LSMNJ Volunteer is a 2016 Allstate Helping Hands Award Winner!

Ray Kratz is a regular at LSMNJ’s New Visions Homeless Day Shelter… and can be often found in the New Visions kitchen or day room helping to prepare and serve meals or simply engaging shelter guests in conversation.

New Visions and the needs of its guest first came to Ray’s attention when he volunteered at the Camden day shelter with a group from Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Cherry Hill. It didn’t take long for Ray to realize that donating his time made a difference to those at New Visions who rely on the shelter for a variety of services. An employee of Allstate (insurance), his sense of purpose in giving back inspired his colleagues—soon, they were volunteering at New Visions too. And, an Allstate team, organized by Ray, participated in LSMNJ’s annual Feet on the Street Walk to raise funds and awareness to eliminate hunger and homelessness.

On December 12, the Allstate Corporate Citizenship Team contacted Ray and announced that he had been selected as Allstate New Jersey’s 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Award winner for his volunteer work with New Visions Homeless Day Shelter!

The Allstate Helping Hands Awards is an annual Allstate program that recognizes and rewards outstanding volunteers at Allstate. In 2016, over 350 nominations were submitted for this award program and 22 Allstaters—including Ray—were selected to be honored for their amazing volunteer service support. In addition to receiving a plaque and award letter, in recognition of Ray’s volunteer service, a $1,000 grant will be donated by Allstate to LSMNJ for the New Visions Homeless Day Shelter. This award honors recipients for embodying the Allstate Leadership Principle—“We’re here to serve.”

Congratulations Ray and please accept the heartfelt thanks from everyone in the Lutheran Social Ministries of NJ (LSMNJ) family for all you have done and continue to do benefiting those in need.