Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey Foundation Receives $10,000 from Nemours to Support its H.E.R.O. Program in Camden, NJ.
BURLINGTON, NJ – Nemours Children’s Health System, located in Wilmington, Delaware, recently donated $10,000 to the H.E.R.O. program in Camden, a part of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey (LSMNJ), a faith-based non-profit organization based in Burlington, New Jersey.
On October 26, 2020, volunteers from Nemours gathered at LSM of Camden, an affordable housing community that consists of 89 scattered site homes for low-income families, with bags full of non-perishable food, toiletries, and a check for $10,000. They spent time restocking the shelves of LSM of Camden’s food pantry, and learning about the program that made it all possible, H.E.R.O.
In 2018, LSMNJ’s senior leadership took a closer look at the issues that lead to poverty and homelessness and realized that if they could provide their low-income residents with better access to vital resources and social services, outcomes could be altered. Determined to help break the cycle, the non-profit implemented a new social service program called H.E.R.O.
The ‘H’ symbolizes assistance with finding emergency shelter/HOUSING and having HOPE; the ‘E’ stands for help with finding EMPLOYMENT options or EDUCATIONAL opportunities; ‘R’ for RECOVERY and resilience, and ‘O’ for all of the OPPORTUNITIES to help people find resources to suit their unique situations. Not long after its inception, H.E.R.O. supporters helped establish a food pantry for the residents at LSM of Camden. The funds from Nemours will support H.E.R.O. by providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the pantry which will serve the nearly 80 families that live within its community.
“It isn’t easy for families at LSM of Camden to access fresh and nutritious food,” explains Alison Lauck, vice president of philanthropy for LSMNJ. “Many do not have access to reliable transportation. Others have limited income. The donation from Nemours Children’s Health System’s will go a long way in helping families put food on their table. We could not be happier or more grateful for their volunteerism and their desire to help support our community.”
Annually, through Nemours Cares, the healthcare system creates opportunities for their associates to fulfill the vision of its founder, Mr. Alfred I. DuPont, to step outside the walls of its hospitals and clinics and go into the community and serve. Nemours Cares gives associates the opportunity to engage in the community by volunteering with their colleagues – focusing on the greatest needs in their communities.
Michelle L. Burroughs, EdD, MBA, director, community engagement at Nemours, shares, “For too long, our children have suffered from food insecurity. This has only been intensified by the pandemic. Good nutrition is critical for health and well-being. With this sponsorship, we are supporting the delivery of wholesome meals to children and families at Lutheran Social Ministries”.
Lauck adds, “H.E.R.O. is just one of many social service programs LSMNJ provides to serve those who hurt, who are in need, or who have limited choices in New Jersey. We affirm what Alfred I. duPont firmly believed that, ‘it is the duty of everyone in the world to do what is within his power to alleviate human suffering.’ She adds, “We cannot help those in need alone. It is the work of many people, many hands, and many hearts.”
If you or your organization would like to provide financial support or volunteer assistance to LSMNJ and its many programs and services, please contact Alison Lauck at alauck@lsmnj.org or call (609) 500-0753. For more information about LSMNJ, visit www.www.lsmnj.org.
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About LSMNJ
Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey (LSMNJ) is a grace-filled, faith-based, statewide, not-for-profit provider of compassionate, quality senior care services, hospice and home care, affordable housing for seniors and families, immigration legal services, as well as community-based programs and services. For more information about LSMNJ, we invite you to tour our website at www.www.lsmnj.org.
About Nemours Children’s Health System
Nemours is an internationally recognized children’s health system that owns and operates the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Fla., along with outpatient facilities in six states, delivering pediatric primary, specialty and urgent care. Nemours also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, KidsHealth.org and offers on-demand, online video patient visits through Nemours CareConnect.
Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, Nemours provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to families in the communities it serves.