goins on
By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president and CEO
Coming together after helene
Gary gets it.
Lutheran Services Carolinas received a very kind letter from Trinity View teammate Gary Howell thanking LSC for its support during Hurricane Helene. LSC has received many such messages. Most people get it that we are one, that we couldn’t survive separately, and that we are better together.
Helene was a great reminder. In the days leading up to the hurricane, LSC staff advised each building to top off the generator; order extra food, disposable supplies, and medical supplies; clean out storm drains; etc. Group homes, refugee families, foster families, teammates, and other members of the LSC family were encouraged to review their written disaster plans, lay in extra food, and so on. Many of us get caught up in daily life and don’t remember to do these things; LSC was there to remind us all to prepare.
the scene early Sunday morning to help and assess. They found both Trinity View and Aston Park on emergency generators and with no water! By Sunday afternoon, a van load of oxygen, linens, batteries, and other necessities had arrived.
LSC mobilized quickly. Teammates from all over LSC — including Trinity Grove, Trinity Landing, Trinity Oaks, Trinity Ridge, Trinity Village, the Trinity Support Team, and the LSC Administrative Office — came to relieve their exhausted peers, some of whom had suffered the loss of family, homes, and cars. Residents, too, were eager to help by donating funds and clothing. The outpouring from LSC’s Wilmington communities was especially touching; many teammates there remembered LSC sending help during Hurricane Florence, and they wanted to return the favor.
lumbia — a monumental effort by LSC teammates and volunteers.
The wider community, our state, and the entire nation also came to the rescue. Local people showed up at Aston Park with truckloads of water, nonperishable foods, and cleaning supplies. A local church, then a former teammate, then a procession of others arrived with additional reinforcements. LSC’s statewide networks — the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association and LeadingAge North Carolina — were invaluable in gathering state resources and cutting red tape. Both set up funds to support staff in need. Other senior living communities, including Southminster, Sharon Towers, and DeerField Episcopal Retirement Community, helped with Aston Park and Trinity View’s laundry until I-40 reopened and we could transport it to Trinity Village and Trinity Ridge.
LSC also soared in the aftermath. LSC senior leaders kept in contact during the storm — and as soon afterward as contact could be made. Thanks in part to LSC’s Disaster Response Director Ilham Thurston, who was embedded in the North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center, the state even sent a helicopter to check on Aston Park and 17 other nursing homes in the hurricane area.
On Sunday, September 29, the cavalry began to arrive. Even though most roads were reported closed, Chief Operating Officer Kesha Smith and Vice President of Senior Services Courtney Johnson were on
Smith, Johnson, and other senior leaders quickly set up a system to coordinate needed services and supplies. Gaines Oil came to the rescue on that Sunday, refilling Aston Park’s generator fuel as it was nearing depletion. Foothills Water Service quickly located two 6,000-gallon water tankers, and by Tuesday they were stationed at Aston Park and Trinity View. Maintenance teammates from Trinity Village and representatives from Eneco Plumbing in Hickory connected a giant tanker of water to the building as a temporary solution. Some refugees from our Asheville New Americans Program were relocated to Morganton, Hickory, and Co-
FEMA, state officials and regulators, the City of Asheville, and Buncombe County deserve all the praise for coming to help quickly. FEMA installed a more sustainable water solution until regular water service could be restored. As I write this on October 18, city water is just now in the process of being restored. Hallelujah!
It will take LSC months to recover; it will take our teammates months or years; it will take Western North Carolina years and billions of dollars. LSC gives thanks for every soul who found a way to help.
LSC is grateful for what Gary knows: that it takes the whole family to be successful. We are better together; it’s The LSC Way!
On the cover: Trinity View Chaplain Kenneth Langsdorf fills a receptacle with water provided by Foothills Water Service as part of Hurricane Helene relief.
LSC continues climbing ranks of nonprofit senior service providers
LSC is now the 37th largest nonprofit senior service provider in the United States, up from 40th last year. It maintained its status as the largest nonprofit senior service provider in North Carolina, according to the LeadingAge Ziegler 200 list, which ranks the largest multi-site providers of nonprofit aging services in the nation.
LSC is ranked 18th nationwide for number of nursing care beds, up from 20th last year, and it ranks 77th for number of independent living units, up from 78th last year. Additional independent living units will debut this fall with the opening of Trinity Village independent living in Hickory, North Carolina.
The organization’s rank for number of
assisted living units declined slightly to No. 56 from No. 55, in line with national trends.
“Growth only matters to us as a measure of how many more people we can serve,” said LSC President and Chief Executive Officer Ted W. Goins, Jr. “It’s nice for LSC to be recognized, but the mission is what’s important.”
LSC owns and operates 11 senior living communities in North Carolina including Aston Park (Asheville), GlenFlora (Lumberton), Trinity Elms (Clemmons), Trinity Glen (Winston-Salem), Trinity Grove and Trinity Landing (Wilmington), Trinity Oaks (Salisbury), Trinity Place (Albemarle), Trinity Ridge and Trinity Village (Hickory), and Trinity View (Arden). LSC also provides adult day services, home care services, and affordable senior housing in North Carolina, and it is a partner in four PACE programs (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly).
The LeadingAge Ziegler report does not include approximately $50 million in annual revenue from LSC’s child and family ministry.
Trinity Village independent living to open this winter
LSC’s newest independent living apartments in Hickory, North Carolina are set to open this winter on the campus of Trinity Village.
Trinity Village independent living will offer faith-based, nonprofit, independent living senior apartments designed to meet the evolving needs of our aging population, providing them with a vibrant and fulfilling living experience.
“We are so excited to add independent living to our already robust campus at Trinity Village,” LSC Chief Operating Officer Kesha Smith said. “It has been a pleasure working with David E. Looper & Company to bring this project to Hickory. We’re looking forward to serving even more people.”
LSC officially broke ground on the apartments in October 2023, and they are set to officially open before Christmas.
If you are interested in learning more about the apartments or taking a tour, contact Regional Marketing Director Teresa Suttles at 828-404-3232.
The apartments are located at 1255 21st NE, Hickory, NC 28601.
&Scholarship service
LSC and teammates grow together
ongratulations to the 20 teammates who received a total of $65,966 in scholarships from LSC for the 2024-2025 academic year! Through four different scholarship programs, 12 teammates will advance their nursing degrees, five will pursue master’s degrees, and three will work toward other professional degrees. LSC’s scholarship programs are designed to help talented teammates advance their careers and enhance our service to clients and residents.
“LSC is committed to lifelong learning and growth,” said LSC President and Chief Executive Officer Ted W. Goins, Jr. “We are thrilled that our 20 scholarship-winning teammates are growing to better themselves and our organization.”
GRADY SCHOLARSHIP
Established through a bequest from the late E. B. Grady, Jr, this scholarship supports the professional advancement of teammates on the Trinity Oaks campus in Salisbury, North Carolina.
The Grady Scholarship recipient for 2024 is Billie Marie Logsdon, a certified nurse assistant at Trinity Oaks health and rehab. Logsdon is studying to become a licensed practical nurse.
HOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS
Nine LSC teammates received Hollar Scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. Established by Bryce Hollar in memory of his wife, Margie Hefner Hollar, and her LSC caregivers, this scholarship helps direct-care teammates pursue additional education that will advance their ability to care for clients.
Recipients in North Carolina include Angela Blanton of Trinity Grove (Wilmington); Tracy Davis of Trinity Glen (Winston-Salem); Jasmine Lindsey of LSC’s Assertive Community Treatment Team (Chapel Hill); Daniel Thompson of LSC’s Asheville New Americans Program; Jay Hoke and Jessica
4 scholarship programs 20 scholarship recipients
6
Through these scholarships…
CNAs will become LPNs
5 LPNs will become RNs
1 RN will receive a BSN
South Carolina recipients include Denesha Jarrett-Mitchell of LSC’s Myrtle Beach New Americans Program and Carlos Rondón León of LSC’s Transitional Foster Care program for Unaccompanied Children (Columbia).
LSC SCHOLARSHIPS
The LSC Scholarship supports qualified teammates whose studies will enhance their ability to grow with LSC. This year’s recipients include two teammates at Trinity Ridge: Administrator Hannah Huffman, who is pursuing a Master of Health Administration degree, and Cook Casspian Beach, who is studying Culinary Arts. Also receiving LSC Scholarships are Teammate Services Specialist Cora Ingle, who is studying Organizational Communications, and Fatma Mohamed of LSC’s Raleigh New Americans Program, who is working toward a Paralegal Certificate.
Learn more about LSC
• by following LSC on Facebook and Instagram
• by following LSC President Ted Goins on X at TedGoinsLSCPrez
• or by visiting the LSC website at www.LSCarolinas.net.
5 teammates will pursue master’s degrees
3 teammates will pursue other studies that advance their careers
NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS
The LSC Nursing Tuition Program is available to any teammate in any department at a nursing or assisted living facility who wishes to pursue a community college degree in nursing. There is no requirement for length of service at LSC, and teammates who work in other LSC locations or programs may transfer to a senior care facility in order to apply.
Nursing Scholarship recipients for 20242025 include Crystal Chamberlain of Trinity Ridge; Gloria Evans of Aston Park (Asheville); Jane Fowler of Trinity Grove; Tilder Jane Hunt of GlenFlora (Lumberton); Sadie Jarvis of Trinity Village; and JaPrella Lee of Trinity Elms health and rehab (Clemmons). Scholarship applications are announced in the Scuttlebutt teammate newsletter and are due on June 1 of each year.
LSC is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. To learn more about career opportunities at LSC, visit lscarolinas.net/ careers.
Mangum of Trinity Village (Hickory); and Liz Warner of Trinity Ridge (also in Hickory).
New Members, New Chair for LSC Board
Four new members have joined the LSC Board of Trustees since this summer: Larry Gates, Zach Osborne, Eunika Simons, and Nisha Singh. In addition, the board thanked outgoing Chair Greg Hudgins for his service and welcomed new Chair Doug Nelson, who assumed the role in September 2024.
Larry Gates is a material and process development scientist who recently retired from Fiberon - Fortune Brands Innovation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Quality, Gates held management positions in research and development, quality, and manufacturing for over 40 years. He and his wife, Tammi, reside in Wilmington, North Carolina, where they attend Lutheran Church of Reconciliation. They have been leaders in the Lutheran Via de Cristo movement for 12 years and received LSC’s North Carolina Philanthropists of the Year Award in 2023. The Gateses have two adult daughters and were blessed with their first grandchild, Molly Elizabeth Ingram, on July 11, 2024.
Zachary Osborne is president and co-founder of Rios Partners, LLC, and an adjunct instructor at Duke University’s San-
ford School of Public Policy. Osborne volunteers with LSC’s New Americans Program and has over a decade of strategic consulting experience with nonprofit, commercial, and government organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy, served as an officer in the U.S. Army Infantry, and holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Osborne attends Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is an avid competitor in para-triathlons. He and his wife, Jessica, reside in Raleigh with their four children.
Dr. Eunika Simons (not pictured) is an assistant professor in and Chair of the Social Work Department at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Social Work, and Master of Public Health degrees at the University of South Carolina and completed a Ph.D. in Health Services Policy and Management at the University’s Arnold School of Public Health. She also holds nonprofit leadership certificates from Francis Marion University and the University of Georgia. Dr. Simons is active in the Rotary Club of Spring Valley, Junior League of South Carolina, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She also serves on United Way’s Community Impact Board and Health Council. Dr. Si-
mons attends St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church and enjoys traveling, research, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Nisha Singh is a professor and Interim Dean of the School of Business at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. Dr. Singh holds a Master of Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Economics from HNB Garhwal University in India; she belongs to the American Economic Association and the International Association of Technology and Management. In addition, she serves with Enactus, an international organization using the power of entrepreneurship to improve quality of life, and the Divi Welfare Society, a youth-driven non-governmental organization in India. Dr. Singh and her husband, Amod, reside in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
LSC’s new board chair, Doug Nelson, was most recently the finance chair. He also served for nine years previously. Before retiring, Nelson was a Certified Public Accountant and the treasurer of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Virginia Tech. Nelson lives in Tobaccoville, North Carolina, with his wife, Kathy. They attend Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem and have two daughters and two grandchildren with a third on the way.
Larry Gates
Doug Nelson
Zach Osborne
Nisha Singh
David Moore
Teresa Suttles
New Role, New Hire for WNC Senior Services
Trinity View in Asheville has new leadership, and LSC’s Western North Carolina senior living communities have additional marketing support, with the promotion of Teresa Suttles to regional marketing director and the hiring of David Moore as Trinity View executive director and Licensed Assisted Living Administrator.
Suttles joined Trinity View as executive director in April 2021 with a strong portfolio of experience in social work, marketing, home health, and home care. Over the past three years, she has developed a deep connection to the residents of Trinity View and grown the community’s census.
In her new role, Suttles markets Trinity View and Aston Park, both based in Asheville, and she is recruiting new residents for Trinity Village independent living in Hickory, slated to open near Christmas. Occasionally, Suttles also uses her social work skills to perform home assessments when other teammates are not available.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” says the Western North Carolina native, who is married with three adult children and two grandchildren. “I’ve always loved marketing. In this role, I am still connected to the residents, and I also get to do community outreach. I’ve met some amazing people. It’s a blessing and a dream of mine.”
Moore took the helm at Trinity View in July. He has been in long-term care leadership for almost 30 years. His prior positions include executive director at Terra Bella Senior Living in Hendersonville and health services director at Givens Estates in Asheville. Moore has also worked in restaurant and dietary management and as a high school and middle school science teacher.
Moore had barely settled in when Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, impacting Trinity View as well as Aston Park. He stepped up with remarkable aplomb to manage the crisis, providing thorough, regular updates via Facebook to
residents, their families, and teammates.
“During the Covid pandemic, the longterm care industry learned just how important it is to communicate proactively,” said Moore. “Helping residents and their families feel safe is part of the job.”
Moore likes to think about his work from the customer’s perspective. Before accepting the position, he and his 89-year-old father did a “secret reconnaissance mission” to tour Trinity View and meet residents.
“I got to see the strengths and opportunities, and most important, I found out how wonderful the residents are,” he said. “My teammates have also been very welcoming.”
An avid ukulele player, Moore is creating an even more welcoming atmosphere at Trinity View with his monthly Fireside Songs with David. He is minister of music at his local church and also enjoys hiking and woodworking.
Moore and his wife, Denita, have lived in Brevard for over 30 years; they have three young adult children.
Transformed by love
A conversation with NC Foster Parents of the Year
Alexandra Staar and Darrel Miller
As of this writing, over 160 children and youth across the Carolinas are in loving, temporary homes thanks to LSC foster parents, supporters, and teammates.
All of these children deserve love and stability — and LSC foster parents provide that in spades.
This year, LSC’s North Carolina Foster Care program named Alexandra Staar and Darrel Miller its 2024 Foster Parents of the Year. Staar and Miller were nominated by Wilmington-area Foster Care Case Manager Brita Nicol.
“I have never seen more dedicated foster parents than Alexandra and Darrel,” said Nicol. “They welcome all children into their home and love them unconditionally. They meet every child where they are.”
Staar and Miller both work full-time at demanding jobs, yet this year they have welcomed two pairs of foster siblings — brothers ages 6 and 7, and sisters ages 3 and 5 — with loving arms. The couple recently sat down with LSC to discuss their foster care journey.
Over 10 years ago, recalled Staar, “we saw a foster care presentation by another agency at our church, and we really felt it was a calling. Since 2017 or 2018, we’ve been licensed with LSC. We’ve had nine or ten placements in all.”
A FULL HOUSE — FAST
Staar and Miller’s current charges came to them only a few weeks apart. The boys were just settling in when the girls — who
had been with Staar and Miller before — came into care.
“DSS specifically asked for [Staar and Miller] for the girls,” recalled case manager Nicol. “Alexandra and Darrel thought very carefully about how it would impact the boys. They discussed it as a family, and the boys understood and seemed excited. So,
they took the girls in too.”
The situation has worked out well.
“Everyone gets along about 90 percent of the time,” noted Miller.
The household also includes four cats and two dogs. That may sound like mayhem, but for Staar and Miller, it’s a fairly peaceable kingdom.
Darrel Miller and Alexandra Staar are LSC’s North Carolina 2024 Foster Parents of the Year.
“The kids adore the animals. They like to help with the feeding and watering,” said Staar.
FOUNDED IN FAITH
Christian faith and practice provide a strong foundation for the whole family.
“The kids have made a lot of friends at church. They love it as much as we do,” said Miller.
“We listen to Christian music in the car, and they are always singing along,” added Staar. “‘Faithfully’ by TobyMac is a favorite: ‘When I cried out to you Jesus / You were there faithfully.’ When I hear them sing those words, it just melts my heart. It makes me so proud to see these kids come into their own in a safe environment.”
WEATHERING STORMS
“There are challenges. Many of our foster
kids have special needs,” said Staar. “You have to commit to it, and you need a support system.”
“You’re going to have days when you doubt yourself as a parent,” added Miller. “The key is to not give up. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; use respite care if you need to. You don’t have to do everything yourself.”
Support from Nicol makes a big difference.
“I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate Brita,” added Staar. “She is the best case worker we have had. She’s a great sounding board, and the kids love her.”
THE MEANING OF FAMILY
Regardless of the challenges, Staar and Miller find deep meaning in foster parenting.
“It’s so rewarding to see the kids grow
and develop their own personalities,” said Staar.
“The transformation is amazing,” Miller agreed. “They’re shy when they arrive. Over time, they get to be kids and see what a family should be. They learn that you can love someone and still argue in a healthy way. And they learn how to de-escalate conflict.”
The couple is hoping the current placements will become permanent.
“We just bought a new house that has more space. It has a playroom and a bigger backyard,” said Staar. Her excitement and affection are palpable.
“In the end,” concluded Miller, “we are here to give these kids a better life.”
For information on foster parenting with LSC, email NCFosterCare@LSCarolinas. net for North Carolina or SCFosterCare@ LSCarolinas.net for South Carolina.
New Shepherd Society members
LSC’s Shepherd Society stands as a pillar of support and dedication within the organization, comprising a community of donors and volunteers whose unwavering commitment fuels the advancement of LSC’s vital services.
The Shepherd Society encompasses three categories:
• The Shepherd Giving Society honors donors whose financial contributions total $1,000 or more within a calendar year — as well as lifetime members, now known as Golden Staff members, whose cumulative giving reaches exceptional milestones, such as $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for organizations. These donors not only sustain but amplify LSC’s ability to provide essential services.
• The Shepherd Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have generously included LSC in their estate planning, ensuring a lasting impact that extends far into the future.
• The Shepherd Volunteer Society is comprised of individuals who epitomize the spirit of service by contributing 100 hours or more per calendar year to LSC ministries. They directly enhance the organization’s ca-
pacity to support and uplift neighbors in challenging circumstances.
LSC welcomes the Shepherd Society’s newest members: those who have joined since July 2024. Their support ensures that more individuals and families will receive the care and assistance they urgently need. LSC also extends its heartfelt gratitude to all Shepherd Society members for their commitment to transforming lives across the Carolinas.
Welcome to the following new members:
• Ashland United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC
• Brittain Resorts & Hotel, Myrtle Beach, SC
• Linda L. Brown, Greenville, SC
• Calvary Lutheran Church, Morganton, NC
• Catawba College, Salisbury, NC
• Charleston Battery, Mt. Pleasant, SC
• Angela W. Cope, Connelly Springs, NC
• Brownie & Donna Cordell, Wilmington, NC
• Joyce E. Flood, Wilmington, NC
• Herman & Barbara Franke, Wilmington, NC
• Gildan Yarns LLC, Salisbury, NC
• Rep. & Mrs. Jay Kilmartin
• Mrs. Donna L. Loosley, Salisbury, NC
• Mr. & Mrs. Neil Marcum, Granite Quarry, NC
• Ms. Martha S. Martin, Newton, NC
• Dan & Charlene Morgan, Charleston, SC
• Roger Mozingo, Salisbury, NC
• Frances L. Overton, Greenville, NC
• Zigmund & Alcinda Peret, Wilmington, NC
• Mr. & Mrs. H. Henry Puckhaber, Atlanta, GA
• Tiffany W. Rankin, Kure Beach, NC
• Fred Stanback Donor Advised Fund of Foundation For The Carolinas, Charlotte, NC (Mr. & Mrs. Fred Stanback, Jr.)
• The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. James G. Stoltenberg, Hendersonville, NC
• Thornwell, Clinton, SC
• Tri-Electric Inc., Salisbury, NC
• United Beverages of North Carolina, LLC, Concord, NC
• The Verity Charitable Fund Inc., Moorestown, NJ
For more information about the Shepherd Society, contact LSC Director of Development Emily Dubay at edubay@lscarolinas. net.
rising above LSC Responds to Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene wrought unimaginable devastation from Western North Carolina through Upstate South Carolina. But Helene was no match for The LSC Way. Our teammates, volunteers, and donors rallied with helping hands and prayerful hearts to keep residents, clients, and each other safe during and after the storm.
A RESILIENT FAMILY
Executive Director Marsha McClure said she can’t quite verbalize her emotions as she surveyed the scene at LSC’s Aston Park senior care community in Asheville.
“On Friday, our power went out, then we completely lost communication. We set our emergency plan in motion. But by mid-morning on the second day, we had no water. ‘What are we going to do?’ I wondered,” McClure said. “I knew our LSC family would eventually come to our aid.”
On the second day, Saturday afternoon, McClure heard a helicopter circling the building. Her heart soared as a team from the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center (EOC) arrived to check on the community.
“On Sunday morning, I looked up to see our family walking in — the Lutheran Services senior leadership team. A few hours later, teammates from our sister facilities arrived. And soon, all of LSC was reaching out with support and services,” McClure said. “As all this transpired, I realized: This is The LSC Way. ‘Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.’”
BEHIND THE SCENES
On September 29, LSC Chief Operating Officer Kesha Smith and VP of Senior Services Courtney Johnson were among the first to report from the field.
“Teammates from all over North Carolina are arriving at Trinity View and Aston Park to work,”
LSC Vice President of Child and Family Services Myra Griffie, Executive Director of Community & Rehabilitation Services Bethany Vause, and Executive Clinical Director Sarah Quirk delivered water to LSC’s New Americans teammates and clients in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
President Joe Biden, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and LSC Disaster Response teammate Ilham Thurston at the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center.
Smith reported in a Facebook post. “Buses of supplies, batteries, linens, and oxygen have arrived, and more are on the way. Residents, staff, and others have donated money.... The love keeps pouring out.”
“I was stationed at the EOC (North Carolina Emergency Operations Center) during the hurricane,” recalled LSC Disaster Response Director Ilham Thurston. “My first task was to contact Aston Park and Trinity View. With help from the State Department of Health and Human Services, we were able to establish contact and supply fuel for their generators. Other nonprofits helped too. His Glory Search Rescue and Aid Team brought water and medical supplies, and Mount Carmel Helps Inc. provided shower units.”
“[Aston Park] had a six-thousand-gallon water tanker, but the only way to get it into the building was by bucket,” recalled Trinity Village Facilities Director David King, who went to Asheville with teammates to aid in recovery. “We had to find a way to pump the water into the building from the tanker. We ran a two-inch line from the tanker into the main boiler room, installed two pumps, and tied into the building’s main water line.”
KEEPING FAMILIES AND TEAMMATES SAFE
LSC’s Asheville New Americans Program was also impacted by Helene. Teammates and volunteers accounted for every client and found safe temporary housing for those placed at risk by the storm. LSC’s senior services worked with the program to order and deliver food and supplies for those in the Asheville area.
“Resettlement Director Hanna Demarcus and her team have partnered with volunteers in Morganton and Hickory to ensure client needs are met,” said New Americans Program Executive Director Nixmarie Ruiz Perez. “Calvary Lutheran Church in Morganton
and St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Hickory have assisted with housing and meals. We have transferred some families to Columbia and Greenville, and case managers are commuting to where they are.”
LSC also helped affected teammates.
“I was deeply grateful to be part of LSC as I assisted Aston Park,” said LSC Teammate Specialist Cora Ingle, who is based in Salisbury but traveled to Asheville regularly to gauge local teammates’ needs. “I learned to appreciate the small things in life. These communities will be recovering for months — and we need to stand by them.”
GRATITUDE RUNS DEEP
Teammates, residents, and clients have all expressed thanks and awe at the LSCwide recovery effort, which has spanned both North and South Carolina.
“Our New Americans Programs in Upstate South Carolina and Asheville were quickly thrown into crisis mode during and after Helene,” said Myra Griffie, LSC’s vice president for child and family services. “When we delivered much-needed supplies to Spartanburg, we could see firsthand our teammates’ resiliency and dedication to our clients. I am so proud of all our teammates for taking care of clients and each other.”
“I count myself very lucky,” said one Asheville New Americans teammate. “[This] is an amazing group of people.”
“Our residents have been wonderfully supportive, and they have shown compassion when staff are tired or stressed,” noted Trinity View Executive Director David Moore. “I could not be prouder of the hard work and dedication of our team and the support of residents, families, and LSC.” Trinity View was able to get the municipal water supply back to the building much sooner than others, and they were able to offer other LSC family in the area a place to shower and wash their personal belongings.
“LSC has gone above and beyond in serving staff and residents,” said one Aston Park teammate. “I am proud and grateful to be part of this organization.”
LSC IS HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL Collaboration is key to overcoming the challenges brought on by disasters, and with your help, we can continue this crucial work. Please donate to our ongoing relief efforts today: Scan the QR code to the left, or visit lscarolinas.net/ donate-onetime, and select “Disaster Relief” from the drop-down menu.
Aston Park: Excellence in adversity
Amidst massive challenges from Mother Nature, LSC’s Aston Park senior care community in Asheville had a big reason to celebrate: Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes ranked it the No. 1 100- to 149-bed nursing home in North Carolina. Newsweek uses Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data to rank 1,050 nursing homes across the 25 states with the highest number of facilities — and Aston Park came out on top. Facilities are assessed and ranked based on four pillars: performance data, recommendations from medical professionals, accreditations, and resident satisfaction. Aston Park was also named the Skilled Nursing Facility of the Year by Mission Health Partners at its annual provider meeting in July.
Congratulations to all of our Aston Park teammates!
Pictured is Trinity Grove Administrator Ed Parrish with supplies as they arrived at Aston Park.
Left: Trinity Living Center (TLC) showcased its biennial exhibit of participants’ portraits — Faces of Trinity Living Center — at the Expressions of Wisdom Gala on October 11 at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury.
Right: TLC participant Beatrice Hunter looks at the portraits of her fellow participants.
Trinity Living Center “Faces”
Exhibit Wows Participants, Donors
On any visit to LSC’s Trinity Living Center (TLC) adult day program in Salisbury, North Carolina, the first thing you notice is the joy and contentment on participants’ faces. Every other year, local artists capture this serenity in a series of fine art portraits — Faces of Trinity Living Center — which are exhibited to the public and gifted to participants’ families.
The most recent Faces biennial had its debut at TLC’s Expressions of Wisdom fundraising gala held on October 11 at Trinity Oaks. In addition to generous patrons, a number of TLC participants and their families attended the opening for a first look at their artistic likenesses.
“The participants at Trinity Living Center are made up of black and white, male
and female, rich and poor, those formally educated and those educated by life, and everyone in between,” noted TLC Program Coordinator Patty Messick. “Aging, dementia, and disability do not discriminate. Eventually, we will all experience these challenges either personally or through someone we love. TLC is proud to be part of these families’ lives.”
Participants and families expressed thanks for TLC in a video that also debuted at the gala.
“Every day I’ve done something different. And I tell [my son] Bobby, you won’t believe what all I’ve done today! I just love it,” said Helen Eddleman.
“My wife and I both work full-time,” added Bobby Eddleman. “When Mom got
Left: TLC participant Rex
his wife, Joyce, and a friend.
sick, I was able to take a leave for a couple of months, but we were not in a position to stop working.... If it weren’t for Trinity Living Center, we would have been forced to make some hard decisions.”
The evening will be remembered for many years to come.
“The generosity of our sponsors and artists was wonderful. Seeing the happiness on the faces of our participants and their families made the entire experience so rewarding,” added TLC Executive Director Beth Huber. “The gala and exhibit put a face on what we do every day to provide abundant living. It truly was the best day ever.”
After the event, the Faces exhibit was on a monthlong public display at Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury.
Boner,
Right: Paulette Bellinger and Addie Phillips
Healing and hope, undergraduate edition
A visit to WeCo Cottage
When you pull up to the cozy house on a quiet street in West Columbia, South Carolina, there’s no giveaway that the residents inside are doing some of the hardest work of their lives.
But this is no ordinary house. WeCo Cottage is a recovery house and program — a four-bed, co-ed home away from home specifically designed to assist local college students on their sobriety journey.
Open since 2022, WeCo Cottage provides a substance-free living environment for its residents and a safe space for any local college or university student in recovery.
“It takes a lot of strength to stay sober in college,” observed House Manager Ashley Robertson. “But with the right resources, the kids here are making it work.”
For some WeCo Cottage residents, those resources include medication assisted treatment (MAT): the use of FDA-approved medications along with counseling and be -
havioral therapy to achieve and maintain recovery. Examples include methadone and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder and naltrexone for alcohol use disorder.
MAT-friendly recovery houses are few and far between in South Carolina, says Robertson — which makes WeCo Cottage’s work even more important. MAT can help people in recovery live longer, stick with treatment, and keep a job, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
What makes WeCo Cottage truly unique, however, is its family-like atmosphere. The tidy shared living spaces exude the warmth you’d expect in your own home: homemade art on the walls, photos on the fridge, and lush house plants. Robertson herself has regular one-on-one meetings with the residents, serving as a stable influence and a sounding board.
“Some of our residents stay just a se -
mester or two; others are with us for their entire college experience,” Robertson adds. “In addition to meeting with me, everyone attends at least one support group per week. They have choice but there is also accountability.”
LSC runs WeCo Cottage’s recovery program and manages the property. The cottage is owned by Brett Mealing, Jr. and Tyler Crochet, both of whom have been sober since 2011. They bought the building with the goal of creating a recovery house.
“I’m really grateful for getting sober at an early age,” says Mealing. “What’s important about this house for us is to make sure there’s a safe community place for college students who want to be sober, have fun, and start building a recovery network.”
To learn more about WeCo Cottage and LSC’s other recovery programs, contact Bethany Vause, executive director of community and rehabilitative services, at bvause@lscarolinas.net or 803.513.2794.
WeCo Cottage in West Columbia, South Carolina provides a safe, friendly, substance-free living environment for up to four college students at a time. The recovery program and property are managed by LSC.
the power of a name
A
Rohingya refugee
finds pride and permanence with help from LSC
The Rohingya are a Muslim minority who have lived in the predominantly Buddhist nation of Myanmar for hundreds of years. Over the past two centuries — against a backdrop of British and Japanese colonialism — ethnic and religious divisions in this Southeast Asian country have intensified, culminating in what the United States Department of State has called a genocide.
There was a brief time when things were better. After Myanmar gained independence from Great Britain in the 1940s, Rohingya played an important role in establishing a new government — and Rohingya people had the same rights and legal standing as all other citizens.
This came to an end with the military takeover of Myanmar in 1962. Extreme Buddhist nationalism took hold. In the 1970s, Rohingyas’ national identity cards were confiscated. Soldiers destroyed their homes and property, and hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, Malaysia, and elsewhere. A state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign followed from the 1980s through the 2000s, reaching a peak in 2017 with large-scale massacres and widespread destruction of Rohingya villages. An additional 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar during this period.
With help from LSC’s New Americans Program, 188 Rohingya refugees have started new lives in the Carolinas. This is Idris Bin Abdul Shukur’s story.
By Idris Bin Abdul Shukur
100
YEARS OF PERSECUTION
I was born in Malaysia, but my parents and grandparents were born in Myanmar, in the province of Arakan. For 100 years, Rohingya people in Myanmar have been persecuted. We cannot be citizens there. We have no passports, we cannot vote, and our children cannot attend school. Rohingya live in fear of the police. The military regularly confiscates Rohingya livestock and produce. The army burned my father’s fishing boat and his land.
IN LIMBO IN MALAYSIA
My parents left Myanmar for Malaysia 40 years ago. Most Rohingya in Malaysia are very poor. Because they
Idris Bin Abdul Shukur, his wife, Bibi, and their daughter, Nur.
have no documentation, they are not recognized as citizens and can only get temporary jobs. Those who can find employment typically work in construction or in restaurants. I was among the very few Rohingya who could do well for my family there. I operated a restaurant, but I could not own it under my own name. Everything had to be done in the name of a Malaysian citizen.
Rohingya children are not welcome in Malaysian schools, so many don’t receive an education. I only learned to read and write because I had a Malaysian friend who would do his homework at my house after school. Once I was old enough to work, I was able to afford one private class, where I studied math and English.
Health care is very expensive for Rohingya in Malaysia. There are national medical clinics, but we must pay 20 to 30 times what Malaysian citizens do. When my wife, Bibi, was pregnant with our daughter, Nur, we could not afford for her to see a doctor.
A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN
To obtain international refugee status, you must go through a determination process with the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It took six years from the time UNHCR called until we were able to come to the United States. We didn’t know what to expect; we knew the United States was huge, and many people in Malaysia are wary of American culture. All we could do was pray and hope for the best.
In late May of 2023, Bibi, Nur, and I flew with my sister Rahimah from Malaysia to Qatar to Chicago, and finally on a small plane to Columbia, South Carolina. When we landed, we could see that South Carolina was not like the United States you see on TV! At first, we worried we had made the wrong decision. But then we met Matt [LSC Matching Grant Employment Specialist Matt Ray].
UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS
Matt was the first American we really got to know. Through Matt, we discovered that what we had been taught about Americans was wrong. Matt has helped us so much. He is more than a caseworker; he is a friend. Day by day, we saw that things in the United States were good. LSC provided everything for us: a place to live, clothes, food, everything we need -
ed. Life here is peaceful, and we are so grateful.
We moved to Philadelphia in January because Bibi has family there. We are expecting our first son, and her family will help after he is born. Nur is almost three years old and learning English quickly. We speak Rohingya at home, so our children won’t forget where they came from. I am about to start a new job with Amazon, and I have become friends with many Rohingya refugees. I enjoy helping others find work and connect to the community.
A SECURE IDENTITY
I earned money in Malaysia, but I never had a bank account in my own name. I couldn’t; I had no identification papers, no fingerprints, no government status. Here in the United States, I have documentation and a bank account. I have a driver’s license, and two weeks ago I bought my first car so I can drive myself to work! I still get tears in my eyes when Bibi and I receive official papers in the mail addressed to us.
I don’t know how to thank LSC. For the first time in 100 years, we can say: We have a land. We have a home. We have a name.
(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.”
SHIRLEY HODES TURNS 108
Trinity View assisted living resident Shirley Hodes celebrated her 108th birthday (yes, you read that right!) in September. She enjoyed cake and a serenade of the Jewish folk song Hava Nagila.
Hodes and her sister, Ruth Sweedler — a fellow centenarian who resides in Connecticut — were interviewed by CNBC reporter Ester Bloom last year.
“Not all people appreciate what’s in their life — they take it for granted,” Hodes said. “I’m not like that.... I feel like I’ve been blessed.”
Trinity View is equally blessed to have her as a resident. Yom Huledet Sameach — that’s Hebrew for Happy Birthday, Shirley!
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 Erin Kidd, director of communications, and Susannah MacNeil, communications manager. Questions or comments should be directed to Erin Kidd at ekidd@lscarolinas.net
LSC Administrative Office 1416 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Post Office Box 947 Salisbury, N.C. 28145 704-637-2870
LSC Columbia Office 1118 Union St. Columbia, S.C. 29201 803-750-9917