Category Archives: Volunteer

Helping Those in Texas After Hurricane Harvey

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The historic flooding caused by Hurricanes Harvey has impacted millions of people in Texas. Many of those families are served by Upbring, the local Lutheran Disaster Response affiliate for those in Louisiana and Texas.

As we in the northeast watch the devastation, our natural thoughts are to find ways we can help those in need. Please consider making a donation now to ELCA Hurricane Harvey Response or to Upbring. Recovery from a storm such as Hurricane Harvey will take years, and while federal funds and some organizations are in Texas now to help with recovery and relief efforts, organizations such as ELCA Hurricane Harvey Response or Upbring look to the long-term health and recovery of a region affected by disasters.

What you can do now for those in Texas:

Pray
Please pray for the people who have been affected and are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.

Give Nationally
Give to ELCA Hurricane Harvey Response or to Upbring, the LDR affiliate in Texas and Louisiana.

Act Locally
To those interested in volunteering, consider these ideas, some perfect for God’s Work Our Hands Sunday September 10, 2017.
Hold a bake sale/yard sale/community fundraiser and send the funds raised to “US Hurricane Relief.”
Assemble cleanout kits for use by flood victims:
UMCOR Cleaning Kit
UMCOR Hygiene Kit
UMCOR School Kit
Drop off locations in Pennsylvania
Host a work team training for your congregation. In the months and years ahead volunteers will be needed to rebuild homes destroyed by flooding in Houston and across the country.
Take stock of your congregation’s resources to support your own community in times of emergency. Build relationships with community partners and local emergency management so you can support your community in disaster.

The Community Service Club at Liberty’s Paul’s Run Senior Living Community recently made school kits for children affected by the hurricane. In this short video, they show you all the supplies you need to make a kit. Watch on YouTube here.

Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA continues to collaborate with partner agencies to keep up to date on unfolding events related to Hurricane Harvey including: Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), National and Pennsylvania VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster),  Upbring (the local LDR affiliate in Texas), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and County Departments of Emergency Services.

Find us on Facebook at Lutheran Congregational Services for the most up to date information about Hurricane Harvey Response.

Liberty Lutheran Ranks as 2017 Top Workplace

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Liberty Lutheran Services has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor by Philly.com, ranking top ten in the category for large employers.

The Top Workplaces award is based on a comprehensive survey that asked the employees of each participating organization—there were 182 organizations in all—to evaluate how well their organization:

  • Aligns with its mission and upholds a culture that promotes collaboration and espouses strong values and ethics
  • Operates effectively and remains open to new ideas and different points of view
  • Appreciates, communicates to, and inspires employees
  • Successfully manages and genuinely cares about employees

 

Doug Claffey, who leads WorkplaceDynamics, the research firm that administered the survey, explained that the survey measures the strengths of an organization’s culture through the people who know it best.  “To be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees,” he says.

“Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together. Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace,” added Claffey.

Employees from every member of the Liberty family of services participated in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey. Not only did they answer survey questions, but many chose to write in their own comments when asked to describe why they love their job. Here are some of their remarks:

I love my job because:

  • I am able to improve and grow in my position and my knowledge base.
  • My boss shows me how to learn and grow, and encourages me to better myself. I work with an amazing team and could not ask for better people to work with.
  • I get to make a difference in people’s lives.
  • I feel like I am appreciated and valued.
  • Friendly staff. Caring managers. I believe I make a difference here.
  • My colleagues are fabulous and we get to interact with the individuals that we serve.
  • I am supported by management and my team members to perform at my best ability. I am given the resources to practice with integrity that best meets my patients’ needs and gives me a sense of pride.
  • It is a positive work environment where we strive to grow the business but understand the importance of enjoying your job. We work as a team and support each other in good and bad times so we all achieve success.
  • I make a difference in the lives of the residents and have an amazing nursing staff that I get to be a part of.
  • I can make a difference in the life of seniors.
  • I feel that I am supported and valued for the work that I do. Upper management does care about their employees even when difficult decisions need to be made. Much thought and care goes into the decision-making process.

 

For more information about the Top Workplaces 2017 awards, visit www.topworkplaces.com. For more information about Liberty, visit libertylutheran.org.

From West Philadelphia to Uganda with Love

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It all started with a pair of sandals…
West Philadelphia Senior Community Center Member Ruth Gaskins first heard of making ‘pillowcase dresses’ for orphaned girls living in Uganda through New Cannan Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.

After she made her first few dresses and had them shipped to Uganda, she received a special gift from the children. A simple pair of sandals.

Moved by the gesture, Ms. Gaskins decided to do more- she committed herself to deliver 100 dresses to the children. She brought the idea of having the WPSCC Quilting Class make the dresses to WPSCC program Manager Rose Richardson. Rose quickly agreed the class could help with the project and that Members could donate supplies if they wished. The Quilting Class wholeheartedly agreed to help with the project and got to work sewing different colorful patterns and designs.

On January 12, Ms. Gaskins and the Quilting Class delivered the completed dresses to New Cannan Baptist Church representatives who would handle the delivery to Uganda. (See video below)

On Valentine’s Day, Ms. Gaskins and Rose received pictures of the young children with their new dresses.

“Upon seeing the pictures, my eyes welled with tears,” said Rose. “Who would have thought that such a small gesture of kindness from our seniors would go so far. I am absolutely thrilled!”

To learn more about the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, click here.

Artman’s “Bone-A-Fied” Friends

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Artman senior living community has expanded its workforce—but this is not a typical group of new hires. Instead, the community is celebrating a newly trained cadre of canine companions.
Already a casual extension of the Artman workforce, the staff-owned dogs had been faithfully accompanying their owners to work each day when Executive Director, Janet Lorenzon, found a way to formalize their status so they could become bona fide staff members.
Janet arranged for therapy dog training and last spring several of the dogs earned their certification, as well as the designation of American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen.

Meet Our American Kennel Club Good Citizens

Lucy (nickname Lulu)
Breed: Welsh Corgi
Age: 7.5 years
Partner: Jenn Conway, Community Life Supervisor
Favorite Treat: Anything—but she loves peanut butter!
Work Schedule: One or two days each week.
Interesting Fact: Lucy was rescued from North Carolina.

 

 

 

Lucy Byrne
Breed: Peek-A-Pom – a cross between a Pomeranian and a Pekingese
Age: 12.5 years
Partner: Madeleine Byrne, Community Life Leader
Favorite Treat: Grain-Free Greenies
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-4 and some weekends and holidays.
Interesting Fact: When Lucy accompanied Madeleine to college, she thoughtfully figured out how to work a small gumball machine and discovered that if she repeatedly hit the machine with her paws she could make the gumballs dislodge, then lick the color sugar coating off of them and leave the gum on the carpet!

 

Sophie
Breed: Cockapoo
Age: 9 years
Partner: Katelyn McKinley, Director of Community Life
Favorite Treat: Anything!
Work schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Interesting fact: Sophie can high five when she feels like it!

 

 

 

 

Lily
Breed: Labrador and Whippet
Age: 11 years
Partner: David Stiklaitis, Community Life Leader
Favorite Treat: Milk-Bone biscuits
Work schedule: Lily accompanies Dave to work everyday.
Interesting fact: Lily hardly ever barks and is a fast runner.

Learn more about Artman at ArtmanHome.org.

Intergenerational Friendships Blossom

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Something remarkable and meaningful happens when people from two diametrically different generations come together and build friendships.

This extraordinary dynamic has taken hold at The Hearth through Lower Merion High School’s Build On program, a community service initiative in which students, grades nine through twelve, share games, laughter, and heartfelt camaraderie with Hearth residents.

“It’s marvelous having the students visit,” says Ruth, a Hearth resident. The feeling is mutual. Linda, who is in twelfth grade, says that she’s discovered interesting commonalities between her own millennial generation and the pre-Baby Boomer Silent Generation from which our residents hail. “We have a lot of similar opinions and common ground on things like movies and music even though we’re in different age groups,” she says.

Madison prepares s’mores for a social gathering with residents.

Madison, a sophomore, says she is looking forward to learning so much from the residents. “I’m hoping to learn from the residents here because they’re so experienced and so amazing. I just love interacting with people who know so much about life.”

 

 

 

 

A Perfect Connection

It is, according to Megan Calel, Household Coordinator, a perfect kinship between residentsand students. “It really is wonderful that Lower Merion High School is connecting with The Hearth because so many of our residents have graduated from there, or have had their children or grandchildren there.”

As for the students, says Megan, they really value the opportunity to spend time with residents. “The students have lived in this area for most, if not all, of their lives and are very entrenched in this community as are most of our residents.”

Abby says she loves to hear the amazing stories residents tell. Here she is shown playing Qwirkle, a game she loves to share with residents.

Currently seven or eight students visit each week and the number is gradually growing. Tom Reed, a ninth grade teacher at Lower Merion High School and the sponsor of Build On, says the students appreciate how The Hearth supports them every step of the way and encourages them to use their skills to enhance the lives of residents.

“It’s wonderful how our students are able to form relationships with residents, explore common interests, and then work together and play together. The array of opportunities enables both the students and residents to really form a bond,” he says.

Twelve Cooks, Pounds of Food, and a Bushel of Fellowship

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Four of our resident cooks in action. From left to right: Val Lopez, Sylvia Donato, Liz Ciaccia, and Carol Fanelli

Four of our resident cooks in action. From left to right:
Val Lopez, Sylvia Donato, Liz Ciaccia, and Carol Fanelli

Once a month Liberty’s Paul’s Run senior living community has 12 eager cooks in the house. All of these cooks are residents, who volunteer their time to prepare meals for vulnerable populations.

Their recipe for success includes a big batch of resourcefulness, a large measure of love, a long list of healthy ingredients—and the foresight of Julie Stumpf, Director of Resident Services at Paul’s Run.

A light bulb went off for Julie when she encountered some residents who thought their age might limit their capacity to help others. As someone who is ardent about service and a member of the Social Ministry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette Hill, PA, Julie cooked up a marvelous idea!

A Winning Collaboration
Why not, she thought, organize a group of residents at Paul’s Run to help St. Peter’s Social Ministry with its efforts to combat food insecurity—efforts that include a community meal at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, which could be expanded with the help of Paul’s Run to also include Jane Addams Place, a shelter for homeless women and children.

Julie saw this as an excellent opportunity to connect social ministry, willing seniors, and vulnerable populations to give and receive of their gifts. Erin Samsel, Director of Community Life at Paul’s Run and Ellen Daneke, who spearheads the Social Ministry at St. Peter’s, readily embraced the idea.

Ellen Daneke, of St. Peter's Social Ministry, surveys the bounty of good food prepared by Paul's Run's volunteer cooks.

Ellen Daneke, of St. Peter’s Social Ministry, surveys the bounty of good food prepared by Paul’s Run’s volunteer cooks.

The collaboration launched in February and has been successful on many levels.“Cooking with the Paul’s Run’s community service team has been not only a pleasure but a privilege. No matter what the project is for the day, these volunteers pour out their love and hard work to brighten up someone else’s day,” says Ellen.

The group of Paul’s Run volunteer cooks agrees they get back as much as they give. “We laugh, we kid, it makes all of us closer,” says Carole Fanelli, one of the cooks. “It’s a good thing for us. It keeps us moving,” adds Liz Ciaccia, who also shares her culinary talents.  

A Bevy of Busy Cooks
Keep them moving it does!  In April the volunteers cooked for 75 homeless women and children. Using ingredients donated by Whole Foods, Summit Foods, and Weis Markets, the volunteers prepared a dozen half-trays of delicious baked ziti, plus multiple trays of tossed salad, fresh bread, and cookies.

Ultimately, preparing homemade meals for those who need it most is greatly fulfilling for our cooks.  “It was such a good feeling to cook for the women and children. The children were so grateful…they couldn’t thank us enough. And we loved that we had a chance to not just serve the food, but eat with the women and children as well. It was a joy to serve them,” says Liz.

For more information about Paul’s Run, visit paulsrun.org.