LSSN 2010 Peanut Butter Drive Begins!

Summer is here, which means that it is once again time to challenge each other with one of our most popular and nutritious food drives: the fifth annual "Peanut Butter Drive". This is an opportunity for you and your congregation to engage in a friendly competition with other Lutherans across the valley, while working to fulfill our Lord's call to feed the needy. Due to the popularity of the program in past years, we're expanding it to include the months of July and August.

The coveted "Crunchy Peanut Butter Head" award is once again up for grabs! We're sure that your congregation will go nuts with the challenge to make your pastor the "2010 Crunchy Peanut Butter Head!" Past Crunchy Peanut Butter Heads have included Pastor Paul Hanson of Holy Spirit Lutheran (1st annual), Pastor Phil Shuart at St. Andrew Lutheran (2nd annual), Pastors Kurt Sortland & Carolyn Arness at The Lakes Lutheran (3rd annual), and Pastors David and Marta Poling-Goldenne at New Song Lutheran (4th Annual).

Who will rise to the challenge this year?

To participate in the drive, bring your peanut butter donations to church. LSSN accepts all types of peanut butter: chunky, creamy, peanut butter & jelly mix, brand name or generic, single jars or cases. Every donation makes a tremendous difference in the lives of hungry people in out community, so please give generously.

Updates as to current standings will be posted regularly on our website and posted in future e-newsletters.

Look for the Peanut Butter Donation Station at your local church.

LSSN Provides 450 Easter Baskets to Area Children

For the third year in a row, LSSN's Easter Basket program was a resounding success. On Maundy Thursday, we were proud to partner with the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority to distribute Easter baskets to 450 children in need. Conducted on-location at several Housing Authority complexes, volunteers from LSSN and Vons worked together to bring our ministry of service right to the doorsteps of those who need it the most. In addition, 100 families that would otherwise have not had the opportunity to enjoy a full Easter meal were able to share 3,500 pounds of food. Congregational donations and volunteers were central to helping make this program a reality! Thank you!

As a part of their regular community service announcements, LSSN Development and Marketing Director Tom Maatta was interviewed by Jack 100.5 about the services that LSSN provides. During the interview, Chad and Tom discuss LSSN's work in the community, our special holiday programs, and the different ways that people can join LSSN in helping the needy. The interview is an excellent way to get a good impression of what LSSN is all about, so if you are curious, please give it a listen!

LSSN Jack 100.5 Radio Interview - Nov. 2009

LSSN's annual Holiday Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program was once again a resounding success. Dozens of local families and seniors shared in full Christmas Dinners and thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, while dozens of children received presents that were generously donated by area congregations and community individuals. Thanks to everyone who participated in providing a joyous Christmas for those who would otherwise have had none!

LSSN is also proud to team up with Vons to help children and families in need. As the recipient of their 2009 Season of Giving campaign for all fifteen of their Clark County stores, Vons has generously donated over $6,300 to support LSSN's ministries.

Vons and LSSN have a history of mutual community support. In January of this 2009, Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons helped to distribute a donation from Vons of $65,000 in food products, which were then used to help alleviate the increased need caused by the recent economic downturn.

We offer our heartfelt thanks for all their assistance during 2009 and look forward to our partnership continuing in 2010!

Vegas News Coverage: www.vegasnews.com

On Dec. 12th, Family Promise of Las Vegas joined with LSSN, the LVMPD, Catholic Charities, and Thrivent for their "Phone Home for the Holidays Program".

The program assists in reconnecting homeless people to loved ones during the holiday season by providing access to free phone services.

Last year, hundreds were able to "reach out and touch someone" as a result.

One of the primary missions of the Lutheran Social Services of Nevada is to focus upon the prevention and alleviation of homelessness. November 24th marked a major milestone toward that goal as LSSN unveiled a new building to provide safe, secure, and dignified housing.

We are honored that the Honorable Oscar B. Goodman, Mayor of the City of Las Vegas, spoke at the ceremony to mark the occasion.

This new building was purchased and renovated with funds awarded to LSSN through a Clark County grant and contains four completely refurnished, two bedroom apartment units. This project is an expansion of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada's current supportive transitional housing program and intends to provide 12 more beds to 4 unduplicated homeless families with an emphasis on Clark County homeless families with children up to 18 years old for a duration of up to 24 months.

As with all LSSN housing, clients living in this building will have access to wraparound community collaborate services with intensive case management to reduce the barriers faced by homeless families on their road from homelessness to permanent stable housing.

LSSN would like to especially thank the Regional Homeless Coordinator's Office and Staff, along with the Board of County Commissioners, without whose help this project would not have been possible.

In partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Las Vegas, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada distributed turkeys and Thanksgiving food baskets to low income families. Approximately 5,000 pounds of full thanksgiving dinners were distributed to 100 families. This was our third year working with the Housing Authority at Thanksgiving, and our 12th year in distributing food for Thanksgiving overall.

The event was held on Friday, November 20th at 11:00 am at the Vera Johnson "B" playground located at 527 Lamb #1.

Approximately 5,000 more pounds of Thanksgiving dinners were given to seniors and families on Monday, November 23rd.

We would like to thank Community Lutheran Church and New Song Lutheran Church for their food donations, along with all the individuals that participated in our collection.

Vegas News Coverage: www.vegasnews.com

Review-Journal Coverage: www.lvrj.com

(January 26, 2009 - Las Vegas, NEV) Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons is helping distribute the Vons Grocery Stores donation of $65,000 in food products on Friday, January 30, 2009. Really . the First Lady is planning on helping to unload the Vons trucks and get the groceries on the shelves! The groceries are replenishing the Lutheran Social Services food bins given to newly unemployed and others needing help in these tough economic times. In addition the Vons donation, the First Lady also secured a private grant of $250,000 in December from the Crescere Foundation also directed to Lutheran Social Services of Nevada in Las Vegas, NV.

The donations are part of First Lady's ongoing effort to help Nevadans cope with the slowing economy. First Lady Gibbons hopes other corporations and businesses join in with this campaign to help Nevadans struggling with the current downturn in the economy.

"It is so wonderful that Vons Grocery Stores have stepped forward with this generous donation," Gibbons stated. "I am grateful that they added to the impressive $250,000 gift from the Crescere Foundation and hope that other businesses feel inspired to join in with their own contribution. Las Vegas is the magnifying glass of the nation. If we wait for government to act, it will take too long for many Nevadans. We, as private individuals and businesses, can make a difference now when help is most needed," added First Lady Gibbons.

Vons Grocery Stores and The Safeway Foundation are glad to be part of this effort.

"Now more than ever, helping individuals and families throughout the year is a critical part of our (Safeway/Vons) community-based initiatives," said Executive Vice President and Safeway Foundation Chair Larree Renda about their chain-wide giving campaign. "Vons Grocery Stores are happy to join the generous contribution of the Crescere Foundation by providing food products. Las Vegas is a great place to do business. We are honored and pleased to be part of a workable solution for providing food for Nevada families."

According to the founder of Crescere Foundation, Dawn Gibbons is the leader in the campaign to help Nevadans cope with this economic crisis.

"Dawn Gibbons is Nevada's angel," said Beverly Ozmun, founder of the Crescere Foundation. "The First Lady is creating a menu of opportunities for caring citizens to give in a charitable and knowledgeable way. It is encouraging to charitable foundations, businesses, churches and individual givers throughout Nevada."

"The need to get the message out to Nevadans through the media is paramount," said Dianemarie Collins of DM Productions LLC. "Our firm continues donating our public relations services to help the First Lady promote this campaign of giving for Nevadans in need. It requires a solid team effort."

Lutheran Social Services of Nevada has the staff and proven systems in place to provide valuable services to Nevadans. They are a frontrunner service provider in Las Vegas.

"There has been a drastic increase in the number of people who need our services . in fact, there has been a doubling of the people in need over the past two months", said Armena Mkhitaryan, executive director of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada. "We couldn't continue to meet these needs without the gift from the Crescere Foundation. We are also very thankful for Vons' generous donation of $65,000 worth of food products. With these two donations, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada is going to be able to provide 20,000 pounds of food per month right here in Las Vegas".

First Lady Dawn Gibbons adds, "The 'transitionally unemployed' are growing in numbers as is their fear and suffering. We all need to give what we can. and now. Private dollars, large and small, product donations, and volunteers working with Nevada's charities will enable us to survive this economic downturn intact. I want to thank the many people that have already stepped up to offer Nevadans hope in this increasing budgetary crisis".

About Nevada's First Lady Dawn Gibbons
Nevada's First Lady Dawn Gibbons achievements include spearheading the Crystal Darkness Campaign (Against Methamphetamine Abuse), now in fifteen states; the Honorary Chair of Nevada Volunteers; and a strong advocate for Autism through the Autism Coalition of Nevada. Dawn actively supports the American Red Cross, AmeriFace, Susan G. Komen Foundation, March of Dimes, The Transplant Network, and many other worthy causes impacting the quality of life for Nevadans.
www.firstlady.state.nv.us

ABOUT SAFEWAY
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,738 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $42.3 billion in 2007. Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and in 2007 donated more than $172 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education, hunger relief and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities.
www.Safeway.com

About Lutheran Social Services of Nevada
We realize that everyone faces hard times. The people that we serve may be experiencing a short term financial setback due to losing their job, death of a family member, health issues, or for any number of reasons they need our help. We exist to help people by giving them a "hand up" to see them through their crisis with compassion and dignity. To honor their dreams and goals by providing services that provide a clear path toward self sufficiency. Since 1997, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada has cared for and served over 125,000 families in need by providing essential services in the form of emergency food, clothing, health, shelter and transitional housing, supportive services including financial assistance, case management, education programming and "wrap-around" care. Women, men, children, youth and seniors are served Monday-Friday. You can donate directly to Lutheran Social Services of Nevada at Secure Donation.

ABOUT DM PRODUCTIONS LLC
DM Productions LLC is a limited liability company with offices in the Reno/Lake Tahoe region and in Phoenix. With nearly 20 years of experience, DM Productions LLC helps companies of all sizes and industries achieve their marketing goals through smart strategic thinking and effective creative solutions. As a full service firm DM Productions LLC provides a complete range of strategic marketing and communication services, including creative development, branding, advertising, public relations, media planning, promotions, production and post-production services, government affairs, event management and dynamic web design. More information is available at their Website: www.dmproductionsllc.com or call 775-825-1727.

MEDIA ALERT - Contact DM Collins 775-825-1727

Corporate Donation to Assist Nevada's Transitionally Unemployed