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4 Issnetworkofhope.org/SummerNews | Summer 2021

FOCUS News from the Network of Hope

Stay connected!

Thank you to our funders

41_104694

Victory for a Vet

I spent 12 years in the military. The military taught me discipline and how to take responsibility for my life. Problem is, once I got out, I didn’t know

how to adjust and I left all that discipline behind—and, to be honest, I didn’t know how to cope with life outside of the military.

Part of that goes back to my childhood. When I was 10, I was abducted by an escapee from a

local prison. I suffered from PTSD ever since, but I never dealt with it. Like everything in my life I buried it, and it’s caused me all kinds of problems. But it’s the medical issues that really tripped me up.

Story continued on page 2

This summer will be particularly challenging for many of our hungry, hurting neighbors in Central Ohio. Families face rising utility bills, children home from school throughout the past year because of the pandemic, and more mouths to feed. Manyhave suffered job losses or lost income, and now they have a hard time keeping up. Meanwhile, women and men living on the streets struggle to find fresh food and water, and face manyheat-related illnesses.

But this summer, you have given them hope. Your gift today of any amount will help provide meals, shelter, comfort, hope, and care to all those we serve at LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries.

Your gift is especially important right now because every summer our donations drop. Your support means we’ll be able to continue serving our neighbors in need. Thank you for your extraordinary generosity. You are a true blessing to struggling neighbors across Ohio.

At the LSS Network of Hope, we are hopeful we can meet the physical and emotional needs of every single person who comes through our doors. Please consider giving a gift today by going online to lssnetworkofhope.org/SummerNews or send the enclosed reply slip with your gift. Thank you!

Please Support Neighbors WhoNeed Your Help This Summer

LSS FAITH MISSION

LSS Faith Mission | LSS Food Pantries | LSS CHOICES | Summer 2021

Mentally, emotionally, physically, the streets broke me…

Torey LSS Faith Mission client

After 10 years ofextraordinary leadership,The Rev. Larry A. Crowell is retiring as CEO of the Lutheran Social Services. As of May 3, the newly named President and CEO, Stacy Martin, replacedRev. Crowell and will continue to provide essential strategicguidance and direction to LSS in the exciting and challenging years ahead.

“My career has primarily been in Lutheran social service non-profits, so it’s no surpriseI was immediately drawn to LSS’ mission and program offering,” Martin says. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead this organization and its dedicated employees and feel honored to be chosen tocontinue its 109-year legacy.”

Lutheran Social Services Names New CEO

(Photo has been changed to protect privacy.)

LSS NETWORK OF HOPE

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LSS CHOICES

2 Issnetworkofhope.org/SummerNewsSummer 2021 3

Your compassion in action. Your support helps provide meals and shelter to homeless and hungry neighbors who come to LSS Faith Mission in both Franklin and Fairfield counties. You ensure families struggling with hunger have access to nutritious food at the LSS Food Pantries. And you bless women and men facing domestic violence with a safe, secure place to stay and heal through LSS CHOICES. If you’re able, please use the enclosed form to give another kind donation today.

LSS FOOD PANTRIES

He seemed so nice at first, Karen thought. But like so many survivors of domestic violence, red flags appeared soon after they moved in together. He ridiculed her in front of others. He threatened her friends and family—and when she confronted him, he said it was all in her head, she was making it up.

Over time, she started doubting herself. She could no longer tell truth from lies. Then came his affairs with other women, a sexually transmitted disease, and COVID-19. When she tried to leave him, he threatened to choke her.

“I was suffocating and I felt so lost,” she said. “I thought the only way I could get out was by dying.” Finally, she called a hotline that connected her to

Over the past 10 years, I’ve suffered from cluster headaches, life-threatening epileptic seizures, and trigeminal neuralgia, which caused excruciating pain in my face. My health got so bad, I couldn’t work anymore, and I ended up on the streets.

I didn’t how to survive on the streets. I had no money for food, and I didn’t know where to get help. I couldn’t sleep at night, and only napped during the day. Mentally, emotionally, physically, the streets broke me—until someone from LSS Faith Mission found me.

Because I’m a veteran, they arranged for me to stay in their special emergency shelter for vets. But that was just the beginning. They have so many resources here to help vets like me get back on our feet. First, the case workers here are wonderful. They really care and know what they’re doing. They walked with me every step of the way, showing me what to do to help myself. They guided me with disability, getting food stamps, bus passes, clothing, financial management, and they always held me accountable.

They even connected me to a psychotherapist and mental-health specialist who are helping me deal with the PTSD. I still suffer from health issues, but today, I’m living on my own again, and I’m so grateful for LSS Faith Mission and all the donors who stood by me. You mean the world to me.

With summer almost here, I want to take a moment to thank you for your amazing support of LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries. The past 14 months of the pandemic have been more challenging than anything I’ve ever experienced here before. I don’t know how we could have made it through without friends like you walking alongside us. As more and more people sought our help, as our expenses increased, and as you faced your own hardships, you stood with us. I don’t know if there’s a way to express my gratitude.

Yet this summer, we must continue to rely on your faithful generosity, as we expect even greater demand for help. Throughout the pandemic, domestic violence exploded. Victims facing life and death situations have flooded our hotline and come to LSS CHOICES seeking refuge. This spring, we’ve added a new wing to meet the growing demand, but our shelter is already at full capacity and we expect it to stay that way all summer.

In addition, summer is always our busiest season for people seeking food, especially at the LSS Food Pantries. This summer, however, with so many people unemployed, we expect even more need for food.

So I hope, over the coming months, you will continue to stand with LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries. Together, we can build a better world.

With gratitude,

Sue Villilo Assistant Vice President of Community-Based Services, LSS

TOREY’S STORY cont. A Message of Hope from Sue Villilo Hope for Survivors

of DomesticViolence

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

" I don’t know how we could have made it through this year of COVID-19 without friends like you."

Christina, 48, has significant health issues that have left her unable to work. She supports her daughter and husband through her monthly disability check of $750. After paying rent, she barely has $100 left for food and other expenses.

“It’s a struggle,” she says. “But over the past two or three years, the LSS Food Pantries has made a huge difference. If it wasn’t for this place, I don’t think my family would have enough to eat. We try to eat as healthy as possible, so mostly we come here for the fresh produce.” Each month, Christina orders her food online and loves how easy it is.

“People who support the LSS Food Pantries are such a blessing,” she says. “They show me how much this community really cares.”

Your donations and contributions enable the LSS Food Pantries to help individuals and families who are food insecure, in 12 counties around Ohio, by making nutritious food more readily available in a way that honors their dignity and offers hope.

“This Is Such a Blessing”

“ I thought the only way I could get out was by dying.”

—John 15:12

LSS CHOICES, which helped her develop a plan to escape her abuser and enabled her to relocate to another state, where she is now rebuilding her life.

Karen’s experience is common. Domestic violenceis a horrific and growing problem in the Columbus area. But there’s hope. To escape the abuse, victims and their children need a safe place to go to begin the healing process. For more than 40 years, LSS

CHOICES has been the only resource in Franklin County for men, women, and children who are victims of domestic violence.

LSS CHOICES offers emergency shelter, counseling services, support groups, legal and community advocates, and domestic violenceeducation throughout our community. Every year, LSS CHOICES shelters nearly 1,000 individuals and manages nearly 4,500 hotline calls.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call our Crisis Hotline at 614-224-4663 or visit lssnetworkofhope.org/choices.

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LSS CHOICES

2 Issnetworkofhope.org/SummerNewsSummer 2021 3

Your compassion in action. Your support helps provide meals and shelter to homeless and hungry neighbors who come to LSS Faith Mission in both Franklin and Fairfield counties. You ensure families struggling with hunger have access to nutritious food at the LSS Food Pantries. And you bless women and men facing domestic violence with a safe, secure place to stay and heal through LSS CHOICES. If you’re able, please use the enclosed form to give another kind donation today.

LSS FOOD PANTRIES

He seemed so nice at first, Karen thought. But like so many survivors of domestic violence, red flags appeared soon after they moved in together. He ridiculed her in front of others. He threatened her friends and family—and when she confronted him, he said it was all in her head, she was making it up.

Over time, she started doubting herself. She could no longer tell truth from lies. Then came his affairs with other women, a sexually transmitted disease, and COVID-19. When she tried to leave him, he threatened to choke her.

“I was suffocating and I felt so lost,” she said. “I thought the only way I could get out was by dying.” Finally, she called a hotline that connected her to

Over the past 10 years, I’ve suffered from cluster headaches, life-threatening epileptic seizures, and trigeminal neuralgia, which caused excruciating pain in my face. My health got so bad, I couldn’t work anymore, and I ended up on the streets.

I didn’t how to survive on the streets. I had no money for food, and I didn’t know where to get help. I couldn’t sleep at night, and only napped during the day. Mentally, emotionally, physically, the streets broke me—until someone from LSS Faith Mission found me.

Because I’m a veteran, they arranged for me to stay in their special emergency shelter for vets. But that was just the beginning. They have so many resources here to help vets like me get back on our feet. First, the case workers here are wonderful. They really care and know what they’re doing. They walked with me every step of the way, showing me what to do to help myself. They guided me with disability, getting food stamps, bus passes, clothing, financial management, and they always held me accountable.

They even connected me to a psychotherapist and mental-health specialist who are helping me deal with the PTSD. I still suffer from health issues, but today, I’m living on my own again, and I’m so grateful for LSS Faith Mission and all the donors who stood by me. You mean the world to me.

With summer almost here, I want to take a moment to thank you for your amazing support of LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries. The past 14 months of the pandemic have been more challenging than anything I’ve ever experienced here before. I don’t know how we could have made it through without friends like you walking alongside us. As more and more people sought our help, as our expenses increased, and as you faced your own hardships, you stood with us. I don’t know if there’s a way to express my gratitude.

Yet this summer, we must continue to rely on your faithful generosity, as we expect even greater demand for help. Throughout the pandemic, domestic violence exploded. Victims facing life and death situations have flooded our hotline and come to LSS CHOICES seeking refuge. This spring, we’ve added a new wing to meet the growing demand, but our shelter is already at full capacity and we expect it to stay that way all summer.

In addition, summer is always our busiest season for people seeking food, especially at the LSS Food Pantries. This summer, however, with so many people unemployed, we expect even more need for food.

So I hope, over the coming months, you will continue to stand with LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries. Together, we can build a better world.

With gratitude,

Sue Villilo Assistant Vice President of Community-Based Services, LSS

TOREY’S STORY cont. A Message of Hope from Sue Villilo Hope for Survivors

of Domestic Violence

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

" I don’t know how we could have made it through this year of COVID-19 without friends like you."

Christina, 48, has significant health issues that have left her unable to work. She supports her daughter and husband through her monthly disability check of $750. After paying rent, she barely has $100 left for food and other expenses.

“It’s a struggle,” she says. “But over the past two or three years, the LSS Food Pantries has made a huge difference. If it wasn’t for this place, I don’t think my family would have enough to eat. We try to eat as healthy as possible, so mostly we come here for the fresh produce.” Each month, Christina orders her food online and loves how easy it is.

“People who support the LSS Food Pantries are such a blessing,” she says. “They show me how much this community really cares.”

Your donations and contributions enable the LSS Food Pantries to help individuals and families who are food insecure, in 12 counties around Ohio, by making nutritious food more readily available in a way that honors their dignity and offers hope.

“This Is Such a Blessing”

“ I thought the only way I could get out was by dying.”

—John 15:12

LSS CHOICES, which helped her develop a plan to escape her abuser and enabled her to relocate to another state, where she is now rebuilding her life.

Karen’s experience is common. Domestic violence is a horrific and growing problem in the Columbus area. But there’s hope. To escape the abuse, victims and their children need a safe place to go to begin the healing process. For more than 40 years, LSS

CHOICES has been the only resource in Franklin County for men, women, and children who are victims of domestic violence.

LSS CHOICES offers emergency shelter, counseling services, support groups, legal and community advocates, and domestic violence education throughout our community. Every year, LSS CHOICES shelters nearly 1,000 individuals and manages nearly 4,500 hotline calls.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call our Crisis Hotline at 614-224-4663 or visit lssnetworkofhope.org/choices.

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4 Issnetworkofhope.org/SummerNews | Summer 2021

FOCUS News from the Network of Hope

Stay connected!

Thank you to our funders

41_104694

Victory for a Vet

I spent 12 years in the military. The military taught me discipline and how to take responsibility for my life. Problem is, once I got out, I didn’t know

how to adjust and I left all that discipline behind—and, to be honest, I didn’t know how to cope with life outside of the military.

Part of that goes back to my childhood. When I was 10, I was abducted by an escapee from a

local prison. I suffered from PTSD ever since, but I never dealt with it. Like everything in my life I buried it, and it’s caused me all kinds of problems. But it’s the medical issues that really tripped me up.

Story continued on page 2

This summer will be particularly challenging for many of our hungry, hurting neighbors in Central Ohio. Families face rising utility bills, children home from school throughout the past year because of the pandemic, and more mouths to feed. Many have suffered job losses or lost income, and now they have a hard time keeping up. Meanwhile, women and men living on the streets struggle to find fresh food and water, and face many heat-related illnesses.

But this summer, you have given them hope. Your gift today of any amount will help provide meals, shelter, comfort, hope, and care to all those we serve at LSS Faith Mission, LSS CHOICES, and the LSS Food Pantries.

Your gift is especially important right now because every summer our donations drop. Your support means we’ll be able to continue serving our neighbors in need. Thank you for your extraordinary generosity. You are a true blessing to struggling neighbors across Ohio.

At the LSS Network of Hope, we are hopeful we can meet the physical and emotional needs of every single person who comes through our doors. Please consider giving a gift today by going online to lssnetworkofhope.org/SummerNews or send the enclosed reply slip with your gift. Thank you!

Please Support Neighbors Who Need Your Help This Summer

LSS FAITH MISSION

LSS Faith Mission | LSS Food Pantries | LSS CHOICES | Summer 2021

Mentally, emotionally, physically, the streets broke me…

Torey LSS Faith Misssion client

After 10 years of extraordinary leadership, The Rev. Larry A. Crowell is retiring as CEO of the Lutheran Social Services. As of May 3, the newly named President and CEO, Stacy Martin, replaced Rev. Crowell and will continue to provide essential strategic guidance and direction to LSS in the exciting and challenging years ahead.

“My career has primarily been in Lutheran social service non-profits, so it’s no surprise I was immediately drawn to LSS’ mission and program offering,” Martin says. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead this organization and its dedicated employees and feel honored to be chosen to continue its 109-year legacy.”

Lutheran Social Services Names New CEO

(Photo has been changed to protect privacy.)

LSS NETWORK OF HOPE

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services names of hope new ceo

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