FROM THE EDITOR READERS

Ihope you enjoy this summer issue of ENGAGE Magazine. We’ve even included some fun things you can do this summer and we hope to receive your photos, social media tags and stories about what you did on your summer vacations so we can share them in our next issue. While we know you will find inspiration and some lighthearted joy from reading this issue, we also want to educate you about just how serious we take our mission.

The motto of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC) is embrace, equip and empower. We are able to achieve this for the people that we serve through the support of those in the community like you who care about our friends and neighbors in need. Thousands of people either as individuals or through their churches give time, talent, and treasure so that LSSSC can provide professional expert services that are trauma informed and help others become self-sustaining.

Sometimes the need to embrace hits way too close to home. We’ve even had the need to embrace each other as a staff and organization. This issue is dedicated to the memory of two faithful people who were part of our greater LSSSC family, each in their own special way.

The bright and bubbly Lisa Gillett worked for our Long Beach/ South Bay office for two and a half years in many roles, recently and most notably as a housing counselor for our “It’s A New Day Program.” Sadly, Lisa passed away suddenly on April 23, 2023.

Lisa loved her work at LSSSC and literally said it was her “joy and honor to walk beside our program participants, many who had been homeless for more than five years.” You can see a video that features Lisa, in part, literally walking beside Martin Anderson, one of the local South Bay people she helped get his own place for the first time.

I hope you will take a moment to watch it here: https://rb.gy/1kubp and see the impact Lisa and her coworkers have had that truly goes beyond providing services. I know you will be as inspired as I was when watching it.

Volunteers are a huge part of the work we do all over Southern California and they come in all ages and from all backgrounds. Some, like AJ Tarts, have volunteered through their churches and alongside their parents seemingly most of their lives.

Tragically, AJ Tarts at the young age of 18 lost his life on May 17. AJ was born in Riverside and grew up in local San Bernardino area Lutheran churches and was a regular volunteer in his community. He often joined his mother Becky, who served as a dedicated church secretary, in serving at LSSSC’s Central City Lutheran Mission (the new Community Wellness Campus) and other projects.

My hope in sharing about Lisa and AJ is to show that everyone, no matter what age, can embrace, equip and empower others in a way that will have a lasting impact.

I challenge you to be more like Lisa and AJ. Plan to be remembered as they both are – those who both supported organizations like LSSSC and those who did their part as individuals one on one with others each day that were right in front of them.

LORI BUTLER, CFRE & THE ENGAGE STAFF