trinity Ridge, providing skilled

Catawba County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Lindsay Keisler commended LSC for recognizing a need and filling it.

care, rehab, memory care, and assisted living. LSC is also a founder and partner in the vital PACE At Home program, serving Medicaid/Medicare-eligible elders in their own homes.

These apartments will allow LSC to serve the entire continuum for elders in the area.

Guiding Light for Lippard Lodge

Jim and Lucy Lippard honored for partnership with LSC

To quote an article from Voices in 2015, “It’s probably safe to say that no one in the Piedmont Triad area has done more for those with TBI than Jim and Lucy Lippard.”

In the wake of a life-altering car accident that left their son, Cole, with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), Jim Lippard and his late wife Lucy Lippard transformed tragedy into a powerful force for change. The Lippards worked tirelessly in partnership with LSC to establish Lippard Lodge — a haven for adults living with TBI.

Since 2004 Lippard Lodge, located in Clemmons, NC, has provided compassionate care and support to adults with TBI, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.

The Lippards were recently honored for their dedication and service to LSC during a Shepherd Society dinner at Trinity Glen. Jim Lippard was all smiles, surrounded by his family and residents of Lippard Lodge.

“I remember meeting Jim 16 or 17 years

ago. He was a true advocate for Cole, Lippard Lodge, and the entire brain injury community. I learned quickly, Jim would be a partner for me and LSC,” Myra Griffie, LSC vice president for child and family services, said as she shared the couple’s contributions to LSC. “Jim, you inspire me to do my job, and do it well.”

Although LSC President and CEO Ted Goins was unable to attend the dinner, he sent along a heartfelt message that was shared with the Lippards by LSC Chief Operating Officer Kesha Smith.

ic or acquired brain injuries. I can’t think of a better way to recognize you than surrounding you with so many people who love and care about you.”

Lippard family takes a photo together after the plaque presentation.

After receiving a standing ovation, Jim Lippard was surprised by LSC teammates with a plaque that will be placed in Lippard Lodge, honoring his family. It features a photo of Jim, Lucy, and Cole and a quote from Jim in 2020 that reads, “The best part of this journey has been a dream come true, and the dream come true is Lippard Lodge.”

“Jim, you and your family have been good friends of Lutheran Services Carolinas, and to me. You have been a guiding light for Lippard Lodge,” Goins wrote. “Your unwavering dedication and countless contributions have truly made a difference for individuals across the Carolinas who have been affected by traumat-

“I just really appreciate everything that Lutheran Services Carolinas has done,” Jim Lippard said after the presentation while fighting back tears. “I appreciate everybody being here tonight. You all have been wonderful people to me and my family, and I just wish Lucy could be here.”

The

Pictured left to right: Katie Lippard, Jimmy Lippard, Cole Lippard, Jim Lippard, Anderson Lippard, and Kirk Lippard.

One couple’s amazing journey home

Rafael Giraldo Gallego and Nicole Gomez Puerta’s arduous journey to the United States technically began in 2021. In reality, however, the couple’s trajectory was set when the COVID pandemic forced their lives in their native Colombia to a standstill.

“Before COVID, Rafael had a good job in tech, and I was working as a nurse and studying toward a degree in occupational safety and health engineering,” says Gomez.*

By 2021 — pressed by a difficult employment situation, threatened by increasing political violence, and frightened for their young daughter Emily’s future — Giraldo and Gomez knew they had to leave Colombia. “We were moving from city to city, trying to find work and stay safe,” Giraldo adds.

Gomez was the first to leave, fleeing to Ecuador with Emily. “It was safer to be apart,” she notes. She took a job at a health resort in the small town of Yaruquí, cleaning cottages during the week and bartending on the weekends.

Three months later, Giraldo was able to join them. “I found a job driving machinery,” he says. But their life plans had ground to a halt.

“We weren’t thriving in Ecuador, only surviving,” says Gomez. “It was all starts and stops. The only advantage we had was the language. We were working so hard just to scrape by.”

WORD OF MOUTH, RED TAPE, AND 3-HOUR BUS TRIPS

Establishing legal residence in Ecuador was the couple’s first hurdle. “Nicole couldn’t get a passport,” notes Giraldo.

A neighbor told them about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency that protects refugees. A meeting with the UNHCR meant traveling to Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. “Without a car of our own, what would have been a 45-minute trip became a 3-hour journey with multiple bus transfers,”recalls Giraldo.

From Colombia to the U.S., with love

In Quito, the couple shared their story with the UNHCR, which in turn referred them to HIAS, a Jewish American nonprofit that assists refugees. After an appointment with HIAS, they were qualified for food stamps.

Next, Giraldo and Gomez met with Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), a humanitarian non-governmental agency that protects the rights of displaced people. They were finally able to establish legal refugee status.

And one day in August of 2023, they received a long-awaited call from the

International Organization for Migration (IOM), the principal UN agency dealing with migration: Their plane tickets to the United States were ready.

A FRESH START

After arriving in North Carolina with just a handful of luggage, the family spent several weeks in a modest extended-stay hotel until — through a tremendous stroke of luck — an inexpensive rental home opened up in Salisbury. “There were only two houses available in Salisbury, and we got one,” says Gomez. “We were so fortunate!”

Rafael Giraldo Gallego, Nicole Gomez Puerta and their daughter, Emily.

TA LABOR OF LOVE

Trinity Glen’s Justin Boyd named NCHCFA District III Nurse Aide of the Year

he North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association has named Justin Boyd of Trinity Glen its District III Nurse Aide of the Year. The honor caps a decade of surprising career and educational twists for the Winston-Salem native.

“My mom has been a CNA all my life. However, in 2013, I was studying criminal justice at Winston-Salem State with the goal of attending law school at NC State,” Boyd explained.

“There I was, 20-something years old, when my grandmother was hit with terminal pancreatic cancer. A hospice nurse came in to help take care of her, and I saw that despite her pain, my grandma looked upbeat in the final moments of her life. I knew then that I wanted to do something that could bring that type of joy to a person in their final stages of life.”

Boyd prayed about it and discussed changing studies with his college advisor. When he learned that many of his criminal justice credits would not apply to a nursing degree, “I dropped everything and started over,” he said. He entered the associate degree in

nursing program at Forsyth Tech Community College and challenged the state board, passing his CNA exams without completing formal studies. He has been at Trinity Glen ever since.

“You have your good days and your bad days,” Boyd reflected on his CNA career. “But as long as you keep God first, you come in and hold your head high, you walk with integrity, as they say, ‘Thy will be done.’ I love my residents and they love me as well. Every time I see them, I think about my grandma.”

In addition to his CNA work at Trinity Glen, Boyd cares for his other grandmother, who has lung cancer. And he’s working toward a registered nurse license as time allows. He was honored at NCHCFA’s annual Convention & Expo in Greensboro on February 19.

“If you know Justin, you know this award is well deserved,” said Trinity Glen Administrator Logan Wilmouth. “He lives out our mission, ‘Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.’”

Through generous donations to the LSC New Americans Program, Giraldo and Gomez have received many of the basics required for a fresh start: furniture, pots and pans, some new clothes for Emily, cleaning supplies, groceries, and more.

Emily attends a local Salisbury elementary school, where she is adjusting well. “It’s good!” she says. She especially enjoys the classroom rewards system: her good behavior earns credits she can spend in the school store.

Like other New American clients in the Salisbury area, Giraldo and Gomez attend English language classes at RowanCabarrus Community College. Gomez has become a coupon-clipping whiz. And in November, they tied the knot at Bell Tower Green.

“The wedding was such a surprise!” says Gomez. “We were just going to go sign the documents, but our friends at LSC wanted to make it a really special day for us.” LSC teammates altered a wedding dress for Gomez and supplied a bridal bouquet. Salisbury Resettlement Director Wyatt Dunlap officiated the ceremony. “I made cupcakes and mimosas to share,” adds Gomez. “We’re so grateful to everyone who helped us.”

BIG GOALS FOR 2024 AND BEYOND

“This year, we have three goals: get jobs, buy a car, and go to the beach... we have never been to the beach!” says Gomez. “Life here is very good. We are no longer living hand-to-mouth. We can finally spend quality time with our daughter.”

“Starting over is difficult,” says Giraldo. “It can be scary, but it can also be an adventure. And there is so much help... so many kind people. Don’t be afraid of starting a life from scratch.”

From volunteering to financial or inkind donations, there are many ways to get involved with LSC’s New Americans Program in both North Carolina and South Carolina. To learn more, contact Matthew Hembree, executive director of the LSC New Americans Program, at mhembree@ lscarolinas.net or 704-517-1671.

* Spanish names follow this convention: your given name, your father’s family name, then your mother’s family name. Your father’s family name is typically used as your English “last name.”

Justin Boyd and Willa Richardson, a Trinity Glen resident.

PHILANTHROPISTS

You are likely familiar with LSC’s mission statement, “Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.” What you may not realize is how many generous supporters walk alongside us in fulfilling that

Lmission: over 2,400 individual contributors in 2023 alone! Every gift helps LSC ensure abundant living for the communities we serve.

Each year, LSC recognizes an individual,

family, or organization in both North Carolina and South Carolina that has demonstrated extraordinary financial commitment and whole-hearted support for our work. These are our Philanthropists of the Year.

NC: Larry and Tammi Gates

arry and Tammi Gates of Wilmington received the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year Award for North Carolina at the Wilmington Area Shepherd Society Dinner last autumn. They have been LSC supporters for over 15 years.

“We first got involved with LSC through our friend Frances Lamb [a member of the LSC Board of Trustees],” said Larry. “We know Frances from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wilmington. Her passion and positive energy really inspired us. We all need mentors, and Frances has been a mentor to us.”

A SPARK TO “BE THE LIGHT”

Tammi and Larry Gates have been active leaders in LSC’s Be the Light campaign and made a very generous lead gift toward the campaign, which has raised over $2.9 million to date.

“Coming out of the pandemic, we were looking for something to do that would have a bigger impact,” said Tammi about joining the campaign. “We feel God really spoke to us.”

The Gateses each find personal inspiration in LSC’s mission. “I’m especially moved by LSC’s work with foster care,” said Larry. “These kids are such an underserved population — and when they turn 18, they often have no other family to turn to for support. When I learned about the pent-up demand for foster care that COVID created, it really touched my heart,” he added.

“For me, it’s LSC’s care for the elderly,” added Tammi. “For many years I was on

the Caregivers Team at our church, and we visited a lot of nursing homes. I noticed a distinct difference in the level of care — and caring — at Trinity Grove, and now at Trinity Landing.”

“We also like the fact that LSC puts our contributions directly to work providing services,” Larry noted.

PAYING IT FORWARD

The Gateses view philanthropy as a natural evolution of their faith journey. “For many people, the Christian journey starts out as a personal relationship to God,” said Tammi. “As you mature in faith, it becomes more

about sharing your blessings with others.”

They credit the Lutheran Via de Cristo Ministry with sparking their passion for giving in all its forms. “Via de Cristo is a threeday weekend designed to renew Christian faith,” explained Larry. “The ‘fourth day’ of the weekend happens later, when we reunite with other participants to share God’s grace through acts of service.”

As parents of two grown daughters, Samantha and Kathleen, the Gateses have advice to share for younger generations: “It’s not the amount of the gift that matters — it’s the giving,” said Tammi. “Don’t sit on the sidelines. Just do it.”

Pictured are Tammi and Larry Gates with LSC President Ted Goins when they received the Philanthropist of the Year Award.

SC: Central Carolina Community Foundation OF THE YEAR C

entral Carolina Community Foundation received LSC’s 2023 Philanthropist of the Year Award for South Carolina at the Columbia Shepherd Society Luncheon last fall. The Community Foundation’s relationship with LSC spans more than 20 years serving communities in the 11 counties of South Carolina’s Midlands region.

Erin Johnson, the foundation’s vice president of community investment, and Trimease Carter, a program officer integrally involved in the foundation’s latest grant to LSC, shared their thoughts after receiving LSC’s award.

“Looking back over 20-plus years of grantmaking, I was struck by how closely LSC’s funded projects reflect the foundation’s mission and priorities,” said Johnson. “LSC and the foundation share a commitment to helping the people we serve feel welcome, grounded, and at home in their community. We are committed to meeting a variety of needs in order to achieve that vision.”

STALWART SUPPORT FOR LSC’S WORK

The foundation awarded a $20,000 Connected Communities grant last February to support WeCo Cottage, LSC’s collegiate recovery program in West Columbia, South Carolina.

“When LSC submitted the grant application, we realized this was a part of the community we hadn’t really considered before,” noted Johnson. “We thought back to our own college days and how few options were available for students battling substance use disorder. LSC had thought through the structure, program, and staffing needs for WeCo Cottage.”

“My visit to WeCo Cottage with LSC staff put into perspective how difficult it could be for a student in recovery to engage in traditional college settings,” added Carter.

“The cottage was welcoming and felt like a safe place to live and work — one of the foundation’s goals for everyone in the Midlands.”

The foundation also partners with LSC on disaster recovery.

“We respect and value our local partners like LSC,” said Johnson. “They are on the ground working with, not for, communities to respond to needs as minor as paying trash fees and as major as building whole new houses.”

Each May, LSC participates in the foundation’s Midlands Gives Day — an opportunity for local nonprofits to raise additional dollars online by leveraging the foundation’s reach and platform.

“Midlands Gives began in 2014 to encourage Midlands’ residents to ‘give where you live,’” said Johnson. “Today, over 570 nonprofits have a profile on our platform. We raised over $4.4 million through Midlands Gives Day last year. The giving initiative is on the first Tuesday in May. However, donors can visit the platform anytime to learn more about local nonprofits and make a gift.”

STRENGTHENING LSC’S CAPACITY TO SERVE

The foundation’s support for LSC has transcended the traditional boundaries of its service area. In 2021, it awarded LSC a Capacity Building grant that enabled LSC to train over 80 Foster Care and Adult Residential teammates in both North and South Carolina — as well as many of its senior leaders — in diversity and cultural competency. The grant deepened LSC’s understanding of systemic racism, implicit bias, and the importance of language. But most importantly, it improved LSC’s service to clients, residents, and families of color.

“Our values are built on the foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), so LSC’s grant application was an excellent fit for us,” said Johnson. “Oftentimes, only the frontline staff are trained in DEI — but if you train senior leadership as well, there is a ripple effect throughout the entire organization. We were glad to be able to support this ripple effect at LSC.”

To learn more about the foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org. For the Midlands Gives platform, visit www.midlandsgives.org.

Pictured are LSC SC Business Developer Rachael Fulmer, Central Carolina Community Foundation Chief Financial Officer Kevin Patten, Central Carolina Community Foundation Investment Associate Shantrell Mitchell, and LSC Director of Grants and Development Operations Melissa Parrish. Patten and Mitchell accepted the award for Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Of Hearts and Hands

Former quilter completes her heirlooms with help from friends

It’s amazing what one person’s hands can do.

Over the course of her 90-odd years, Dorothy McLaughlin’s hands have cradled two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. They have graded countless student exams, sketched the plans for her family home, led worship on the organ and piano, and lovingly constructed numerous quilts, stitch by stitch.

But much has changed over the past few years.

“My doctor told me I had to stop quilting to preserve the use of my fingers,” McLaughlin says. So, she packed away the last few quilt tops she’d made, unsure whether they would ever be finished and used.

Then came the decision to move to a senior living community. McLaughlin knew she would live out the rest of her years in North Carolina. But the question was, where?

Born and raised in High Point, she had earned a teaching certificate at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and met and married Milton McLaughlin — the postmaster of Cleveland, N.C. — while teaching at Boyden High School in Salisbury. When their children, Gail and Neely, were born, she took a few years off — until Salisbury City Schools Superintendent J. H. Knox recruited her for the brand-new Knox Junior High School. McLaughlin taught there for 20 years.

After her husband’s death, McLaughlin moved to Chapel Hill to become a sorority house director — a responsibility she fulfilled for 11 years. And when it was really and truly time to retire, McLaughlin assumed she would remain in Chapel Hill.

“I was driving back from the mountains and saw a billboard for Trinity Oaks,” she recalls. “I called Trinity Oaks the next day, made an appointment, and was accepted within the month.”

“I liked that Trinity Oaks was so well planned and well rounded, and I was pleased that I could choose many of the details for my new apartment,” McLaughlin says.

As McLaughlin and her daughter, Gail,

were packing for the move to Salisbury last spring, they happened upon several of her handmade quilt tops. “I constructed them using scraps leftover from making Gail’s dresses when she was in elementary school,” McLaughlin notes. “There are two Sunbonnet Sue patterns, a Log Cabin, and an appliquéd Wedding Ring,” she adds. “Gail had the great idea of asking the quilters at her church to help us complete the backing and binding.”

With help from Gail’s friends at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, N.C., the quilts were finished in time for McLaughlin to display them publicly at Trinity Oaks and gift them to her grandchildren at Christmas.

“I hope they will be enjoyed for years to come by my descendants,” she says.

McLaughlin is finding plenty to keep her busy even though she can no longer quilt.

“We have lots of singalongs at Trinity Oaks, which I love. We have marvelous music at our chapel services. We have also taken field trips to see Christmas lights in Kannapolis and to see new developments in my old hometown of Cleveland — and there are many other activities to choose from.”

“When I first considered moving to a senior living community, I was afraid the time was coming when I could no longer be independent. Here at Trinity Oaks, I have the opportunity to be independent.”

Trinity Oaks resident Dorothy McLaughlin and her quilts.

Combat wounded veterans live abundantly with help from LSC

LSC’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provides “wraparound” services for combat wounded veterans that augment the traditional therapy and case management they receive through our partner, Neuro Community Care. HCBS teammates personalize their approach to each veteran based on their individual needs and goals, helping them work toward greater independence.

HCBS Program Director Jesus Ramirez and his team of community support specialists currently serve six combat wounded veterans ranging in age from 25 to 60. Each of these veterans has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or a life-threatening illness. They live independently or with their families and confront a range of daily challenges including aphasia (loss of language), seizures, and light sensitivity, often in addition to physical disabilities. For many, their connection with HCBS gives them a reason to leave the house and keep striving toward new goals.

“[Ramirez] gets me out of my comfort zone,” said S. C., a veteran who uses a wheelchair and has multiple sclerosis (MS).* “I try things I’ve never tried before.”

Ramirez and his team plan a robust calendar of events to keep their veterans engaged. Some are group events, and others help clients explore personal interests and goals.

“For Veterans Day 2023, we went on a deep-sea fishing expedition 25 nautical miles off the coast of Morehead City,” said Ramirez. “Our clients were among 60 vets who participated in the trip on a 100-foot boat that we chartered from Operation North State. Over 12 hours, we caught fish, sharks, turtles, and mahi dolphins. It was also a great chance for clients to network, make new friends, and get tips from more experienced vets on how to navigate the Veterans Administration.”

Ramirez has accompanied S. C. on a wide range of “adventure therapy” outings including cycling, surfing, skydiving, and kayaking. Funding for the trips is provided by the

Wounded Warrior Project. In January 2024, S. C. and Ramirez went on their second annual snowmobiling excursion through a program offered by another nonprofit, An Officer and Two Gentlemen. During this winter season, about 50 combat wounded veterans stayed in Airbnbs and snowmobiled across the border from New Hampshire into Canada. Community support specialists like Ramirez provide physical and emotional support during the ride, which can be not only chilly but arduous. And this time, S. C.’s snowmobile was outfitted with a specially designed five-point harness system to help him stay upright and safe throughout the journey.

“That’s a big improvement over last year’s trip,” noted S. C. with good humor.

Although MS has started to affect his upper body strength, S. C. refuses to give up. “My faith keeps me going,” he added. “I’ve learned that I can’t control anything. So I tell myself, ‘wipe it up, Buttercup,’ and move on to what’s next.”

S. C.’s tenacity and generous spirit have had a ripple effect. In addition to being a test case for the new snowmobile harness — which will benefit many other veterans who make the trek — he personally finds new homes for any medical equipment he is no longer using. He has a robust network of friends in the disability community, which he credits to his HCBS activities.

“Each member of the HCBS team serves as a recreational therapist, occupational therapist, and Big Brother/Big Sister combined,” Ramirez said. “We provide physical, mental, and social engagement. Our job is to empower veterans so they know that, even with lifelong challenges, they can live full lives as part of the community.”

To learn more about the HCBS program for combat wounded veterans, contact Jesus Ramirez at jramirez@lscarolinas.net or 910257-2027.

*The client’s initials are used to protect his privacy.

HCBS Program Director Jesus Ramirez, left, and veteran S.C.

LSC’s new partnership puts estate planning tools at your fingertips

During 2023, LSC provided essential services and programs that allowed our communities to prosper and thrive — and it wouldn’t have happened without supporters like you. Thank you for making a difference for seniors, children, families, adults, and New Americans.

As 2024 unfolds, each of us holds the pen to write the impactful stories of our lives. At LSC, we are inspired to bring to life the abundance of which Christ spoke in John 10:10 — ensuring a life full of compassion and care for all we serve.

In this light, LSC is excited to share our new partnership with FreeWill — a partnership that provides our supporters with an array of tax-smart giving options and a free estate planning tool. Within just 20 minutes you can create a plan, drafting documents easily and intuitively.

Maybe you’re in the 54% of Americans (according to the Gallup organization) who already have a will. Or maybe

www.freewill.com/

not. Maybe you haven’t updated your will in a long time or have moved to a new state. In addition to updating a will, FreeWill can help you create and update other documents. These include:

• Medical directives

• Powers of attorney

• Revocable Living Trusts

... just to name a few features that FreeWill offers.

While older Americans and those with higher incomes are more likely to have a will, there are many exceptions. With FreeWill, it’s easy to ensure that your affairs are in order and

Create My Will

www.freewill.com/lsc

The heart of our faith lies in an understanding of the profound generosity of God. Our Father, in His infinite love and mercy, gave us His only Son, Jesus Christ — to teach us, to heal us, and ultimately to redeem us (John 3:16). In this spirit of divine generosity, we strive to live our mission at Lutheran Services Carolinas: “Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.”

your legacy is secure. LSC’s partnership with FreeWill.com is a win! Your

family wins as you protect what matters most. LSC wins, should you choose to designate a planned gift to LSC. And finally, those whom we serve win! Children, adults, seniors, New Americans, families… many of our vulnerable neighbors could benefit from your generosity… and quite possibly, for generations to come!

To get started with FreeWill, please scan the QR codes or visit the links located beneath each QR code. Questions? Please contact the Rev. Tennyson Shifley at Tshifley@lscarolinas.net or 704-651-8660.

LSC is happy to announce that Erin Kidd has assumed the role of Director of Communications. In her new role, she oversees all external and internal communications, marketing, and public relations including both print and digital media.

Kidd has 12 years of experience in journalism and communications. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Catawba College. After graduation, she served as a reporter with the The Daily Courier in Forest City, NC and with The

Independent Tribune in Concord, NC. Kidd joined LSC in 2019 as a marketing specialist and was promoted to communications manager in 2021.

“I’ve always been a writer,” she says. “At LSC, I love meeting people and hearing how our services change lives. Sharing their stories brings me joy.”

In her free time, Kidd enjoys reading, Instagramming, spending time with her friends and family (including two photogenic cats) and exploring all that Charlotte has to offer.

2023HIGHLIGHTS

LSC opened its new Day Services for Youth Program in Columbia, South Carolina. Through a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the program offers foster youth a safe place to learn and grow during the day. The program is in a renovated space at Reformation Lutheran Church. The church has been an integral partner of LSC over the years and also provides space for LSC’s New Americans Program office in Columbia.

To further its work with youth in foster care, LSC also opened an Emergency Bed Program in Columbia in December to provide overnight care for those without a permanent placement. Youth that utilize the program typically range in age from 13-18 and are also participants in the Day Services for Youth Program.

LSC’s New American clients now have access to lowcost and pro bono legal immigration services through the New Americans Immigration Program. Services include helping clients secure their green cards (permanent resident cards), applying for asylum, and helping them bring their families to the United States.

In 2023, LSC opened New Americans Program offices in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Salisbury, North Carolina. After discussing resettlement needs across the Carolinas with Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, or LIRS), LSC selected the two locations that would serve the most people. They join LSC’s New Americans Program offices in Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia in South Carolina and Raleigh and Asheville in North Carolina.

LSC continued its never-ending journey for Justice. Along with adding its Justice value in 2021, LSC promotes equality for all. Milestones include a strategic plan strong in diversity/equity/inclusion and organization led by a board that is currently 45 percent persons of color.

2023HIGHLIGHTS

LSC announced free tuition for any teammate to pursue a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse certification through the North Carolina community college system. This exciting opportunity is part of LSC’s commitment to the growth and continuing education of every teammate. The scholarship is open to any LSC teammate who meets the eligibility requirements and is interested in pursuing a career in nursing. LSC has for years had a career lattice where every teammate can grow in their own job or grow into new positions.

Construction officially began on Trinity Village Independent Living in Hickory, North Carolina, in October. LSC celebrated this milestone with a Blessing of the Build in November. Trinity Village Independent Living will offer reasonably priced senior apartments designed to meet the evolving needs of our aging population. This community will offer a wide range of amenities and services tailored to support independence and well-being. The project will begin with 72 one-andtwo-bedroom apartments on Springs Rd. on the campus of Trinity Village.

Positioning itself for the future, LSC invested $1 million in NovusWay, a four-site Christian camp and conference ministry that offers youth summer camp and year-round retreats. LSC’s Board of Directors approved an investment in NovusWay of $1,050,000, which will transfer the ownership of the leased land occupied by Trinity View to LSC. This also gives LSC the option for a future purchase of up to three acres for future expansion of Trinity View in Arden, North Carolina.

To combat staff shortages, LSC came up with a creative way to help fill vacant certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions by giving teammates the opportunity to become certified while they work. Trinity Grove in Wilmington, North Carolina was the pilot for the Nurse Aide I Training Program that has now been expanded to several of LSC’s senior living communities. This North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services program is designed to provide entry level nurse aide students with skills essential for providing resident care under the general supervision of a registered nurse (RN).

(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

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

“Enjoy life while you can!” Trinity Elms resident turns

When Lindsay Tise was a boy, he saddled up his trusty multicolor pony, Prince, and meandered down the dirt road from his father’s Forsyth County, N.C., farm to deliver newspapers for pocket money. The second youngest of nine children, he attended a tworoom schoolhouse where all ages learned together, and the students drank fresh water that they carried themselves in buckets from a nearby spring.

“Things were just simpler then,” he reflects. But Tise is a man who adapts to the times. Today, the 105-year-old resident of Trinity Elms Assisted Living still makes the most of each day, enjoying the company of friends and, above all, a good game of golf —

whether he is watching or playing.

While Tise enjoys competing, he adds, “it’s just fun to be out there hitting the ball and seeing where it goes.” He was out golfing as recently as last summer, and one of his golf buddies visits almost every day.

Tise’s secret to a long and healthy life? “My wife, Frances, was so good to me. She was the love of my life. We were married 71 years and had two sons, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.” Since Frances’s passing in 2013, Tise says, “I try to be easygoing. Trinity Elms is a nice place to live. Everyone here is compatible. You have to enjoy life while you can!”