For the past nine years, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westborough, Massachusetts, has taken on the challenge of providing Christmas gifts to people being served by Lutheran Social Services (now Ascentria Care Alliance). This year generous church members provided gifts for over 170 individuals from three Worcester LSS programs! Enthusiastic and appreciative recipients of these gifts were moms and their babies at The Florence House, developmentally disabled residents at The North Ashland Street Residence, and children and teens in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program. Read more

Twelve Lutheran churches in Massachusetts shared their Christmas kindness
with more than 240 people who are served by LSS!
 
Tasked with filling 50 Christmas stockings with gift cards and personal care items, Brockton's First Evangelical Lutheran Church members got busy, and after just two weeks all of the ornaments with wish lists were taken and gifts were being placed under the tree! Read more

Sally Le is a native of Worcester, Massachusetts and is currently majoring in math at the College of the Holy Cross in her hometown. She also volunteers as a tutor in the LSS (now Ascentria Care Alliance) Services for New Americans program (SNA). As a daughter of immigrants, Sally spent time as a teenager teaching adult family members English in her home. Sally said she was inspired to start tutoring because of her family’s experience. “I knew through my family how difficult it was to be here in America without being able to speak English.” Read more

While in training for his Bar Mitzvah, Joseph Lore chose the Lutheran Home of Southbury(LHS) for his Mitzvah project – doing a good deed within his community. LHS provides quality, compassionate, and comprehensive elder care in Southbury, Connecticut. Although Joseph’s Mitzvah project is completed, he continues his volunteer service. When asked why he loves to volunteer at LHS, Joseph said, “The staff’s sense of compassionate care, given with such energy, inspires me, adding life to my life as well as to that of the residents.” Read more

The 4th graders at Paton School in Shrewsbury, Masschusetts, recently took their education beyond the classroom, donating winter coats to refugees and immigrants in the LSS (now Ascentria Care Alliance) Services for New Americans program in Worcester. Read more

For over 24 years volunteers have gathered at the Lutheran Church of Framingham where they have been working together creating quilts for worldwide charities. Making over 100 quilts each year using donated fabric, these volunteers have warmed the hearts and homes of many. Read more

Retired technical writer Brian Sullivan channels his talents toward helping others by working with both Good News Garage and the Human Trafficking Program.

"I can truthfully say that because of Brian's efforts, we have been able to initiate and put into place initiatives and programs that we've talked about for years but never had the time to implement," says Susan Swain, GNG regional marketing coordinator. Read more

After four years of collaboration between Holy Cross students and the LSS (now Ascentria Care Alliance) Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program (URM) and the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program (UAC), lives of both tutors and students continue to be impacted. "For me, the connection is deeper than simply academics. Elder's (URM student) passion for success and willingness to overcome obstacles is contagious and helps motivate me to be my best." - Jake Medina, Holy Cross Tutor. Read more