CLEVELAND (ELCA) -- Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley, Dayton, Ohio, received the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) Award for Excellence in Senior Volunteerism at the LSA annual conference here March 29-April 1. Lincoln Lutheran in Racine, Wis., and Lutheran Home and Services for the Aged, Arlington Heights, Ill., received special recognition for distinguished service.
LSA is one of the largest human service networks in the United States and Caribbean. Its 296 social ministry organizations, in alliance with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, form a national network of social service and long-term care programs, providing more than $3 billion in services in 3,000 communities each year.
Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley (LSSMV) was cited for the various ways it involves senior volunteers in providing community-based services. The volunteers act as bus drivers, wheelchair transporters, visitors, activity and meal assistants, housekeeping and clerical aides, and serve in leadership roles on the LSSMV board of trustees.
LSSMV assists more than 1,500 individuals every day through such residential services as Bethany Lutheran Village in Centerville, Ohio; Manors of the Valley in 20 locations across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky; and We Care Homes in 12 locations across southwest Ohio. It employs more than 900 people and provides countless volunteer and donor opportunities.
Lincoln Lutheran in Racine is the fifth largest employer in Racine County, Wis., and involves senior volunteers in the daily operation of four nursing homes, five apartment communities, three assisted living centers and several community services, such as Meal-on-Wheels, Adult Day Care, Respite Services, Senior Lunch Program, Neighborhood Centers, and Senior Trips and Tours.
Senior volunteers logged more than 54,000 hours relieving 24-hour care givers since 1990 at Lutheran Home and Services for the Aged, which has provided more than a century of service in senior housing, nursing care and adult day services. Senior volunteers take older adults to doctor appointments and help residents prepare and file tax returns.
The awards were given in collaboration with the National Senior Service Corps, Corporation for National Service, Washington, D.C. Another 23 Lutheran social ministry organizations received honorary recognition for engaging senior volunteers. -- -- --
The Web site for Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley is at http://www.lssmv.org/; Lincoln Lutheran in Racine is at http://www.lincolnlutheran.com/; and Lutheran Services in America is at http://www.lutheranservices.org/. The Corporation for National Service maintains a Web site at http://www.cns.gov/.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
