THE. All are Possible! Stable income Stable Career Stable Family Relationships. Summer in Bod. Body,, Mind and Spirit

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1 Sp irit THE M in d al an ce Bo d y B Strengthening People An Affiliate of Lutheran Ministries of Mercy Sharing Resources Enhancing Lives Stable income Stable Career Stable Family Relationships Summer 2018 Summer 2018 in Bod Body,, Mind and Spirit All are Possible! 1

2 provide food, while two pantries in this group supply personal care and hygiene products. Work at the pantries can be tiring, physically demanding, and emotionally draining for both the coordinators and the many volunteers on whom they rely. Walk a Mile in My Shoes For many years, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) has provided food and encouraging words to thousands in our community who feed their families with the help of LSS food pantries. Most recently, LSS became the coordinating agency for 13 additional pantries operating as part of the Feed Your Neighbor network. Recently, coordinators of these community resources came together to share their expertise. The coordinators of these pantries are frequently volunteers who spend countless hours arranging for the collection and distribution of tens of thousands of pounds of canned, frozen and packaged food as well as fresh meat, dairy and produce. Feed Your Neighbor pantries are housed in both Lutheran and non-lutheran churches and several other community sites. All One May day, a man without shoes appeared at the door of the Point Place food pantry. Tears in his eyes, the man questioned whether the pantry would provide him with food. In case we hadn t noticed, he pointed out that he had no shoes. Dirty toes peeked out from below the desk, but his discomfort was for those in the pantry who might view him as being unsanitary and he did not want to compromise the comfort level of others. The man expressed that he had never been in this position before and didn t ever think he would be. With reassuring words, our man without shoes was welcomed as a friend needed food soon fi lled his paper bags and the church was quickly raided by volunteers searching for an extra pair of shoes that might provide further comfort. As he left the pantry that day, well-worn boots although without laces adorned our friend s feet. I have shoes! All in a days work for these volunteers a witness to the very best we can be. -Terri Rodriguez, President & CEO How are you feeling? Sounds like an innocent question but could there be more to tell than we are willing to admit? For people over 60, feelings of depression can be diffi cult to admit or even to recognize. Depression is not a normal part of aging. It is a diagnosable, medical condition like diabetes, arthritis or high blood pressure. Yet so many people in later years ignore the symptoms of depression or try to cope on their own without any help. We as family members might hear them say, nothing I do matters anymore or it s just too hard to get going. Other signs of depression show up as a person lacks the energy to get up in the morning to bathe/shower and get dressed for the day as it all becomes such a chore and takes longer than it should. Some people who are depressed lose interest in the hobbies they once enjoyed, have trouble falling asleep, wake up early in the morning or late at night and fi nd it diffi cult to get back to sleep. Some people who are older experience loss of appetite and/or weight-loss or have diffi culty concentrating and making decisions. Do you want to know the risk factors? Begin with the statistics from the American Psychiatric Association that state that up to 20 percent of women develop major depression at some time in their lives, compared to 10 percent of men. Ask yourself these questions. Is there a family history of depression? Has there been a stressful event such as the death of a loved one, a separation or a divorce? Why not look into the possibility that depression has found its way into your life or the life of a friend or loved one? All it takes is to make an appointment with your doctor and a caring, compassionate counselor at LSS. Our staff has experience with helping people discover that, even though they might be depressed, there is hope and healing usually within the fi rst weeks of treatment. Too many people just believe that any and all of these symptoms of depression are a normal part of aging and think that nothing can be done to address their circumstances. These same people and their families suffer needlessly, because depression is a medical illness that can be treated. Depression is not just a part of growing older and effective treatments are available so that most people who are older can continue to live happy and productive lives. 2 Summer 2018

3 A New Service of LSS for Companies in Northwest Ohio Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio is serving the community in a new and exciting way as the lead partner for an innovative, collaborative, public/private partnership, linked to a network of for-profi t companies in Lucas County. The new service is designed to address common workforce needs of the employers and employees. A Success Coach is hired by the agency as a shared resource for employers within the newly developed Shared Success Resource Network. The network consists of eight companies in Northwest Ohio. The goal it to empower individuals and businesses through innovative partnerships designed to remove barriers and enhance workforce success. Retention, training and advancement for low wage workers are the targeted areas of engagement for the LSS Success Coach and employees. Costs for the LSS Success Coach are shared by all of the participating companies within the network. The business investment in shares by each of the companies on an upfront basis typically returns up to 628% due to retention, training and advancement of the employees. The Success Coach assists employees of the Shared Success Employer Resource Network in coaching, advocating, and connecting. As a coach, the Success Coach assists employees with fi nancial literacy, communication skills, confl ict resolution, social and professional expectations, and understanding the policies of the employer. As an advocate, the Success Coach works alongside an employee to navigate a challenging or intimidating situation, such as those involving utilities, the IRS, or the Department of Education. Finally, the Success Coach connects the employee with community and government agencies that are positioned to assist with issues such as food resources, domestic violence, Medicaid, and other social services. LSS is the lead agency for the Scott High School Community Hub where the Success Coach is able to work with students and families connecting them with community organizations to offer training opportunities in basic computer skills, computer applications, and GED completion. If necessary access emergency food or personal hygiene needs pantries. Also the Crossroads Financial Opportunity Center can provide budgeting, credit repair and free income tax preparation services for the Shared Success ERN. Megan Pickering, Lisa Urbanyi, Kierra Morehead are pictured receiving recognition for their work on the 2017 tax returns from Tracy Jaksetic, of LSS, at the May 2, 2018, all-staff training which was held at Zoar Lutheran Church, Perrysburg. Volunteer Recognition Mrs Jeri Campbell, Lutheran Social Services Volunteer of the Year celebration of generous acts of compassion and A service to the people served by LSS ministries was experienced by everyone at the Lutheran Church of the Master, Perrysburg. Our most important advocates share the good news of LSS by word and deed on behalf of our clients and they also do an amazing job of recruiting new volunteers. Terri Rodriguez affi rmed the service of each person in the audience praising the tasks and gifts of each person working together toward a common goal. The commitment and service of each volunteer remains a constant source of support for the ministry of LSS. Rev. Dale Kern, a story teller and retired pastor a.k.a. Rev. Johanne Adam Detzer visited the gathering. Pastor Detzer shared the joys and challenges of a circuit riding pastor in 1845 who organized 18 congregations throughout northwest Ohio in the Black Swamp era. Jeri (Jerilyn) Campbell was named as Volunteer of the Year for 2017, and she was presented with a beautiful glass frame from the Toledo Museum of Art to display a certifi cate of appreciation for her many years of service and ongoing support of LSS. A delicious luncheon was served, arranged by Joyce Willier who also decorated the tables with beautiful home grown fl ower arrangements enjoyed by everyone at the gathering. If the world had more people like you, it would be a better place! Summer

4 Lutheran Social Services NWO Updates LSS Bowling Green The Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. is currently partnering with Lutheran Social Services to offer an educational, grief, support group called Understanding Your Grief. The group will be held at the Wood County Senior Center (305 N. Main St. Bowling Green, OH) on Wednesdays In 1911, a group of Lutheran ministers who were part of the Fremont Conference of the American Lutheran Church saw a need for Christian support of practical needs in the community. They formed Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio. Now, over 100 years later, the staff in the Fremont office is bringing that historical charitable concern into the present to meet the needs of local residents with very modern problems. Currently, the main focus of the Fremont office is providing Christian-based alcohol and drug counseling. The staff began offering dependency counseling in the offi ce kitchen close to 20 years ago and quickly outgrew the space. Today, the Fremont counselors serve about 100 clients. The drug and alcohol program is not a support group but a counseling session that helps clients discover and overcome root problems behind the addiction. We provide education and help them work on behavioral changes, said Tammy Broshious, the offi ce s full-time licensed independent chemical dependency counselor. Lutheran Social Services operates under the umbrella of Lutheran Ministries of Mercy and has offi ces across Northwest Ohio. It is currently undergoing changes that will bring more services to the Fremont offi ce. They are restructuring the agency to move forward, and changes are coming, Broshious said. Plans include a broad spectrum of mental health counseling services for individuals, couples, adolescents and children. The offi ce staff hopes to offer a grief support group and a survivors support group, as well as anger management counseling. A lot of people we get here are sent by the courts because of domestic violence situations, Broshious said. The courts send from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. The 11-week support group is offered free of charge thanks to this partnership, however, materials will be needed to participate. Total cost for the book and workbook is $25. Interested participants should be 60 years old or older. Meetings begin September 12 and will be facilitated by Joan Staib, MSW, LISW. To register, please call or and ask for the Social Services Department. Materials can be ordered through the senior center upon registration. Scholarships available. LSS Fremont them here for anger assessment, and we have a protocol to go further if necessary. The Fremont office offered anger management counseling in the past, but, until recently, the need fell away. With so many changes in society, there s more need out there now, said Office Coordinator Vickie Bigler. The Fremont office is also working on upcoming parenting classes that will provide education and support to parents of children of all ages. With all the drug problems, grandparents raising children and single parents, there s a need, Broshious said. It s to give them skills they can incorporate into everyday life and help them with age-appropriate guidelines. Although the counseling services provided by Lutheran Social Services is Christian-based, clients of any faith are welcome. Clients are often referred by the courts, but many are self-referrals. The office accepts Medicaid and commercial insurance and offers a sliding scale for self-pay clients. The offi ce is located at 512 E. State Street in Fremont and can be reached at We try to get them scheduled on the day they call or as soon as possible, Bigler said. The staff is looking forward to offering parenting and anger management counseling in the near future. Even though we don t have some of these groups going yet, we can still deal with these issues on an individual basis, Broshious said. -article courtesy of the Fremont News Messenger Anna Rayford Happy Retirement! Miss Anna Rayford was recognized and honored by her friends and co-workers as she has entered a new chapter in life as a retired person after working for 21 years at Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio. Clinical records, greeting clients with a warm and welcoming presence at the front desk, and too many other duties to mention were a part of each day while working at LSS. We will all miss Anna, her beautiful smile, warm and engaging welcome and thoughtful, faith fi lled words of encouragement. Anna often took the opportunity to serve beyond the call of duty by ministering to LSS clients and emergency pantry guests through her church, The Ark of Toledo. 4 Summer 2018

5 Thank you for your Contributions to our Ministries Churches, Businesses & Organizations ST MARTINS LUTHERAN ARCHBOLD ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN PEMBERVILLE WORLD SERVICE, INC ELKHART FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN FINDLAY FIRST LUTHERAN GALION FIRST LUTHERAN GALION FIRST ST JOHN LUTHERAN GERMAN LUTHERAN HERITAGE SOCIETY MAUMEE GLENWOOD LUTHERAN GOOD HOPE LUTHERAN BUCYRUS GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN GRACE LUTHERAN FREMONT GREAT LAKES MARKETING RESEARCH LUTHERAN OF THE MASTER PERRYSBURG LUTHERAN WOMEN MISSIONARY LEAGUE NAPOLEON MARATHON PETROLEUM CO., LLC FINDLAY MEMORIAL LUTHERAN MESSIAH LUTHERAN MLM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION NORTHWEST DISTRICT ASS. OF OHIO HOMEMAKERS & COMMUNITY ED. DELTA OLIVET EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN PANERA BREAD SUNSET HILLS PILGRIM SOLOMON LUTHERAN WOODVILLE ST JOHN S LUTHERAN WOMEN MONTPELIER ST LUKE S LUTHERAN TEMPERANCE ST JAMES LUTHERAN BRADNER ST JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN OAK HARBOR ST JOHN LUTHERAN STRYKER ST JOHN LUTHERAN DESHLER ST JOHN S LUTHERAN STONY RIDGE ST MARK LUTHERAN FREMONT ST MARK S LUTHERAN DEFIANCE ST MICHAEL LUTHERAN OTTAWA LAKE ST PAUL EV. LUTHERAN BLISSFIELD ST PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN NORWALK ST PETER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MONROEVILLE ST PETER LUTHERAN MARTIN UNITED OF CHRIST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN WELCA BRYAN TRINITY LUTHERAN FINDLAY UNITED WAY OF GREATER UNIVERSITY OF EQUESTRIAN TEAM ZION LUTHERAN MONTPELIER ZION LUTHERAN LUCKEY ZION LUTHERAN HURON ZION LUTHERAN GIBSONBURG ZION LUTHERAN HURON ZOAR LUTHERAN PERRYSBURG Honors Gifts In Honor of Ben & Carrie Keller JAMES SOMMERS SR In Honor of Mr & Mrs James Witt s 50th Anniv. ST JOHN S WELCA Memorial Gifts In Memory of Elsie Kunst ANNALINE PIEL In Memory of Riad Yammine RIAD YAMMINE In Memory of Bob & Betty Shryock THOMAS AND LUCILLE GEE In Memory of Nancy Stork MARY KROOS In Memory of Doris Hoseman KERMIT HOESMAN In Memory of Robert Behnfeldt LARRY BEHNFELDT In Memory of Charles Ide IDE, JUNE In Memory of Emma Westrand SAMUELSON, DONALD In Memory of David Northup BEHNFELDT, LARRY In Memory of Robert Leutz CANDACE BENSCH In Memory of Ron Richards WELCA ST MARTIN LUTHERAN In-Kind Gifts ST STEPHEN LUTHERAN FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN FINDLAY CONCORDIA LUTHERAN FIRST ST JOHN LUTHERAN ST PETER LUTHERAN MARTIN CONCORDIA LUTHERAN ST PETER LUTHERAN MARTIN RODNEY HOCHSTETLER FIRST ST JOHN LUTHERAN ST PETER LUTHERAN MARTIN ST JOSEPH PARISH Your generosity is a real lifesaver. Thank you! Summer

6 One suicide occurs every 13.7 minutes in the U.S. October 6, 2018 International Park afsp.org/toledo Suicide: The Facts Most common mental health disorders associated with suicide are depression and bipolar disorders, followed closely by substance-related disroders and schizophrenia. Suicide is the conscious and deliberate act of killing oneself. Often suicide is considered to be so dramatic and traumatic that it is rare. In reality, world-wide, suicide is more common than death by accidents, homicide, and war combined. In the U.S., in 2010 (the most recent statistics) there were over 38,000 suicides. That equates to 105 per day. In the U.S., men are 4 times more likely to complete suicide and less likely to utilize support systems to avoid suicide attempts. In the U.S., women are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide. Every 90 minutes a women completes suicide. Every 78 seconds a woman attempts suicide and is more likely to utilize support systems to avoid suicide attempts. Almost everyone who completes suicide either had been or would have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Mental illness is treatable. Survivors of Suicide Support Group Advent Lutheran Center 6735 W Sylvania Avenue Sylvania, OH (corner of Sylvania Avenue and McCord) Time: 7:00 pm on the first Tuesday of the month Call: (419) and ask for Nancy Yunker It s okay to Grieve.Cry.Recover from loss. Reprinted from: Lucas County Suicide Prevention Coalition, website: Communty Opiate Town Hall in the Councilman Peter Ujvagi, Commissioner District 3 City of Toledo, Toledo Lucas County Health Department, Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and the Lucas County Sheriff s Office D.A.R.T. Unit hosted a gathering at the East Toledo Family Center to address how the Opioid epidemic affects District 3. Jeffrey Bischoff was available to facilitate a discussion group and participated in a productive sharing between providers of services including Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio. 6 Summer 2018

7 Lutheran Ministries of Mercy Sharing Resources Enhancing Lives Donald L. Wukotich 2018 Scholarship Awards Raquel Helle Danyelle Pierce Nursing Program Nursing As Pastor Don retried last year the LMM Board established the Donald L. Wukotich Scholarship Fund as a means of honoring Don s thirty-one year career in our ministry and encouraging staff members to pursue work in our helping professions. A work group of Board members and senior agency staff assembled to establish the parameters and processes for the program and initial applications were accepted this past June. Applications were received from staff members of all Lutheran Ministries of Mercy affi liates, including LSS. The Awards Committee is pleased to announce that tuition assistance awards have been made to the following applicants: Tashala Jackson Kearston Zimmer Tamianna Castillo Hope Myers Kierra Morehead Rebecca Addington Nursing Program Nursing Business Administration Social Work Social Work Early Childhood Education UNITING the global community to learn, connect and collaborate to COMBAT human trafficking and PROMOTE social justice. The University of Toledo Thompson Student Union 2801 W. Bancroft St. Toledo, OH Up to 12 CEUs pending for social work, counseling, law, nursing, chemical dependence and public I N T E R N A T I O N A L HUMAN TRAFFICKING SOCIAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE THURSDAY and FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20-21, :30 AM 5 PM #GivingTuesday at Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year s #GivingTuesdayNWO will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back. HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE Summer

8 FILLING HOMES LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO GENACROSS LUTHERAN SERVICES LUTHER HOME OF MERCY 2149 Collingwood Blvd, Toledo, OH Phone Fax TDD/TTY lssnwo.org Archbold T-793 St Rte Findlay (on the campus of St John Lutheran Church) Fremont 512 East State St Lima 658 Market St, Suite 201A Bowling Green St Mark s Lutheran Church, 315 S College Dr Crossroads Family Resource Center 4543 Douglas Rd, Toledo Delta Trinity Lutheran Church, 410 Taylor St Galion (Counseling Site) First Lutheran Church, 127 Columbus St Moulton/Wapok (Counseling Site) Trinity Lutheran Church Moulton-New Knoxville Rd, Wapakoneta Sylvania 6735 Sylvania Ave Miami St Spirit Mind Body Balance 8 Summer 2018