helping - Lutheran Child and Family Services Of Illinois

Tidings
F a l l 2014
A community
helping
a community
Page 4
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
www.lcfs.org
www.facebook.com/LCFSIL
About
LCFS
Mission
In response to God’s love, Lutheran
Child and Family Services of Illinois
engages with youth, adults, families,
communities and other stakeholders
to improve the well-being of those
we are called to serve.
Our purpose
Lutheran Child and Family Services
of Illinois annually improves the
well-being of more than 40,000 people
statewide by nurturing and protecting
children, empowering families and
transforming communities.
About Tidings
Tidings is published four times a year
in celebration of the many children,
individuals and families whom we
serve and our supporters who make
it possible.
Reflections from the President
Hunger
This issue’s lead story, “A community helping
a community,” (p.4) spotlights part of LCFS’ efforts to
combat hunger. There are no simple solutions, but one
thing is certain. Your partnership is a vital component in
addressing this need. You can read more about our battle
against hunger at www.lcfs.org/FoodDistribution.
Many of you will be reading this column in November,
which is National Adoption Awareness Month. Just as
many seek food to satisfy an important need, so too, many children have a deep
need to be loved in the context of a forever family. Whether it’s through the
LCFS Adoption program (www.lcfs.org/Adoption) or our Lifelink International
Adoption subsidiary (www.lifelinkadoption.org), we can assist you whether
you’re a birth parent giving up a child for adoption or seeking to welcome a child
into his/her forever family.
Gene Svebakken, MSW, ACSW
President & CEO
Contact
We welcome your feedback,
questions and comments.
Contact us at lcfs_info@lcfs.org.
For more information about:
LCFS Services and Referrals:
800-363-LCFS (5237)
LCFS Special Events:
708-488-5558
LCFS Annual Fund Contributions,
Volunteer Opportunities or
In-Kind Contributions:
708-488-5557
Major & Planned Gifts:
708-488-5555
Congregational Questions:
708-488-5532
Cover photo by epSos.de
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Healthy_Red_Tomatoes_with_
Water_Drops.jpg
2 | 800-363-5237
Chicago Uptown Ministry staff following some recent training at their location. l–r: Harry
Rogers, Michelle Simmons, Charles Hawkins, Marie Narcisse and Gloria Ortega. See page 6
for photos of more LCFS staff.
Lifelink families at a recent Milwaukee-area picnic
Lifelink International
Adoption at 30
A lot can happen in three decades. In the case of
Lifelink International Adoption (a program of LCFS since
2010), it’s been a lot of good. Since December 1984, when
the first children adopted through Lifelink arrived in the
United States, Lifelink has helped more than 4000 kids
become members of their forever families.
A driving force over those thirty years has been Lifelink
Executive Director Pat Radley, who is also a Lifelink adoptive
parent. Pat adopted her daughter Taylor from China in
1998. Pat’s time with the agency has provided her with a
rewarding perspective; “Families see potential in children
who otherwise would have limited resources. Now we see
these kids go to college and have success in their lives.”
Lifelink has had a profound impact on many families.
Pat Radley recently shared a few examples:
A Chinese boy with facial / cranial deformities and
a repaired cleft palate was adopted by a single parent
(woman). “She said ‘I thought I could give him a home and
access the medical resources that he would need.’ He’s now
8, doing well and receiving medical treatment.” This boy
experienced extreme prejudice in China and would have
little chance for any type of future if he had stayed in China.
Another boy from China (6 years old, was 4 when
adopted) has serious medical problems. The adoptive
parents found out that these problems were more severe
than they had originally been told, and they were going to
back out of the adoption. Their daughter, who was 7 at the
time, said she didn’t understand why and convinced them
they could take care of the boy. He is a happy, outgoing
child, who is able to manage the daily self-care his medical
condition requires and who basically knows pretty much
everybody in his school.
These stories illustrate how important international
adoption remains, despite that fact that the number of
international adoptions has declined significantly in recent
years (according to the U.S. State Department, the number
of international adoptions was nearly 23,000 in 2004 and
dropped to around 7100 in 2013) due in large part to politics
and regulatory machinations both in the U.S. and abroad.
Lifelink and LCFS support the federal CHIFF (Children in
Families First), which calls for new and improved programs
to help ensure children have families. The CHIFF Working
Group notes on its website (childreninfamiliesfirst.org),
“We protect children by preserving families, reunifying
families or creating families through adoption.”
For Lifelink adoptive parents Jeff and Tamara Rubinoff,
their son Aron has been “more than worth the wait, and he
was meant to be part of our family. He is our absolute joy.”
Lifelink has spent 30 years helping to create those moments
of joy. Tamara Rubinoff echoed the sentiment of many Lifelink
parents when she noted, “I’m glad Lifelink is out there.”
For more information on Lifelink International
Adoption, go to www.lifelinkadoption.org or
www.facebook.com/LifelinkInternationalAdoption.
www.lcfs.org | 3
A community
helping
a community
Hardin Staff Front row (l–r): Marcy Klockenkemper, Vera Droege, Mary
Lee Merkle, Linda Hoffman; Back row (l–r): Debbie Lewis,
Doris Schobernd, Al Parker, Christine Johnes, Jennifer White
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “it takes a
community.” In down-state Hardin, Illinois people throughout
that community are partnering with LCFS’ food pantry to
provide food and clothing to area residents, with a primary focus
on seniors. (Hardin is located about 60 miles north of St. Louis
and 300 miles southwest of Chicago in Calhoun County.)
The area around Hardin is an agricultural community;
unemployment is high and jobs are scarce. So there is a great
need for assistance from the food pantry.
Food pantry Manager Vera Droege
talked about the community, “We are a
close-knit community, where just about
everyone knows everybody else. Everyone
is treated like family and/or friends. If a
client cannot make it into the pantry, food
will be delivered to him/her. Providing food
is our primary purpose, but we also supply
clothing, shoes, books, school supplies,
baby clothing and personal items.”
The food pantry operates out of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
in Hardin and annually serves 300 families and 800 individuals.
When items are needed for distribution, partners throughout
the community respond. Local schools hold food drives,
including one high school that changed the price of admission
for one of its football games to a can of food. The collected
food was then donated to the LCFS food pantry. Food is also
supplied by the St. Louis Area Foodbank, Operation Food
Search (St. Louis), the Midwest Food Pantry in Peoria as well
as donations from some Calhoun County churches, agencies
and businesses. Local farmers will also leave donations of
fresh produce at the food pantry’s door, a welcome donation
for those who need such healthy staples in their diets. And
when food pantry staff march in
the county fair parade in the fall,
the wagon they pull behind them
gets filled with food. The food
pantry also works closely with other
agencies and groups serving the
people of Calhoun County.
Volunteers play a key role in
the operation of the food pantry.
As Vera Droege notes, “There
wouldn’t be a food pantry if we
didn’t have volunteers.” There are about 30 volunteers at the
food pantry, including many in their 70’s and 80’s. From setup
to distribution to sharing tips on how to cook the food that’s
distributed, volunteers ensure that everyone who comes to
the food pantry receives the service they need and deserve.
“…Providing food is our
primary purpose, but
we also supply clothing,
shoes, books, school
supplies, baby clothing
and personal items.”
4 | 800-363-5237
In the news
Love shines through
Camp Wartburg’s 17th annual
“Let Your Love Shine” dinner auction
was held in late August, and it was
a wonderful evening. Thanks to the
generosity of so many friends of Camp,
$109,000 was raised.
There is no stigma attached to coming to the food pantry for
assistance. And a number of those helped throughout the
years have donated to or volunteered at the food pantry.
The Hardin food pantry also features a Neighbor-toNeighbor program (developed by Vera
Droege) where neighbors and relatives pick
up and deliver food for those who can’t
come to the food pantry because
of illness, disability or lack of
transportation. These partnerships
ensure that no one misses out
on something that is vital to his/
her well-being.
Vera Droege sums up what
it means when community
members help others in need in
the community, “the idea is making
you feel good about yourself.” In other
words, it’s providing that hand up to
people in need and empowering them
to help themselves.
If you would like to support LCFS’
food pantries, visit www.lcfs.org/Donate
and make a donation.
In the top photo, Auction Chairs Ron and Cindy
Auld greeted guests; in the bottom photo,
Fletcher and Julie Wells were the winners of the
“Bling Bling.” They won a diamond necklace.
“In the News” continued on page 6.
www.lcfs.org | 5
In the news
continued from page 5
Serving across Illinois
LCFS staff across the state recently underwent some agency-related training. Photos of some of them are presented below.
They work daily on your behalf nurturing and protecting children, empowering families and transforming communities.
Camp Wartburg
STAC
Joliet & Kankakee
Decatur & Springfield
Chicago South
Mt. Vernon
LCFS Adoption & Lifelink International Adoption
River Forest
River Forest
Lutherbrook Academy
6 | 800-363-5237
Belleville
Thank You
Gifts July 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014
BEQUESTS
CIRCLE OF HOPE
EVENT SPONSORS
Mrs. Olive Foth
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bauer
2014 Harvest Gala
GRANTS
HONOR GIFTS
Oliver and Emma Allen High School
Scholarship Fund — Lutherbrook Academy
In honor of Leslie Lopez
Mrs. Amelia R. Wiatr-Rodriguez
Platinum Level Sponsorship
Assurance Agency
Thrivent Financial, Tim Perryman
Christopher Family Foundation — Chicago Uptown Ministry and
Ways to Work
In honor of daughters Emily’s and
Anna’s birthdays
Mr. & Mrs. James P. Zeller
In honor of her parents’
57 Wedding Anniversary
Ms. Faith Walker
Gold Level Sponsorship
First Midwest Bank
Gene Svebakken, MSW, ACSW
Silver Level Sponsorship
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Eclipse Mailing Services
EXL Service
Forest Park Bank & Trust Co.
Laurus Strategies
Reed, Centracchio & Associates, LLC
SFH Company LLC
The Christopher Family Foundation
See the
Change
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois (LCFS) helps improve the well-being of more than 40,000 people statewide. Take
a tour of our mission and see how people are changing their lives every day with the assistance of LCFS programs and services.
NURTURING & PROTECTING
EMPOWERING
TRANSFORMING
Children
Families
Communities
You’re invited to see the change. Call 708-488-5557 to reserve your spot for this one-hour presentation held once a
month at the LCFS Corporate Office, 7620 Madison Street, River Forest.
Dates
12-9-14
1-13-15
2-10-15
3-10-15
4-14-15
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
@
@
@
@
@
www.lcfs.org | 7
Lutheran Child and
Family Services of Illinois
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Carol Stream, IL
Permit #101
7620 Madison Street | River Forest, Illinois 60305
800-363-LCFS (5237) | www.lcfs.org
Tidings
F a ll 2 0 1 4
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
President and CEO Gene L. Svebakken, MSW, ACSW
Editors: David Bakker and Sara LoCoco
All photographs in Tidings without an identifying caption
are used for illustrative purposes only and do not represent
actual LCFS clients or staff.
License number: 012998
!
Give the gift of Christmas joy
Mail this form to
Attn: Christmas Drive, 7620 Madison
Street, River Forest, IL 60305 or donate
online at lcfs.org/ChristmasDrive.
Yes, I want to bring joy to
a child this Christmas
$100
$50
$25 Other
I want to make my donation via
Check (make payable to LCFS)
You can help bring Christmas joy to the more than 1,500
children LCFS serves in foster care, community service and youth residential
treatment programs. Donations of new books, board games, toys, gift cards
and cash to purchase last minute gifts are needed. Your gift will brighten the
holiday season for a child during what can be a difficult time of the year.
The deadline for donations is Thursday, December 11, 2014.
For a list of gift ideas by age, best shopping practices and the
drop-off location nearest you, please visit www.lcfs.org/Christmas
or contact Donor Relations Manager Leslie Lopez at 708-488-5568 or
leslie_lopez@lcfs.org.
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