You're Invited to the LSG Careers and Connections Launch!

Careers and Connections Saturday, October 18, 2014 Clarkston Community Center 3701 College Ave Clarkston, GA 30021 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Click to RSVP.

Lutheran Services of Georgia was recently selected to pilot Careers and Connections, a refugee career mentoring program with Higher, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's national employment initiative. Please join us for the Launch Event to learn more about becoming a professional mentor or refugee mentee in LSG's newest program. Careers and Connections aims to support long-term career advancement for refugees and deepen social connections between refugees and their communities. LSG will recruit 30 mentors and 30 refugees to commit to weekly meetings for at least three months. Mentors will act as a job coach, equipping the refugee to develop skills, identify career goals, and create a plan to reach those goals.

Upon arrival in Georgia, refugees often face significant barriers to community integration. Language skills and difficulties navigating the institutions and customs of a new culture can leave refugees vulnerable to marginalization. Through mentoring relationships, this program connects refugees and long-term local residents who can work together to build a more cohesive and vibrant community.

You can RSVP online to attend at bit.ly/CareersConnectionsLaunch. If you're not able to attend but would like more information on serving as a Careers and Connections mentor or mentee, please contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or 678-686-9619.

Click to download our Launch Invitation.

LSG's 2014 Heroes: R.N.C. Industries

 

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia honors community heroes at the annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala! On Thursday, September 25, 2014, LSG will honor Lutheran leaders Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson, community leader Erroll B. Davis, and business leader R.N.C. Industries. For more information about the Gala, click here.

R.N.C. Industries has been in business since 1990. It was founded by Larry Clark. In 1995 Charlotta Clark joined Larry at R.N.C. and the business was incorporated. They have moved from being a very small business, to a company that employs almost 70 people.

R.N.C. produces one of the highest quality shipping containers on the market. Control Temp Packaging is used to ship all types of temperature sensitive products from blood and vaccines, to chocolates and cheesecakes. We strive for customized, high quality service and products for each of our customers.

Beyond providing excellent products to our customers, R.N.C. is committed to giving back to the community.

R.N.C. is named for the son of Larry and Charlotta Clark, Ralph Noye Clark, who passed away at age 5 from pediatric cancer. With the growth over the past 24 years, R.N.C. is now thrilled to be able to give to Camp Sunshine, an organization that organizes programs for children with cancer and their families. Taylor Clark, the Vice President of Marketing, and Maria Cornejo, the Human Resources Manager, are also volunteers for Camp Sunshine.

R.N.C. plans to continue the tradition of excellence in all realms of business, making a wonderful work environment for employees, providing only the best for our customers, and giving back to the community.

LSG Hosts Summit For Our Children

On August 12, 2014, Lutheran Services of Georgia hosted the Summit For Our Children. Organized by the Alterna Community and convened by Alterna co-founder Anton Flores-Maisonet, the Summit For Our Children was a compassionate, just, and timely response to the crises of unaccompanied children and the children of immigrant parents, especially mothers, who are detained or deported.

Representatives of eleven groups and organizations traveled to downtown Atlanta to exchange resources and ideas for responding to the needs of migrant children. Participants included Access to Law Foundation, Alterna, Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment, Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, Covenant House of Georgia, Dekalb County Schools, DHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Jubilee Partners, Lutheran Services of Georgia, and Welcoming America.

LSG’s President and CEO Floyd R. Blair welcomed the participants and Anton shared his motivations for organizing the summit. Through showing hospitality, the Alterna Community is intimately connected with the struggles of immigrants in the United States. Anton expressed that, over the past several years, Alterna has become increasingly concerned with how current immigration policies harm vulnerable families and children. He wanted to bring together passionate, concerned people to develop a cohesive response to this crisis.

Each group described their current work with and knowledge of migrant children. What emerged was a picture of the diverse array of services already available, including legal representation and consultations for unaccompanied children, short-term and long-term foster care, alternatives to detention, houses of hospitality for immigrants and refugees, local and national advocacy efforts, trauma services, and more.

Attendees formed three discussion groups to explore opportunities for collaboration. Together, they brainstormed ways to educate the community about migrant children, provide housing and support services, and mobilize faith-based and other communities for action. Each group presented their ideas and began making the necessary plans to make those ideas a reality.

Participants in the Summit For Our Children recognized that responding effectively to the needs of vulnerable populations requires continued dialogue and collaboration. LSG thanks Anton Flores-Maisonet and the Alterna Community for bringing together groups and organizations committed to supporting migrant children.

Click here to see more photos from the Summit.

LSG's 2014 Heroes: Erroll B. Davis, Jr.

 

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia honors community heroes at the annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala! On Thursday, September 25, 2014, LSG will honor Lutheran leaders Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson, community leader Erroll B. Davis, and business leader R.N.C. Industries. We’ll be sharing  information about our 2014 Heroes on our blog. For more information about the Gala, click here.

Erroll B. Davis, Jr. served as superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools (APS) from July 2011 until his retirement in June 2014.   Prior to joining APS, Erroll served as chancellor of the University System of Georgia, where he was responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities, approximately 302,000 students, 40,200 faculty and staff, and an annual budget of approximately $6.3 billion.

Before leading the University System of Georgia, Erroll served as chair of the board of Alliant Energy Corporation – an energy holding company with $8.3 billion in total assets and annual operating revenues of $3 billion at that time – since 2000. Erroll joined Alliant in 1998 as president and chief executive officer. He retired from his dual roles as president and CEO in July 2005, and retained the chair’s post until his move to the University System in early 2006.

Prior to the creation of Alliant Energy, Erroll served as president and CEO of WPL Holdings from 1990 to 1998. From 1978 to 1990, he rose through the senior management ranks at Wisconsin Power and Light Company, starting as vice president of finance and ending as CEO and president.

Erroll’s higher education experience includes serving as a member of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents from 1987 to 1994, and as a former chair and life member of the board of trustees of Carnegie Mellon University. He also served as a member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees.   A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Erroll earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1965 and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago in 1967. He is a member of the board of directors of General Motors, Union Pacific Corp. and the Public Broadcasting System. He is on the advisory board of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) and a member of the National Academy of Sciences roundtable on community resilience. He is a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee board (2004–2008) and has served on the boards of numerous corporate and community-based organizations.

He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2014 100 Black Men of Atlanta Leadership Award and the 2014 Atlanta Partners for Education Partnership Champion of the Year Award given by the Metro Atlanta Chamber. He was also recognized by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as one of the “100 Most Influential Directors in America” in 2013 and 2014. He was also recognized as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “100 Most Influential Georgians” from 2007 through 2011; the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “100 Most Influential Atlantans” in 2006 and 2007; one of the “75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America” in 2005 by Black Enterprise magazine; one of the “Top 50 Blacks in Technology” at the Black Engineer of the Year 2005 Awards Conference; and the Carnegie-Mellon Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2004. Erroll also was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Black Executives in America” by Fortune magazine in 2002 and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business in 1993, the same year he received a Bronze Medal in Financial World’s “CEO of the Year” competition. In addition, Erroll was honored by the magazine U.S. Black Engineer as the “Black Engineer of the Year” in 1988.

Erroll and his wife, Elaine, established the Davis Family Foundation, which makes annual grants to numerous students in need.

LSG's 2014 Heroes: The Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia honors community heroes at the annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala! On Thursday, September 25, 2014, LSG will honor Lutheran leaders Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson, community leader Erroll B. Davis, and business leader R.N.C. Industries. For the next three weeks, we'll be sharing more information about our 2014 Heroes on our blog. For more information about the Gala, click here.

Mary and Darrel Peterson have ties that run deep with Lutheran Social Service agencies. Mary was adopted as an infant from Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. Darrel has served on and has chaired the Boards of Lutheran Social Service Agencies in South Dakota, Colorado and Georgia. Both have been and are active advocates for social ministries in the Lutheran community.

Darrel is in his 45th year of being a Lutheran Pastor. He served congregations in Sioux Falls, SD, Aurora, CO and Marietta, GA. Prior to his retirement in November of 2013, he served as an Assistant to the Bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA. Darrel spent twelve years with Lutheran Brotherhood / Thrivent, first as a financial representative and later as an Agency Resource Manager. He has a history of working with stewardship and social ministry.

Mary has been a financial representative with Lutheran Brotherhood / Thrivent for 25 years. She is a Certified Financial Planner CFP® and a legacy consultant. She has worked in support of LSG management and staff in their planning and benefits.

Mary and Darrel are both natives of Minnesota and graduates of Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Darrel is an alumnus of Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Mary was an elementary teacher prior to going to work for Lutheran Brotherhood.

The Petersons have two grown sons, Derek and Adam. Derek lives in Marietta and is Mary’s business partner. He is married to Jennifer and they have two children, Fiona and Lars. Adam lives in Lakeland , Florida where he works for an environmental consulting company.

Darrel and Mary were instrumental in their Lutheran Brotherhood context initiating the annual LSG golf outing, as well as organizing the Lutheran Night at the Braves. In 1994, more than 5,000 Lutherans attended Lutheran Night at the Braves.

Support LSG at the 7th Annual Ballroom Extravaganza!

Carolyn (in the orange dress) and Blair (in white T-shirt) are learning their Salsa moves with instructor Jimmy Rumba! In five weeks, they will compete against other nonprofit leaders at Savannah’s 7th Annual Ballroom Extravaganza to raise funds for LSG. Here are ways you can join them in supporting LSG:

1) Visit Carolyn and Blair’s Crowdrise page today to make a donation. Donations received on this site will go towards the votes for Carolyn and Blair during their dance routine on the evening of the event and other incidents. Ballroom dancing is not only competitive but expensive.

2) Write a check in the amount of your choice to Lutheran Services of Georgia. Mail it to: LSG, 100 Edgewood Ave., Suite 1800, Atlanta, GA 30303 or hand deliver it to Terri Medina (Atlanta office), Deidre Harrison (Savannah office), or Linda Larson (Savannah office). Don’t forget to include “Ballroom Extravaganza” in the note section.

3) Purchase a ticket (or more!) to attend the event on August 2, 2014. Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of ten. LSG will receive 50% of all ticket sales purchased to support us. Seats are limited and tickets will sell quickly, so please purchase yours as soon as possible.

4) Sponsor the event! 100% of sponsorship dollars will do directly to LSG. Please include in the note section of your check or online that the sponsorship is for Lutheran Services of Georgia.

5) Help with our Silent Auction! Do you have a great item or a themed basket you can donate to LSG for the silent auction? All money received from the silent auction is donated back to LSG at 100%

6). If you attend the event on August 2, 2014, you have the opportunity to “vote” for Blair and Carolyn after their dance routine is completed. All donations received as votes are given to LSG at 100%.

Please share this link with your family, friends, and other contacts. LSG needs support from all our friends!

By supporting this event, you are helping LSG raise money for its much needed programs and services. For questions regarding the Ballroom Extravaganza, please contact Terri Medina (tmedina@lsga.org), Deidre Harrison (dharrison@lsga.org), or Linda Larson (llarson@lsga.org).

Thank you for supporting LSG!

LSG Tees Off at the 20th Anniversary Atlanta Golf Classic

On a gorgeous spring day in May, 57 golfers and LSG supporters teed off at the Atlanta Golf Classic. Held at the Trophy Club of Atlanta, a beautiful and challenging course located in Alpharetta, this year's event marked the 20th anniversary of the annual Lutheran Services of Georgia fundraiser.

After a continental-style breakfast and opening prayer, fourteen foursomes scrambled for first place on the green. The day concluded with a 19th Hole Party featuring cold beer, hamburgers and hot dogs, door prizes, a silent auction, and awards for top players. The competition was fierce but one foursome emerged victorious: Ken Anderson, Bruce Johnson, Mark Olsen, and John Smith, pictured above. John Didcher, Ken Hyde, Mark Moeller, and Frank Pepe followed closely in second place, and Don Derrico, Brown Edwards, Greg Erath, and Mo Tabarrok came in third.

Awards were also given for men and women with exceptional play. Littie Brown and Mike Campbell won trophies for the Longest Drive for women and men, respectively. Julie Miller received the Closest to the Pin award for women and Brown Edwards for men. LSG awarded Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Alpharetta both the John Timpe Participation Trophy for bringing the largest number of golfers and the Bob Ott Memorial Sponsorship award for bringing in the most sponsorship dollars.

Together, golfers and supporters raised over $17,000 and an additional $11,000 in in-kind donations. LSG is grateful for all of the golfers, volunteers, staff members, and sponsors who made this event possible.

To see photos from the day’s activities, visit our Facebook page. Don’t forget to like, tag, and share!

Fundraising Made Easy: Six Tips for Hunger Walk/Run 2014

Are you participating in the 2014 Hunger Walk/Run, but the thought of asking for money makes you sweat? Fundraising can be intimidating at first, but it can also be a lot of fun! And just think - the funds you raise for your team lead to healthier, happier people throughout Georgia. Here are six fundraising tips to help you raise more funds, reach more supporters, and increase your impact! 1) Get Started Today! The 2014 Hunger Walk/Run is a month away, and now is the perfect time to amplify your fundraising efforts. If you haven't registered yet, you can register online. Once registered, you can customize your webpage with your own notes, photos, and stories.

2) Team Up! There is strength in numbers and you'll have more fun and success. Form or join a team and you'll have a support network all working together towards a common goal. Teams are a great way to have fun, build deeper relationships, enjoy friendly competition, build teamwork with your co-workers, and achiever your goals. Click here to team up!

3) Spread the word! Use your social network to share the link to your fundraising page. Post regular status updates on your fundraising efforts so others can support you and cheer you on. Send out emails to everyone you know asking them for any amount...any little bit helps. Click here for more ways you can use social media to spread the word and here to access promotional materials!

4) Get your employer involved! Ask your employer to get involved by forming a team or supporting your efforts. Your employer may also be willing to match your gift---you won't know until you ask!

5) Ask everyone you know! The more people you ask, the more you'll be able to raise. Ask everyone you know and ask often! Even people from out-of-state can support you and will be interested in your efforts for positive change.

6) Be Creative! There are so many creative, fun ways to engage your community in fundraising. Get your neighbors involved in a community yard sale. Host a bake sale, a car wash, a chili cook-off, or a dinner party for your friends, clients, co-workers, or congregation. Creativity is a great way to keep fundraising fun!

Click here for these and other fundraising tips and here to register for the 2014 Hunger Walk/Run. Thank you for supporting LSG in the fight to end hunger throughout Georgia!

Volunteers Serve Refugees at the 2014 Lutheran Day of Service

Volunteers poured through the doors of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, their arms full of children's books, rice, batteries, granola bars, flashlights, and first aid kits. Other volunteers, armed with hot coffee and check-in sheets, greeted them warmly. They've all come to serve refugees and to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 9th annual Lutheran MLK Day of Service.

"The Lutheran MLK Day of Service offers an opportunity for Lutheran congregations and other volunteers to join LSG in welcoming refugees from around the world by providing essential items needed for the 400-500 refugees resettled each year by LSG,” said Melanie Johnson, LSG’s Program Manager for Volunteer, Congregation, and Community Engagement. LSG partners with the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Synod to coordinate the event. The first Day of Service took place in 2006 and drew 50 volunteers from local congregations. This year, school groups, families, community members, Girl Scouts, LSG staff, and refugees joined Lutheran congregations in service, totaling 234 volunteers.

This year’s Day of Service began with a gathering in Rock of Age’s gym. Gene Lewis, one of the day’s leading organizers, welcomed volunteers and thanked Pastor Randy Palm for Rock of Age’s hospitality. Natalie Yasson, LSG’s Director of Refugee and Immigration Services, recognized Hope Worldwide and the Corporation for National and Community Service’s support. Thanks to Hope Worldwide’s Disaster Preparedness grant, LSG will provide disaster preparedness education through the Extended Cultural Orientation program along with basic emergency kits for every refugee household in 2014.

To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life, the Rev. Kevin Dudley, Senior Pastor of The Church at North Pointe, reflected on Dr. King’s beliefs regarding service and justice. “In order to serve,” paraphrased The Rev. Dudley, “we gotta be a little bit crazy.” Floyd R. Blair, LSG’s President and CEO, led the gathering in prayers of intercessions that challenged the church to be “disturbers of the status quo.” Volunteers formed a circle around the rice and bowed their heads as Blair offered a blessing for the day.

A bustle of voices and movement filled the church as volunteers dispersed to help prepare various items to be given to refugees. “These essential items are rice, the staple food item for refugees from around the world; basic emergency kits, so that newly arrived refugees don’t have to face any future emergency unprepared; and books for refugee children, a lifeline to learning about their new country and new language,” said Melanie. Together, the volunteers….

--Packed over 1500 lbs of rice into over 1000 family-sized bags for newly arrived refugees

--Prepared over 150 Basic Disaster Preparedness kits for refugee households

--Donated and sorted over 600 books for distribution to

• Students in LSG’s Afterschool Academic/Arts Program (ASAP) sites in the Clarkston area who will each receive a book
• Newly arrived refugee children who will choose a book to take home when they visit LSG’s Refugee Clothes Closet during their first week in the U.S.

--Read books to 25 children who each got to choose a book to take home from the Day of Service

--Distributed 400 door hangers with Fire Prevention Info in 2 apartment complexes in Clarkston where many refugees resettled by LSG live.

LSG thanks all the volunteers for their help welcoming refugees and looks forward to serving again next year!

During the Lutheran MLK Day of Service, over 65 volunteers and LSG staff shared their stories of why they serve refugees. Their photos are available on our Facebook page. If you couldn’t attend the Day of Service but would like to share your story of serving refugees in other ways, contact Abby Koning at akoning@lsga.org.

Take the Next Step with LSG at the 30th Annual Hunger Walk/Run!

Join thousands in the fight against hunger on Sunday, March 9th at Turner Field. The 5K walk/run benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank and one of its partners, Lutheran Services of Georgia, with hunger relief programs. Everyone is welcome to join or donate!

The event opens at Noon and the 5K walk and 5K “fun run” begin at 2 p.m. Pre-register online as a team or individual at www.HWR2014.org/LSG or at the registration tent the day of the event. Walk Registration is $25 and includes an official Hunger Walk/Run 2014 event t-shirt. Run Registration is $35 and includes a special moisture-wicking t-shirt.

Create your team TODAY and enjoy the fun, festival-like atmosphere with activities for the entire family including games, Atlanta’s finest food trucks, live entertainment and more on March 9th! If you’re unable to attend, you can still fight hunger by joining the Lutheran Services of Georgia Team by visiting www.HWR2014.org/LSG. For more information, contact Terri Medina at tmedina@lsga.org or 404-591-7067.

Serve with LSG on the 2014 Lutheran MLK Day of Service!

On January 20, 2014, the city of Atlanta will remember Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King believed that all people had the ability and the responsibility to serve others and work to create a better world . This year, you are invited to celebrate MLK day by serving some of the most vulnerable people in contemporary society: refugees.

Volunteers will gather at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church (5135 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083) at 9:00 a.m (Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) and serve until 1:00 p.m. You may choose from any of the following projects:

• Packaging Rice for Refugees—Bring as many bags of rice as you can. We will repackage rice in family-size bags and give them to newly arrived refugee families.
• Books for Refugees—Bring new or gently used children's books to give to refugee children. You can also sign up to read to refugees and other children during the Day of Service.
• Preparing Disaster Kits for Refugees—Help refugees be prepared for disasters by putting together a disaster kit for each household.

Click here to sign up for a project by January 17, 2014.

We strongly encourage you to bring one or more of the following items to the Day of Service: a bag of rice (any size); new or gently used children's books; AAA batteries; granola/energy bars; first aid kits. Click here to download and share a flyer about needed donations.

Individuals and families may bring donations to the Day of Service. Congregation groups are encouraged to gather donations and deliver them to Rock of Ages Lutheran Church before January 20, 2014. Contact Gene Lewis at gene1950@gmail.com or 404-299-8880 to arrange deliveries.

If you have questions, please contact Abby Koning, LSG's Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org or at 678-686-9633.

Angel Tree 2013 Highlight: A Very Merry Christmas in Savannah!

Children served by the Savannah Specialized Foster Care, Adoptions, and Family Intervention Services, along with participants in the FACES program, had a very merry Christmas this year! Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, our clients received an outpouring of gifts, all distributed by Santa!

On Saturday, December 14, Lutheran Services of Georgia held a party for the children in the social hall of host church Trinity Lutheran. Southside Fire Department brought Santa in an ambulance (It was raining - no open sleigh!) and delivered personalized gifts to every foster care provider and every child in each home. Everyone -- about 80 people plus staff -- enjoyed a delicious meal, served by LSG staff members.

The FACES party was held at the Old Times Country Buffet, and Santa, aka Donald Gruver, made an appearance to hand out gaily wrapped gifts.  Then it was “all you can eat.”  Everyone left happy.

Many groups and individuals within those groups selected names and purchased and wrapped each gift.  These groups included:

• Asbury Methodist Bible Study Group
• Groves High School Student Council
• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield
• Messiah Lutheran Church
• Will Black, The Meridian Foundation
• Publix Supermarket
• Redeemer Lutheran Church
• Savannah Pan-Hellenic Council
• SouthCoast Medical Administrative Office
• St. James Catholic School
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church WELCA
• St Paul’s Lutheran Preschool
• Trinity Lutheran Church

Lutheran Services of Georgia is truly blessed to have such wonderful supporters throughout the area.  Thanks to the generosity of so many, LSG is able to continue to bring hope, healing and strength to people in need.

Angel Tree 2013 Highlight: Gifts for Refugees

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia's Angel Tree program helps ensure that our clients have a very happy holiday season! Lutheran congregations and other LSG supporters generously gave gifts and their time to support refugee families. Through Angel Tree, LSG is able to provide warm winter coats, blankets, and clothing for every refugee adult and child resettled during the year---in 2013, that's almost 500 refugees!

Students from Ohio State University and Florida Gulf Coast University taking a week of their winter break for service helped to sort, organize, and deliver Angel Tree gifts for refugees provided by congregations. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer's Mission House served "Angel Tree Central", the location for drop off of all the refugee gifts. Christ the King Lutheran Church provided gifts for over 160 refugees, the largest number of gifts of any congregation in  LSG's Angel Tree 2013! For the Kid in All of Us donated several toys from the 2013 Toy Party and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock made shoeboxes full of small toys and items to delight every refugee child.

After the gifts were sorted, LSG staff members and volunteers personally delivered gifts to refugees throughout Clarkston, spreading excitement, smiles, and holiday cheer. LSG thanks all of the congregations, students, staff, and other supporters for making 2013 Angel Tree a success!

10 Reasons to Give to LSG on Georgia Gives Day!

November 13 is Georgia Gives Day, and LSG needs your help! Here are our top ten reasons to give to LSG!

1) LSG cares for kids! In 2011, LSG helped place 16 of Georgia's children in foster care into permanent, loving, adoptive families. Click here to read about Ryan, one of the children LSG serves. 

2) LSG welcomes newcomers! Each year, LSG resettles up to 500 refugees. LSG works alongside recently arrived refugees to make their transition to life in the U.S. as smooth as possible. Click here to meet Nur Abdi, a Somali refugee who recently accepted a job at the airport.

3) LSG empowers individuals with developmental disabilities! LSG's FACES program creates a meaningful family environment for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities and helps them become active, integrated members of their communities. Click here to read the story of Angelica, one of our FACES clients who recently danced the night away at the prom!

4) LSG strengthens families!  LSG's Family Intervention Services offers an array of services focusing on building and strengthening healthy relationships within families. One parent recently told LSG that our parenting classes helped him better relate to and care for his teenagers!

5) LSG prepares children for the future! LSG's afterschool programs help Georgia's at-risk children achieve success within and beyond the classroom. Click here to meet Berguissa, a refugee student at Clarkston High School who prepares for college after school!

6)LSG helps communities cope with disaster! LSG provides immediate relief after natural disasters, as well as long-term recovery services that remain critical long after initial headlines have faded.

7) LSG is non-discriminatory!  LSG offers services to individuals and families without regard to age, creed, gender, origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

8) Volunteers love serving with LSG! LSG relies on the support of our volunteers. One volunteer told LSG, "I love to volunteer with LSG because I’m given the opportunity to make a small difference in someone’s life." Click here to read other reasons why volunteers love serving with LSG!

9) LSG is constantly growing to respond to new needs! In response to Georgia's needs, LSG recently began offering several new services: housing opportunities for people with HIV/AIDS; immigration legal services; and outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services. Fundraising efforts like Georgia Gives Day allow us to keep growing!

10) LSG can't do it alone! Our work at LSG depends on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and supporters. Your Georgia Gives Day gift helps us keep bringing restored hope, transformed lives, and healthy tomorrows to individuals and families throughout Georgia. Click here to give!

LSG Hosts Career Fair for Refugees!

The excited chatter of more than 60 refugees fills the Clarkston Community Center on a Thursday morning. They've all gathered at the Lutheran Services of Georgia career fair for the same reason--to apply for, and hopefully secure, a job at a distribution center. Located in Decatur, the center distributes clothing and other goods for a national chain of department stores. In 1984, LSG Case Manager Obaid Rasoul brought a group of newly arrived Somali refugees to the center. Today, the center continues to employ refugees and asylees through LSG.

In the month leading up to the career fair, LSG worked diligently to prepare the applicants. At a weekly orientation, LSG employment specialists and volunteers guided applicants through sample versions of tests that the distribution center uses. Applicants learned how to perform during an interview --how to dress, what to say, and expected etiquette--and practiced filling out job applications.

On August 6, 2013, small groups of 15 to 20 refugees entered the career fair with confidence and hope. First, representatives form the distribution center described the available position: pricing, scanning, loading, and ticketing items to be shipped to department stores around the country. Then, applicants took a simple math test to see if they could accurately differentiate between letters, numbers, and combinations of the two. Those who passed the test wrote out answers to standard interview questions and filled out the application. Through this process, the center gather information about the applicants while also testing their English skills.

Thanks to the extensive orientation sessions, applicants were well prepared to succeed. Tenzin Ngawang, the LSG employment specialist who coordinated the event, commented that the distribution center was "impressed by how organized we were." Over 80% of the applicants passed the math test and submitted applications. Already, the distribution center has hired several refugees and is looking to hire even more! Through employment at the distribution center, these refugees are earning an income for their families, gaining new skills, and adjusting to life in the U.S.!

Celebrating Our Heroes of Hope

Lutheran Services of Georgia thanks all who attended our 6th annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala on Thursday, August 29, 2013. Each year, LSG honors an employee, donor, or member of the community who embodies our mission of bringing hope, healing, and strength to those in need. This year, we recognized the Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards and For the Kid in All of Us for their heroic contributions.

Previously held at Turner Field, this year’s gala took place at the Defoor Centre, an elegant space hung with colorful paper lanterns and decorated with artwork. The evening began with a reception and a silent auction featuring items that ranged from gift cards for local businesses, sightseeing opportunities, and handmade scarves. Over 25 individuals, companies, and organizations generously donated auction items. As attendees browsed, they also enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a live jazz trio playing “A Foggy Day in London Town” and other favorites.

WSB-TV news anchor John Bachman once again served as our Masters of Ceremonies for the evening’s program. As attendees enjoyed their meals, LSG employees and clients shared stories from foster care and refugee services. Simonette and Declan Taitt spoke of how fostering a child through LSG “could change your life forever.” Nur Abdi, a Somalian refugee, told stories of LSG’s support throughout his resettlement process.

Attendees watched inspiring videos detailing the work of the Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards and For the Kid in All of Us. A talented musician and songwriter, Rusty has written thirty one hymns that appear in hymnals all over the world. As the Volunteer Manager for the 2003 ELCA National Youth Gathering in Atlanta, Rusty helped LSG become the recipient of their in-kind offering. Because of Rusty’s efforts, LSG received over $27,000 in gifts cards for children associated with LSG's programs. Rusty thanked LSG, his congregation, his family, his friends, and his “beloved dentist” for recognizing him this year.

LSG also celebrated For the Kid in All of Us, an entirely volunteer-run non-profit organization that serves underprivileged children throughout Georgia. Each year, For the Kid in All of Us hosts two major events—the Toy Party and Backpack in the Park. As an official beneficiary of both events, LSG has received backpacks and toys for children in our programs. One year, we even received a bicycle which was then given as a Christmas present to a child in foster care whose bike was stolen. For the Kid in All of Us gives children “the strength to grow and to learn during the school year, the hope that Santa will come on Christmas morning, and the healing they need to make all their dreams come true,” said Brian Isabell, President-Elect of For the Kid in All of Us’ Board of Directors.

LSG thanks all who joined us in honoring these community heroes. We especially thank all those who made this event possible: silent auction donors, supporters, the Defoor Centre, John Bachman, and, of course, the Rev. Dr. Rusty Edwards and For the Kid in All of Us. We look forward to 2014, when we will celebrate others who bring hope, healing, and strength to those in need.

For more photos from the 2013 Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala, click here to visit our Facebook page. Don't forget to "like", "share", and tag familiar faces!

World Refugee Day Celebrated in Clarkston!

 On Saturday, June 22, LSG came together with the refugee community in Clarkston to celebrate World Refugee Day. Under the bright afternoon sun, Clarkston residents and other supporters of the refugee community flocked to the activity fields next to the Clarkston Community Center to join millions around the world who were remembering the hardships that refugees face while also honoring their accomplishments. As a timely tribute to the success of many refugees in Clarkston, the celebration included a naturalization ceremony for some of America’s newest citizens: former refugees who have been living in the U.S. for several years.

Although the Clarkston community chose to celebrate World Refugee Day on Saturday, June 22, the official day of observance each year is June 20. On that day, people around the world and in the United States remember the millions of refugees who have to flee their homes. For around 70,000 refugees each year, the United States offers a safe haven and an opportunity to begin a new life. Around 2,500 of these refugees are resettled in Georgia, where nonprofit agencies such as Lutheran Services of Georgia work with local and state government organizations to help these new Americans become productive members of Georgia’s communities.

Representatives from many of these nonprofit agencies were present at the celebration in Clarkston to inform others of the work that they do with the refugee community. Melanie Johnson, Program Manager for Volunteer, Congregation, and Community Engagement was braving the heat and staffing an information table for LSG. Many other members of LSG’s Refugee Services were at the event, too, including Taryn Arbeiter and Gayle Cruz, who served delicious Nepali food to all and sundry.

If you missed out on the celebration this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next year. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about nonprofits serving the refugee community, taste food from around the world, and witness the resilience and success of many refugees in Clarkston!

Backpack in the Park!

Sunday, July 28, 2013 4:00-7:00 p.m. Cator Woolford Gardens 1815 Ponce de Leon Ave.

Come join LSG and For the Kid in All of Us for an afternoon of food, entertainment, and a silent auction while benefiting children in LSG's After-School Academic/Arts Program (ASAP). With the money raised from the event, For the Kid in All of Us will donate backpacks stuffed with school supplies to the refugee and at-risk children whom we serve in ASAP.

Backpack in the Park will be slightly different this year. Instead of bringing a backpack to the event, you just need to make a "virtual" backpack donation by purchasing a ticket for $35 online or $45 at the door. To buy your ticket online, please click here. We'll see you there!

For more information, please visit www.forthekid.org

Recap of Volunteer Appreciation Evening 2013

On Tuesday, June 25, LSG volunteers and their families gathered at the Atlanta Community Food Bank to celebrate their service with LSG. The guests began the evening with a tour of the Food Bank’s 125,000 square-foot facility and learned about the dire need of some of Georgia’s citizens: this year the Food Bank collected 45 million pounds of food to distribute to agencies that feed people in need. It was an urgent reminder of the importance of volunteer work in Atlanta’s ongoing fight against hunger in the city. It was comforting to know at least that this work is in good hands with the Food Bank and their many committed partners, including LSG.

But it was ultimately an evening of celebration. After the tour, everyone got some food and awaited the presentation of awards. Each volunteer who was recognized for his or her service to LSG received a plaque created by students in LSG’s after-school program in Clarkston. Displaying an imprint of a painted “hand” on a ceramic tile, the Hands of Hope, Healing, and Strength plaque was hands down a better award than any paper certificate!

From volunteers with Refugee Services to those helping out with the golf outings, LSG honored people who contributed to the agency in many different ways. Bob Gibeling was recognized for his former work as Volunteer Coordinator of LSG. The three members of Lutheran Volunteer Corps who work for LSG received a “hand” for their service, as did the Hunger Walk Captains for their fundraising efforts. Greg Bickhart was recognized for his work with LSG’s Foundation for the Future Golf Outing. After several others were honored for their contributions to Refugee Services, LSG recognized Rev. Robert Strickert and Mrs. Eunice Strickert with the Elsie Guenther Volunteer of the Year Award for their innumerable acts of service over the past 30 years. Since Rev. Strickert retired from LSG’s Board of Directors in May, it was a fitting way to say thank you to these dedicated members of LSG’s family.

LSG thanks all its volunteers for lending a hand to people in need during 2013! We also thank the Atlanta Community Food Bank for letting us host our appreciation event at their facility. We look forward to seeing you all at next year’s celebration of your service!

Photos from Volunteer Appreciation Evening!

If you missed our celebration on Tuesday, check out these photographs from the event! We toured the Atlanta Community Food Bank, ate great food, and celebrated another year of volunteer service. We hope that you'll join us next year!