Voices - Summer 2023

goins on

By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president

LSC is a great brand

Lutheran Services Carolinas is a great brand. Since 1960 we have been known for our senior services ministry and since 1976 for our child and family ministry.

As I write this, I am in the middle of our annual Tour de LSC. Part of that tour is a State of LSC presentation to our teammates at each tour location. I spend a good bit of time talking about our Vision, Mission, and Values.

I explain that we are unapologetically a Lutheran/Christian nonprofit ministry. One doesn’t need to be Lutheran or Christian to be served by or work for LSC, but we were founded by the Lutheran church and we honor that heritage. That’s why Lutheran is in our name and Christ is in our mission and vision statements. Many of our most loyal and supportive teammates and

clients/residents are Jewish, Muslim, or of other or no faiths. LSC has adopted the motto All Are Welcome. We mean it, that all are welcome under the tent of Lutheran Services Carolinas. We even encourage starting all meetings with prayer but encourage non-Christians to not participate or pray their own prayer simultaneously. See, All Are Welcome. Branding an organization is complicated. We have so many programs and senior communities. We have always struggled with how to brand ourselves, and we struggle today. For example, the church and state and national governments need to know Lutheran Services Carolinas, and we have a strong reputation in those circles as a quality

provider of health and human services. But in our senior services communities, each community needs to be the brand. We really don’t care if people in Albemarle, NC know LSC; we need them to know that if they need the best nursing home in Stanly County, they need to go to Trinity Place.

Child and family programs present other issues. We have so many different programs in numerous communities and across two states! We have to decide often about using the LSC brand or sub-branding. Again, it’s not simple and we will continue to find our way.

The important point, though, is to keep our eyes on LSC’s Vision, Mission, and Values, and how we live that out as All Are Welcome. If we keep our eyes on that prize, we will continue to be successful in caring for our residents and clients.

Lutheran Services Carolinas receives $20,000 grant for WeCo Cottage

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) is excited to announce it received a $20,000 Connected Communities grant from the Central Carolina Community Foundation to support WeCo Cottage, it’s collegiate recovery program.

“We are proud to award a Connected Communities grant to Lutheran Services Carolinas for their WeCo Cottage project,” says Erin E. Johnson, vice president of community investment for the Central Carolina Community Foundation. “This project shines a light on an issue impacting multiple students and will help empower students in recovery to live, study, socialize and thrive in a supportive setting.”

WeCo Cottage, which officially opened in 2022, is a collegiate recovery

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Herndon is the You are the Key Award winner.

Pictured are LSC Director of Foundation Relations Melissa Parrish and South Carolina Business Developer Rachael Fulmer who accepted the grant on behalf of LSC. See WeCo

LSC Offers Free Tuition for RN/LPN Degrees

LSC has announced free tuition for any teammate to pursue their RN or LPN through the NC community college system. This exciting opportunity is part of LSC’s commitment to the growth and continuing education of every teammate.

“At LSC, we recognize that continuing education is essential to teammate growth and development, and to the success of our organization,” said LSC President Ted Goins. “That’s why we are proud to offer this scholarship program, which provides our teammates with the opportunity to grow and serve.”

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.

“This is so exciting for every LSC teammate,” added Goins. “Free tuition is good for our residents and good for all our teammates.”

This scholarship program reflects LSC’s ongoing commitment to supporting its teammates and providing the highest quality care to its residents. LSC is dedicated to fostering a culture of growth, learning, and service, and believes that investing in its teammates is essential to achieving this goal.

For more information about the LSC scholarship program, please contact LSC at (800) HELPING or visit www.lscarolinas.net. Learn

• 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.

Goins receives 2023 Paragon Award from Lutheran Services in America

LSC President and CEO Ted Goins has been presented with the 2023 Paragon Award from Lutheran Services in America (LSA).

Lutheran Services in America launched a new tradition in 2021 to recognize distinguished member organizations in the network each year for their exceptional work and leadership and for exemplifying our core values through its Leadership Awards.

The Paragon Award, also known as The Ken Daly Award for Excellence in Mentorship, recognizes a leader with an exceptional gift for spotting potential in people and lifting up the next group of leaders.

“I am humbled and honored,” Goins said. “This award belongs to every teammate across LSC and the culture we have created together.”

Goins was presented with the award during LSA’s annual conference. His nomination said, “Ted listened, offered advice, and connected with Lutheran social ministry

leaders who were experiencing similar challenges. Through his generosity of time and mentorship and willingness to connect CEOs with other leaders, Goins helped his peers to see that they are not alone in navigating these challenges and has provided motivation and encouragement to pursue their goals.”

“We honor Ted’s exemplary leadership and his commitment to mentoring, listening, motivating and inspiring leaders across the country,” Alesia Frerichs, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America, said. “It’s leaders like Ted who make the Lutheran Services in America network so unique.”

Altamirano named Nurse Aide of the Year for District III

Congratulations to Sandra Nelson Altamirano of Trinity Glen who was named Nurse Aide of the Year for District III during the North Carolina Healthcare Facilities Association (NCHCFA) annual meeting.

Nelson Altamirano has been at Trinity Glen for 10 years. Teammates say she is all about compassion. She is supportive of her teammates and seeks out ways to assist them.

“I view my job as more than a job. I work hard and try to go above and beyond what is expected,” she said.

Trinity Glen Administrator Cissy McCoy said Nelson Altamirano is a leader. In the course of doing her treatments, she will lend a hand to other CNAs and she also encourages her teammates if they have questions.

“She has shown dedication to her job beyond normal duties. She focuses on exact physician orders, makes sure treatments are right, and communicates with physician services when she sees changes in wound conditions,” McCoy wrote in her nomination. “This is a great demonstration of excellence.”

Nelson Altamirano was also the recipient of LSC’s Loyal Service Award in 2022.

“When I started out as a nursing assistant I didn’t just like my job, I loved it! Seeing the smile on someone’s face brightens my day,” Nelson Altamirano said. “I always treat them the way I would want my loved ones to be treated and it is good to always go by the golden rule ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ This is a job that comes from the heart.”

Herndon receives You are the Key Award

Merri-Shannon Herndon says she is a social worker at heart. When she stepped into LSC’s electronic medical records (EMR) administrator position, her goal was to make the systems as efficient as possible so social workers could spend less time doing paperwork and more time with the children they serve.

“When we think of all the things that social workers do for the children, individuals, and families, and how far they go beyond to support the people we serve, the bottom line is we, the support people, have to go just as far to support them,” Herndon said. “That’s the bottom line.”

After graduating from Coker University with bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology, Herndon began her career as a human service specialist at the South Carolina Department of Social Services. In 2012, she accepted a position as a lead clinical specialist with LSC’s South Carolina foster care team.

While she was working on that team, LSC began to transfer to a new electronic medical records system.

“I volunteered for the setup team because I was a social worker who had too much paperwork to do, and it was taking up too much of my social work time. I lost time with the children because of the amount of paperwork and how it had to be done,” Herndon said. “From my perspective, if I was on the team helping set up this system, I could make sure the forms and things they set up for us in foster care were easy to complete and more efficient. That way we could spend more time with the children and the families.”

Herndon went to work, building easy-touse forms inside of the system for her foster care team, and then eventually all LSC’s South Carolina child and family programs. She was surprised to find that she loved building the system from the ground up.

Eventually, she moved from the foster

care team and became the EMR administrator.

As the administrator for multiple health information management systems, Herndon provides organizational and individualized configurations for over 20 programs that serve over 3,000 child, adult, and family recipients annually. She also manages data reporting, quality and compliance tools, electronic forms, onboarding, and provides user support for approximately 300 system users in North and South Carolina.

“We could have hired somebody from outside who understood systems, but we couldn’t get somebody from outside who understood LSC,” Herndon said. “In this niche of building out a software system to meet the needs of social workers, or nurses, teachers and clinicians, you need somebody who’s done that kind of work and knows what needs to be documented.”

YOU ARE THE KEY

It is obvious that Herndon’s peers appreciate her support because they selected her as the

2022 You Are the Key Teammate of the Year for LSC’s child and family services.

The LSC Way is a culture of exceptional customer services that aligns the mission, vision, and values of LSC. 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 these qualities consistently.

“Merri-Shannon never asks anything of anyone that she doesn’t do herself,” the nomination said. “If something needs to be done differently, she is the first to learn it and make the change. She spends hours of her free time learning everything she can of our software systems.”

When she was announced as the winner during the child and family Christmas party, Herndon was shocked. She was trying to move out of the way to make room for the winner to stand in front of everyone. Then she realized the description sounded like hers.

“I was totally shocked. I was moving out of the way. And then I was trying to listen and get out of the way, and he’s talking about stuff. It sounds like me, he keeps looking at me…” Herndon said. “It means a lot to me. This award is really special because it’s who we are. The LSC Way is how we do things and the approach we take to things. For somebody to think that I have those qualities means a lot. But on top of that, to know it was my peers who nominated me and my peers who voted means a whole lot more.”

She doesn’t work directly with children and families anymore, but she does support the people who do.

“Social workers give so much of themselves. The very least we can do is give them as much of ourselves as they give to the people we serve,” she said. “They need to know that somebody cares about how things affect them and how somebody is trying to make it more efficient and better so they can do what they love to do.”

Merri-Shannon Herndon was presented with her award by LSC teammate Matt Hembree during the child and family Christmas party in Columbia, South Carolina.

WOW Mitchell named WOW Award winner in South Carolina

Ali Mitchell, a volunteer with LSC’s New Americans Program, is the 2022 LSC WOW (Worker of Wonders) Award winner for South Carolina.

Mitchell was presented with this honor during a Shepherd Society event in Columbia, South Carolina.

“I didn’t feel worthy of it honestly,” Mitchell said. “Everybody is so kind.”

The WOW Award honors LSC volunteers who offer exemplary service and demonstrate significant dedication to the LSC ministry. For 2022, one volunteer in North Carolina and one volunteer in South Carolina were selected as WOW recipients.

When the LSC New Americans teammates in Columbia nominated Mitchell for the award, they were asked to share a heartwarming story about him. Their response was, “Ali is the heartwarming story!”

Mitchell assembled and led a Circle of Welcome, while also continuing to add Afghan families to help personally. LSC did not assign these clients to his circle; he requested the assignments and kept offering to help more people while always serving his matched families.

He organized and facilitated moves for these families, as well as countless transport trips to medical appointments, DMV, housing-related trips, DSS, birth certificate office, and many other places.

“I’ve been involved volunteering alongside LSC for maybe six years,” he said. “I have a flexible schedule that allows for more time than a lot of folks. I’ve been able to devote a lot of time. I’ve been blessed to do that.”

Mitchell also speaks Urdu from his time spent in Pakistan and served as an unofficial interpreter for the clients he took under his wing. Not only did Ali excel in service to many Afghan clients, but he also managed

to develop and maintain close, personal relationships with all of them. Teammates said that Mitchell and his wife, Tara, are beloved by so many of LSC’s clients.

“We work with three or four families.

We have spent a lot of time with them, and it’s been so rewarding and heartwarming,” Mitchell said. “I cannot imagine a universe where we are not in their lives. It’s like family.”

Ali Mitchell (center) was presented with his award during a Shepherd Society luncheon in Columbia, South Carolina. Here he is pictured with LSC New Americans Program Outreach Coordinator Sarah Lewis (left) and wife, Tara Mitchell.

Parker named WOW Award winner in North Carolina

Curtis Parker, a volunteer for Trinity Place in Albemarle, is the 2022 LSC WOW (Worker of Wonders) Award winner for North Carolina.

He was presented with the award during a Shepherd Society dinner at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury.

“This is very humbling. I don’t do it for any kind of awards,” Parker said. “I just do it because I love it.”

The WOW Award honors LSC volunteers who offer exemplary service and demonstrate significant dedication to the LSC ministry. For 2022, one volunteer in North Carolina and one volunteer in South Carolina were selected as WOW recipients.

Parker began volunteering at Trinity Place in 2016. He lives in Kannapolis, but is the minister of Albemarle Church of Christ, which is across the street from the senior living community.

“This being the ministry next door, I just have the heart to work with the residents here,” Parker said. “It just felt normal to me.”

Trinity Place Life Enrichment Director

Cora Ingle nominated Parker for this award. In her nomination form she said he has a great relationship with all the residents. He leads a Bible study, has monthly devotionals, and comes by on Sunday evenings to take residents to church services.

His church is also part of the community’s Adopt-A-Hall program at Christmas where they provide gifts for residents.

“He’s a cornerstone here. He’s never stopped visiting and is always dependable,” Ingle said. “We are so thrilled he is part of our program.”

For Parker, volunteering is a connection to one of his favorite devotions from Acts Chapter 3 in the Bible where Peter heals a lame beggar. The scripture says, “Silver or

gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

“When you think about folks who volunteer their time, they are giving you what they have. There may not be a lot of material

blessings, but sometimes time is the most precious thing you can give someone,” Parker said. “That’s what matters most. That’s how I try to live my life, so I’m truly blessed. I’m blessed to be working with such a great organization as Trinity Place.”

The journey for Journee

Couple adopts daughter from foster care system

Andy and Karen Scaife always imagined having a family would be easy and didn’t think about complications. Shortly after trying to start a family, Karen Scaife discovered she had infertility issues and both she and Andy were carriers of the same cystic fibrosis gene. This led them on the journey of private adoption.

They had no idea that journey would bring them to their own Journee, their adopted daughter.

THE JOURNEY TO FINDING JOURNEE

After years of waiting and wondering,

the private adoption agency the couple was working with fell into bankruptcy and they were back to square one. After a few years of processing, they decided to look into an area they investigated many years before, adopting from the foster care system. The first organization they did an information-sharing session with was LSC.

Pre-service training began right before COVID-19 disrupted everything. The couple loved LSC’s classes and made friends with three families who they are still in contact with today. They said the adoptive home study process was easy and LSC Adoptions Coordinator Jessica Johnson was

always there to answer questions. Once they were licensed and in the matching stage of the adoption process, Johnson was committed to find the right fit for the family.

“Andy and I heard so many times throughout this process that we would know immediately which child is meant to be part of your family, and this is precisely what happened,” Karen Scaife said. “I read about Journee and everything changed. Andy and I turned to each other and said, ‘I think she’s the one.’”

Once they decided to move forward, they met 7-year-old Journee a week later. They admitted they were nervous that she

Andy and Karen Scaife with daughter, Journee

wouldn’t like them, but once they started talking it was like they’d known each other forever.

“She felt like part of the family already, and we knew she could accomplish anything she wanted if she was just given the support needed,” Karen Scaife said.

After that first meeting, the family’s story was fast-tracked. They were initially expecting a six-month transition of visits, sleepovers, and getting-to-know each other activities. But before they got home from that first meeting with Journee they heard from Johnson that Journee would need to leave her current foster home as soon as possible.

“It wasn’t the original plan but a weekend of clearing out her bedroom, and Journee was with us! So we are a last-minute placement success story,” Karen Scaife said.

LIFE AS A FAMILY

The first time Andy and Karen Scaife met Journee, they printed out some photos with information about them to share with her. They told her to think about becoming a member of their family.

The photos are still a family tradition to this day.

“Every time we do something significant, we print out the pictures and Karen writes on all of them,” Andy Scaife said. “We just

WeCo, from page 2

housing program located in West Columbia, South Carolina. The program provides a substance-free living environment for four co-ed residents at a time, has a large indoor community space for onsite intercollegiate recovery meetings, and an outdoor space for substance free tailgating and other social events. WeCo Cottage serves as a safe space for students in recovery attending any of the institutes of higher education in the surrounding area.

LSC collaborated with local partners, including Gamecock Recovery, The Courage Center, and collegiate recovery programs, to establish the program and will continue to use their guidance to create engaging events for a diverse group of college students.

“Everyone deserves to live the abundant

got back from Disney, and we are on photobook number nine. Those are the things that mean a lot to Journee and you will sometimes find her just sitting and looking at the albums.”

But it hasn’t been all sunshine and laughter. Journee’s trauma history over the first seven years of her life was significant. She receives intensive in-home therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Other difficulties they have had to overcome include helping Journee adjust to a

new school, remote learning, and working diligently to reassure Journee that she was safe, wanted, and loved in their home.

“To be honest, it was very difficult at times. I would be lying if I did not share that we have all cried together wondering if things would get better,” Karen Scaife said. “Things did get better, and we could not imagine our life without Journee. She is the bravest person we’ve ever met. She is so funny, beautiful, and smart.”

Journee officially became part of the family in November 2021. She is now nine and Andy and Karen have no regrets about adopt from foster care.

“We love Journee’s name because it was our journey,” Andy Scaife said. “The whole time we were looking for the right match. When we met her, it just felt right.”

“Andy and I know we would not have our family without the support of Lutheran Services Carolinas. We owe them so much,” Karen Scaife said. “Our advice is to be open and honest with your adoption coordinator and trust the process. It’s not easy to adopt a foster child. They all have trauma, and some have significant needs, but they are worth it. They are our children.”

For more information about LSC’s foster care and adoption programs, visit https:// lscarolinas.net/adoption/.

living vision of Lutheran Services Carolinas,” said LSC President Ted Goins. “We are grateful to the Central Carolina Community Foundation for this grant to help us provide abundant living to students in recovery.”

About Connected Communities grant initiative

Central Carolina Community Foundation awarded $370,000 to 14 organizations this year through its Connected Communities grant. The 14 nonprofits will launch projects that improve the quality of life in the Midlands by building a more livable, equitable and just community to live, work, play and raise a family.

In its ninth year, the Community Foundation’s Connected Communities grant initiative helps connect residents to

their community and knits the Midlands together. Since inception, grants totaling $3,112,573 have been awarded to support local projects.

Connected Communities grants are funded by the Foundation’s Community Impact Endowment fund and several Field of Interest funds. These funds were established with generous gifts from visionary donors who knew their unrestricted gifts would allow the Foundation to respond to the ever-changing needs and opportunities in our region for generations.

The selected projects are located in Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry and Richland Counties but will serve residents in CCCF’s entire 11-county service area.

For more information about Connected Communities grants, visit www.yourfoundation.org/grants or call 803.254.5601.

LSC launches Trinity Recovery

Trinity Recovery Program Director

Richard Breibart said the work he does is far more than a job, it’s a passion.

“It’s a passion that every day, we want somebody to be doing better than the day before,” Breibart said.

LSC’s new Trinity Recovery program was created through a $200,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS). The faith-based Recovery Community Organization’s purpose is to collaborate with partners in providing services in Richland, Lexington, Greenwood, and Newberry counties in South Carolina. The program partners with churches and other non-profit organizations to assist those with substance use disorders.

Trinity Recovery is LSC’s third recovery program. The nonprofit also has Kinard Manor, a recovery home for women in Greenwood, South Carolina, and WeCo Cottage, a collegiate recovery home in West Columbia, South Carolina.

“The primary things we do are assist congregations and nonprofits in becoming recovery-informed, and just a friendlier place for folks to come out of their shame and guilt of substance use,” Breibart said. “We also help people find housing, resources, jobs, clothing, and food.”

‘IT’S A CALLING’

Breibart and Trinity Recovery Program Manager Rachel Jackson both have a history with substance use disorders. They both say this job is a calling.

Jackson began using substances when she was 14. She got sober at 28 and stayed substance-free for 19 years. But then she said she

encountered some major life events, and she began using substances again.

“I came back into recovery about four years ago, and I’ve totally rebuilt my life. Part of my passion for substance use disorder is my own experience. I’ve lost friends and family members to substance use disorder,” Jackson said. “So, it’s a personal passion. I feel like it’s a calling. I’m using all the things that I thought were so terrible to help someone else now.”

“Legendary” is the word that Breibart uses when describing how Jackson works one-onone with people.

“She adopts people so to speak,” he said. “So, they rely on her for treatment, advice, information, for food and clothing. We are both really blessed to be in a position like this.”

Before going into recovery, Breibart said he had what looked like a perfect life because he was able to hide his addictions. He lived with them for several years until he said various events led him to a final crash.

After he began his recovery journey, he

said that his church community welcomed him with open arms, and he was involved in a volunteer recovery program through the episcopal church before securing the position with LSC.

“LSC is a wonderful employer that understands the work that we do is what God wants us to do,” he said. “The more people we can help, the better it is for everybody.”

TRINITY RECOVERY RIBBON CUTTING

LSC held an open house and dedication event for Trinity Recovery in March 2023. Those who attended the event included Sara Goldsby, director for the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, Pastor Paul Aebischer and Associate Pastor Joanna Gragg from Ebenezer Lutheran Church, and LSC Board Member David Turner.

ELCA South Carolina Synod Bishop Ginny Aebischer and Director of Evangelical Missions Pastor James Henricks led the dedication ceremony.

National Collegiate Recovery Day

LSC teammates participated in National Collegiate Recovery Day at the State House in South Carolina. LSC was a sponsor for the day because we have the first collegiate recovery house in the state of South Carolina, WeCo Cottage.

Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette joined the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services and academic partners from across the state to recognize National Collegiate Recovery Day.

LSC Business Developer Rachael Fulner accepted the Governor’s proclamation along with the Director of DAODAS to designate April 13, 2023, as Collegiate Recovery Day. LSC Staff from WeCo Cottage and Trinity Recovery were in attendance.

Lutheran Services Carolinas holds dedication for its newest office

With the announcement of LSC’s newest New Americans Program office in Myrtle Beach, the nonprofit hosted a dedication and open house on Sunday, March 12.

After discussing resettlement needs across the Carolinas with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), the organization decided to expand to two more locations to serve the most people – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Salisbury, North Carolina. The two newest locations join LSC’s offices in Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina and Asheville, North

Carolina.

“The dream is coming true in a big way. We are making new Americans, and we are building up this community with diversity, workers, and an entrepreneurial spirit,” LSC President Ted Goins said. “People just want a chance to thrive – to live. And they have escaped from either death or from persecution, from wherever they come from. And they just want a chance to live the American dream.”

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce plans on supporting the program by connecting the refugees to jobs.

“That’s going to be the big part of this is helping to get the word out and then connecting business owners to these wonderful people that will be coming through Lutheran Services Carolinas,” said Karen Riordan, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

South Carolina Synod Bishop Ginny Aebischer led those in attendance in a prayer and officially dedicated the office.

Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church also presented LSC with a $17,000 donation to support the LSC New Americans Program.

LSC lights the way at the North Carolina Azalea Festival

It was a beautiful weekend in Wilmington at the festival in Wilmington with Trinity Landing, Trinity Grove, and LSC Foster Care teammates. Thank you to the LSC donor who sponsored our float in the parade!

• Rev. Thulie Beresford

Summerville, SC

• Dr. Sylvia A. Flack

Winston-Salem, NC

• Ms. Sharon Graeber

Greensboro, NC

• Mr. Rick Herman

Weaverville, NC

• Mrs. Kaye Leonard

Lexington, NC

Lutheran Services Carolinas Boards of Trustees 2022-2023

• Mr. Hoang H. Nguyen

Durham, NC

• Mr. David E. Turner

Columbia, SC

• Rev. Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson

Charlotte, NC

• Dr. Capri Foy

Winston-Salem, NC

• Mr. Cary Grant

Durham, NC

• Mr. Greg Hudgins, Chair

Durham, NC

• Dr. Joel Miller

Hickory, NC

• Dr. Reneé Rogers

Kernersville, NC

• Mrs. Anna Yonge

Lexington, SC

• Rev. Mary Finklea

Florence, SC

• Mr. Ted Goins

Salisbury, NC

• Mrs. Tami Hefner

Conover, NC

• Mrs. Frances Lamb

Wilmington, NC

• Mr. Doug Nelson

Tobaccoville, NC

• Rev. Will Rose

Chapel Hill, NC

Lutheran Services Carolinas Board of Advisors 2022-2023

• The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. James Aull (Ginny)

White Rock, SC

• Mr. Wayne Bach

Hickory, NC

• Dr. Jill Bates

Apex, NC

• Ms. Miji Bell

Baltimore, MD

• Mrs. Terry Bellamy

Asheville, NC

• Mrs. Sarah Benbow

Cary, NC

• Mrs. Andrea Benfield

Newton, NC

• Ms. Maggie Blackwell

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Larry Bowman (Beth)

Newton, NC

• The Revs. Jann Boyd & Kevin

Ogilvie

Lexington, SC

• Mrs. Betty Brown

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Don Bumgarner (Nancy)

Conover, NC

• Dr. Jim Chapman

Columbia, SC

• Mr. David Cooke

Greenville, SC

• Mr. & Mrs. Richard Cosgrove (Kay)

Richfield, NC

• Ms. Christine Crater

Lexington, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Luther Dasher (Diane)

Fort Mill, SC

• Mr. & Mrs. Tony Deely (Louise)

Mt. Pleasant, SC

• Mr. Damon Dequenne

Winston-Salem, NC

• The Rev. Dr. David Donges

Columbia, SC

• Dr. & Mrs. Robert Gaither (Donna)

Albemarle, NC

• The Rev. Jennifer Ginn

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Thomas Gipson

Raleigh, NC

• Dr. David Goltra

Mt. Pleasant, SC

• Mrs. Ellen Hearne

Florence, SC

• Mr. Josef Herz-Lane

Apex, NC

• The Rev. Wolfgang Herz-Lane

Apex, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. William Hillegass (Doris)

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Perry Hood

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. James Huddle (Jane)

Glen Allen, VA

• Mrs. Connie Hurlocker

Salisbury, NC

• Mrs. Betty Hussey

Durham, NC

• Mr. White Iddings

Hickory, NC

• Mr. Bert Joines, Sr.

Winston-Salem, NC

• The Rev. David Keck, Jr.

Mooresville, NC

• Ms. Marsha Kinley

Belmont, NC

• Mr. Robert Klepfer, Jr.

Greensboro, NC

• Ms. Sybil Lackey

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Leroy Lail (Lynn)

Conover, NC

• Mrs. Monica Lavery

Raleigh, NC

• Mr. James Lippard

Winston-Salem, NC

• Mrs. Betty Lohr

Hickory, NC

• Ms. Marie Magaletti

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Matangira (Nicole)

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Van Matthews (Melinda)

Greenville, SC

• The Rev. Dr. James A. McDaniels

Greensboro, NC

• Mr. Will McKaughan

Rock Hill, SC

• Mrs. Loretta Meyers

Wilmington, NC

• The Rev. Dr. Jane Mitcham

Lexington, SC

• Mr. George Moretz

Hickory, NC

• Mr. Robert Mullinax, Sr.

Newton, NC

• Mr. Zachary Osborne

Raleigh, NC

• Mr. James Owens

Myrtle Beach, SC

• Mrs. Mary Ponds

Granite Quarry, NC

• Mrs. Beth Pottle

Wilmington, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Bill Sliney (Nora)

Rock Hill, SC

• The Rev. David Sloop

Durham, NC

• Ms. Zandra Spencer

Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Steve StanfieldSwitzer (Vicki)

Wilmington, NC

• The Rev. Dr. Scott Suskovic

Charlotte, NC

• Mr. Hans Teich

Matthews, NC

• Mrs. Eloise Thomas

Matthews, NC

• Mr. Eric Vaughn

Raleigh, NC

• The Rev. Andrew Weisner

Hickory, NC

• The Rev. Gregory Williams

Hendersonville, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. David Yount (Susan)

Charlotte, NC

• Mr. Geary Milliken

Johns Island, SC

LSC by the numbers

In 2022 more than 1,900 Lutheran Services Carolinas teammates, along with 2,940 donors, 4,733 advocates and more than 1,200 volunteers, improved the lives of more than 6,300 Carolinians.

Our volunteers gave 15,800 hours of service to our senior living communities.

Over 427,000 days of residential services were provided to NC seniors.

LSC's child and family programs served 3,629 individuals and families.

13 veterans have been helped through the partnership with Wounded Warrior.

60 families in the Carolinas were assisted by LSC’s disaster services team.

In North and South Carolina, 399 people were served through the foster care program.

155 children were served through LSC’s Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP).

LSC has assisted seven families in pursuing their dream of private adoption.

LSC’s New Americans Program served 1,876 individuals in the Carolinas.

84 unaccompanied children found loving, temporary foster homes in LSC's Transitional Foster Care Program in South Carolina.

130 individuals were served through the Strengthening Families program in South Carolina.

CORE VALUES

Collaborate: Trust, enjoy, and cooperate to enrich your workplace. Compassion: Recognize the unhappiness of others and act to change it.

Excellence: Any job worth doing is worth doing well. Strive for excellence

Faith: Love, serve, and be joyful in your work. Support and forgive.

Integrity: Work honestly, seek help, admit failure.

Justice: Create a just culture throughout the organization and in all the communities we serve.

Respect: Recognize the gifts and worth of everyone.

LSC Senior Services OPERATIONS STATEMENT

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

The fiscal year ended with an operating income of $7,625,992 which was well above budgeted expectations and FYE 2021 results. Revenue included significant Medicaid rate add-ons during the year resulting in additional Medicaid revenue of $7.1 million despite skilled nursing occupancy being well below historical norms. Moreover, there were $2.4 million in COVID related revenues: $1.5 million was provider relief funds (PRF) that were reported on during the year and $900k was a North Carolina Direct Care Worker bonus that was passed on to eligible health care workers. As revenue grew by approximately 4.7%, expense also grew by a similar 4.4% compared to 2021. The largest category of growth was Salaries and Wages which increased almost 8% (which included the expense for the North Carolina Direct Care Worker bonus referenced above). Unfortunately, workforce issues remain one of the major significant issues facing LSC senior services and the industry in general.

LSC Child and Family

LSC senior services has been able to participate in governmental grant programs sparked by COVID. The first was the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) followed by the employee retention credit (ERC) program. The resulting funding was nearly $17 million to the organization.

PROGRAMS BY STATE

LSA’s Trinity Landing project in Wilmington NC had its grand opening on Sunday November 6th. While punch list items throughout and work on Phase II villas continues into the new fiscal year, there have been 125 move-ins totaling nearly 200 residents by 09/30/2023; beyond moveins there are 56 – 10% depositors.

LSC child and family services had a strong fiscal year with operating income including unrestricted contributions and other changes of $3,428,952. Included are COVID-related revenues of $223,942 and Paycheck Protection Program(PPP) Loan forgiveness

(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.”

LSC celebrated Black History Month

LSC celebrated Black History Month with a Trinity Place resident who made history.

Labonnie Knight was the first black cheerleader at Albemarle High School during her senior year in 1970-1971.

According to the Stanly County Museum, who recently came to Trinity Place to interview Knight about her experience, the Albemarle school system implemented its initial integration measures in 1965.

Knight began attending Albemarle High School when she was in the 10th grade and couldn’t try out for the cheerleading squad until her senior year when the school decided they would have one black member. Three other black students tried out, but since they only agreed to have one, Knight was the only one who made it.

Dion Brooks, Knight’s son, is working to preserve black history like this in Stanly County. He is currently working to protect black history and landmarks, especially within the South Albemarle area, through his nonprofit organization Stanly Avengers, which was founded two years ago.

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