May 14 - A Community Check In
NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH
This Mothers' Day, we put the spotlight on one of our incredible foster moms, Shavonne Bowman. Since 2008, Shavonne and her family have fostered a total of twenty-six kids, including many of our Unaccompanied Refugee Minors.

According to Shavonne, "being a foster parent has been a joyful, loving, rewarding experience and has made me a better person and a better parent. Every person needs love, someone to care for them, and a place where they can make a mistake, learn from it, and become a better person. The blessing is in the giving." 

"Be prepared to pray a lot, grow your patience and value your faith! What you are doing is for a greater purpose! Be a part of watching your seed grow by watering your flowers with love, discipline, and a place to call home. Love your kids and make sure they know their worth!" 

We are accepting new applications for foster parents in the DMV! Through LSSNCA you can provide a loving home for an Unaccompanied Refugee Minor. Those interested should fill out our inquiry form. URM Recruitment and Training Coordinator, Patricia Britt, will follow up to schedule a virtual orientation and answer your questions.
NURTURING OUR YOUTH
Stay-at-home orders have taken their toll on all of our communities and particularly on all of our school-aged youth. At-home learning is impossible without access to a computer or the internet. So many of our donors have stepped up to donate tablets and laptops to ensure our families remain connected during this time.

In Maryland, our Refugee Youth Mentor Program receives funding from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and the Maryland state government to ensure our refugee youth (ages 16 to 24) are prepared for success in their future careers and in navigating higher education. Program coordinator, Jillian Furey, wanted to make sure all of her youth had access to the internet to continue their schooling, learn computer literacy, and have access to remote summer internships. Funds from this program were used to purchase laptops for each of the seven participants!
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
Our refugee families and clients have the following urgent donation needs:

  • Laptops
  • Bikes (adult and child)
  • Irons and ironing boards
  • Dutch ovens
  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Grocery gift cards
Remote and immediate volunteer opportunities:

  • Muscle movers - seeking individuals willing to drive a U-Haul or use their own truck to pick-up donated furnishings and drop-off at families' new apartments
  • Virtual family tutors - seeking individuals willing to virtually connect weekly with our refugee children, youth and adults for various learning goals.
Those interested in donating or volunteering can sign up using this form or directly contact our Community Relations Director, Shelby Kruczek, at kruczeks@lssnca.org.
TAKE ACTION
Join us for Lunch & Learn
Thursday, May 21
12:30pm on Zoom
Join us next Thursday, May 21, at 12:30pm for our next Lunch and Learn session. Our Licencing and Placement Specialist, Chris Wiggins, will be speaking with LSSNCA foster mom, Emily Smith Goering. Emily will discuss her journey as a foster mom with the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program.

Purchase masks sewn by refugee women in NOVA
Since our refugee women's sewing group has been unable to meet monthly, some of the women have decided to put their skills to good use.

If you are interested in purchasing a face mask from one of our Northern Virginia clients, please contact Netra Anand at anandn@lssnca.org. Masks cost approximately $8 each and 100% of proceeds go to the seamstress.
THANK YOU LSS HEROES