Category: Frontline Heroes

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Family Services of Virginia (LFSVA), which is dedicated to ensuring children in their community have the resources they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lutheran Family Services of Virginia has been providing support and services to children, families, and adults for 130 years. Their services include helping children in foster care find temporary or permanent families, adoption counseling, services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and supporting children with behavioral challenges. Though COVID-19 has changed the way LFSVA delivers services, they have been committed to continuing to support their community with services through telehealth.

One of the ways LFSVA supports children with behavioral challenges is through their six Minnick Schools across the commonwealth, which help students age 5 to 22 find success in the classroom. The Minnick Schools offer highly trained educators and treatment specialists to meet unique needs of many children the public educational system cannot address. In addition to teaching the state’s educational curriculum, the Minnick Schools help students learn about behavior choices, how to make positive decisions, and how to respond to stress and challenging situations.

Though the Minnick Schools are closed in accordance with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s order, the teachers are still committed to serving the students. Many families are struggling with food security during the COVID-19 pandemic, so Minnick School teachers have been delivering food to their students. The teachers are wearing masks and keeping safe distances from the students while they work to ensure children in their community have the resources they need.

Thank you to LFSVA for your commitment to ensuring your community is resourced by offering telehealth services and food delivery!

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY), which is recognizing the unsung heroes of the pandemic.

Lutheran Social Services of New York has been operating at the heart of the pandemic over the last few months, and has continued its much-needed services during the crisis. LSSNY continues to serve its community, including the formerly homeless, people struggling with addiction, the newcomer, people living with mental illness, families who are food insecure, and children in foster care. Though many services remain closed as New York battles COVID-19, LSSNY feels its duty is to meet the community’s needs by providing essential support during the pandemic.

We often hear about the work and sacrifices of medical workers on the front lines, but we rarely hear about the hard work and essential services of maintenance workers, case managers, custodial workers, and childcare providers. LSSNY CEO Damyn Kelly is making a concerted effort to recognize the work of the unsung heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. LSSNY is highlighting essential workers with profiles on its website and in newsletters, and elevating the workers’ commitment to service. Custodial workers, for example, are crucial to the health and safety of the community. However, they cannot work from home, and are risking their health and safety to ensure the virus does not spread. LSSNY case managers are on the front lines, making sure that vulnerable populations in New York have the resources they need, especially during these trying times.

“I have always told staff that they were essential and that it was because of them that we [LSSNY] existed,” said Kelly. “So as a result, when the governor announced the Stay in Place order…calling our workers essential, I immediately sent out an email to the staff saying the governor has recognized what I’ve been telling you since the beginning.”

Thank you to LSSNY for your continued service in New York, and for recognizing the unsung heroes who make that service possible.

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, which is providing translation services at drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites.

When Smithfield Foods saw a COVID-19 outbreak at their plant in Sioux Falls, SD, the state, Avera Medical Group, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the South Dakota National Guard worked together to set up a drive-thru test site in a local high school parking lot. The collaboration recognized the importance of protective gear to keep the testing site workers and patients safe, but there were other important factors to ensure the testing site was successful.

The Sioux Falls COVID-19 drive-thru testing site had a full fleet of interpreters present, including Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota case worker, Adane Redda. Redda is originally from Ethiopia, and speaks several languages. The interpreters were crucial in collecting important information about each patient, and bridging gaps in communications. Redda said he finds this work rewarding, and is glad to be helpful during the COVID-19 outbreak. Public health officials were grateful for the interpreters from Lutheran Social Services, and anticipate that drive-thru testing sites will become more prevalent, and they will continue to value the important work of language interpreters.

Thank you to Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota for serving your community’s various needs through the COVID-19 pandemic, and for working to ensure that everyone, regardless of language has access to care!

Today’s Front Line Hero is Liberty Lutheran and their dedicated staff at the Artman senior living community.

Liberty Lutheran’s Artman senior living community is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1916 as Artman Lutheran Home, the community stands as a leader in personal care and skilled nursing services that draw from a rich faith-based tradition of high-quality compassionate care. As part of the Liberty Lutheran family of services, Artman is also proud to have been included on U.S. News and World Report’s Best Short-Term Rehabilitation list.

At Artman, residents are encouraged to live life to the fullest every day. With this in mind, the staff goes above and beyond to surpass the expectations of residents and family members. By emphasizing possibilities, not limitations, the team at Artman builds positive relationships with residents and families that create a sense of warmth and family.

This type of dedication and commitment has been reinforced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past several months, Artman has instituted a series of practices and procedures to keep residents safe within their homes, while also providing fulfilling opportunities for residents to do from within their apartments.

“I am so grateful to the team here at Artman,” says Artman’s executive director, Janet Lorenzon. “We are truly blessed to have the support of so many talented and caring people. I see the impact they make in the smiles and positive attitudes of our residents. We are getting through these extraordinary times together thanks to the contributions of so many.”

Thank you to the staff at Artman for personifying compassion and care for the people you serve and for one another. Lutheran Services in America is proud to highlight your work as a source for home and peace of mind for older adults and their families.

A dark cloud of fear and uncertainty looms over our nation as our friends, family, and neighbors lose their income, their food security, and are forced to self-isolate in an attempt to avoid illness. We turn on the news, and day after day the same message is echoed. An invisible, virulent, and deadly virus is circulating the country and while precautions are in place, people are still being affected in vast numbers. Instead of hearing about any of the good that is happening in the country, our attention seems to be directed toward the negative. But there is good news! Hundreds of faithful people at Lutheran social ministry organizations across the nation are still going to work every day to help.

While the enemy we fight is invisible, these heroes are not. Presence in our communities is needed now more than ever, and LSA and our member organizations recognize that and are answering the call. As part of our mission to bring awareness to all the great work that our members have been doing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, LSA has been publishing daily stories highlighting the unsung Front Line Heroes who are selflessly serving their communities. Our senior care nurses, social workers, physical therapists, case managers and so many more who, despite receiving little to no praise, are on the front lines fighting to protect and serve our most vulnerable populations.

If you take the time to read through all of the stories posted on the LSA blog you would be baffled by all of the amazing work these organizations are doing and the impact they are making throughout the country. What is even more shocking is how difficult it is to find a single story that highlights any of their great work in the mainstream media. Despite receiving little recognition, these organizations are sacrificing themselves for the greater good of the people they serve.

Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota is providing translation services at COVID-19 testing sites to remove the language barrier and ensure everyone has access to care. Luther Home of Mercy is streaming religious services for their residents as a way for them to grow and heal spiritually. Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota is providing daily dial-in support groups as a resource to fight social isolation. Lutheran Senior Life delivered over 10,000 meals to their community in the span of five weeks and Lutheran Social Services of Nevada expanded its DigiMart food pantry from 750 square feet to 3,058 square feet to help the growing number of people in their community who are facing food insecurity. These are just 5 out of the 50+ stories we have shared over the past few months and there are many more to come.

So, we ask you to take the time to thank those working in senior services who are putting themselves and their families at risk in order to protect the older adult population. We ask you to share the stories of those serving our children, youth and families who are working tirelessly to ensure that every child they serve is safe, healthy, and able to reach their full potential. Lastly, we ask that, if you are able to, donate some of your time, funds or food to those providing shelter and nourishment for the people who are struggling through these troubling times.

At LSA, we plan to continue our effort to recognize these heroes and show appreciation for all the amazing work they do. If you believe in the brave work that these front line workers are providing, we ask you to join us as we continue to work toward our vision of transforming the lives of the people and communities that our members so selflessly serve.

Two years ago, the pandemic put the Stephen Ministry program at the Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland community Carroll Lutheran Village (CLV) in Westminster, Maryland, on hold for safety reasons. Now, a team of four residents and an associate chaplain has returned to manage the program and resume its work with CLV residents on depression, loneliness, family loss, loss of faith, health, end-of-life and other challenging issues and are grateful to be providing caregiving again.

Stephen Ministry trains lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to those experiencing grief, illness, hospitalization, life transitions, or another life challenge. Bob Nicoll, the program’s class administrator, provides oversight with two other CLV Stephen leaders: Connie Kidder and Jay King. CLV’s associate chaplain Charles Marshall and Spiritual Life Committee chair James Boesler round out the leadership team. Each team member received 50 hours of specialized training to be a Stephen minister before working with residents.

While the reasons for volunteering vary for each, they all share an understanding of the program’s importance and necessity. Kidder became interested in caring ministries early in life. As a young adult, she received support from her church, family and others. Since then, she has had a passion for helping others.

King’s interest in assisting older adults came from his interactions with a pastor while in high school. He stated, “Now I am one,” yet he still enjoys befriending residents who are close in age. He saw an ad about Stephen Ministries at CLV and immediately applied. He feels lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. Stephen Ministries allows him to do what he loves—empowering others.

Boesler faced many challenges and at one time thought, “God can’t love me.” It took time, but he now believes, despite everything, God loves him. He wants others going through a difficult time to know God is with them all the time. This desire led Boesler to complete the Stephen Ministry training so he can support CLV residents.

After a long career in management where Nicoll spent most of his time with lots of people and organizations, he said, “I wanted to find something different—something to experience one-on-one relationships.” As a Stephen minister, he’s been able to experience those relationships.

Nicholl said, “We routinely remind our team that we are caregivers, not cure givers—the latter is in God’s hands.” CLV’s eight Stephen Ministers are careful to remember they are not therapists and avoid trying to fix care receivers’ problems. If care receivers need more support than a minister can offer, a referral is made to an outside professional or mental health specialist.

The leadership team plans to expand the program to include reaching those who may need support but do not require the full program. For example, some residents may benefit from simply having a conversation with a Minister rather than meeting for multiple sessions.

Considering the challenges many are facing since the pandemic started, CLV’s residents and team members are happy to have Stephen Ministers and Leaders in the community to provide caring support.

Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland is a member of Lutheran Services in America, a national network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that reaches one in 50 people in America each year. Carroll Lutheran Village, a community of Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland, is an accredited, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community that supports nearly 700 residents in 397 homes and apartments, 50 assisted living suites and 103 skilled care beds.

Learn more about Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland.

Elizabeth Gomez first came to Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Orange County center three years ago after her husband lost his job. As their primary source of income disappeared, Elizabeth and her family became desperate for groceries and other essentials.

LSS stepped in to support Elizabeth and her family in their time of need. The organization provided essential services, including rental assistance and support with transportation. LSS helped the family get connected to other community resources as well. The organization continued to support the family during this difficult and frightening time as they slowly got back on their feet.

This past Easter, Elizabeth’s three children received Easter baskets donated by the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Cypress and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Irvine. Even in times of poverty and struggle, the children received much-needed comfort—and the opportunity to just be kids.

Today, with assistance from LSS’s dedicated team, Elizabeth was able to apply for benefits as her husband secured new employment. They are all looking forward to moving onto the next chapter of their lives, together.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California is a member of Lutheran Services in America, a national network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that reaches one in 50 people in America each year.

Learn more about Lutheran Social Services of Southern California.