Title: Lutheran Services in America Honors Senior Volunteerism
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 18, 2000

LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA HONORS SENIOR VOLUNTEERISM
00-104-FI

     CLEVELAND (ELCA) -- Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley,
Dayton, Ohio, received the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) Award for
Excellence in Senior Volunteerism at the LSA annual conference here
March 29-April 1. Lincoln Lutheran in Racine, Wis., and Lutheran Home
and Services for the Aged, Arlington Heights, Ill., received special
recognition for distinguished service.
     LSA is one of the largest human service networks in the United
States and Caribbean. Its 296 social ministry organizations, in
alliance with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, form a national network of social
service and long-term care programs, providing more than $3 billion in
services in 3,000 communities each year.
     Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley (LSSMV) was cited for
the various ways it involves senior volunteers in providing
community-based services. The volunteers act as bus drivers, wheelchair
transporters, visitors, activity and meal assistants, housekeeping and
clerical aides, and serve in leadership roles on the LSSMV board of
trustees.
     LSSMV assists more than 1,500 individuals every day through such
residential services as Bethany Lutheran Village in Centerville, Ohio;
Manors of the Valley in 20 locations across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky;
and We Care Homes in 12 locations across southwest Ohio. It employs
more than 900 people and provides countless volunteer and donor
opportunities.
     Lincoln Lutheran in Racine is the fifth largest employer in Racine
County, Wis., and involves senior volunteers in the daily operation of
four nursing homes, five apartment communities, three assisted living
centers and several community services, such as Meal-on-Wheels, Adult
Day Care, Respite Services, Senior Lunch Program, Neighborhood Centers,
and Senior Trips and Tours.
     Senior volunteers logged more than 54,000 hours relieving 24-hour
care givers since 1990 at Lutheran Home and Services for the Aged, which
has provided more than a century of service in senior housing, nursing
care and adult day services. Senior volunteers take older adults to
doctor appointments and help residents prepare and file tax returns.
     The awards were given in collaboration with the National Senior
Service Corps, Corporation for National Service, Washington, D.C.
Another 23 Lutheran social ministry organizations received honorary
recognition for engaging senior volunteers.
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     The Web site for Lutheran Social Services of the Miami Valley is
at http://www.lssmv.org/; Lincoln Lutheran in Racine is at
http://www.lincolnlutheran.com/; and Lutheran Services in America is at
http://www.lutheranservices.org/. The Corporation for National Service
maintains a Web site at http://www.cns.gov/.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html