News & Views - Lutheran Community Care
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SEPTEMBER 2020
News
& Views
Giving Families
A Reason To Continue
Zohreh Bapiri, LCC Parenting Educator Mary Raschella and Magill Kindergarten’s Isobel Quick at the playground which helped Zohreh’s son with his separation anxiety.
Zohreh Bapiri fights back tears as she describes the “My class also began at that time and I tried several
challenges she has faced in the last year since moving to childcares, but my son cried every time, so I decided to
Adelaide from Iran with her two young sons. defer my course because my children are very important
to me.”
Like many people that Lutheran Community Care
supports, some of the events that have occurred in A few months later Zohreh visited Magill Kindergarten
Zohreh’s life have happened out of her control. But after and quickly found support from teacher Isobel Quick.
receiving much-needed help from LCC, Zohreh is feeling Isobel identified her needs and connected Zohreh with
more confident and optimistic about the future. LCC Parenting Educator Mary Raschella across the road.
“Without LCC and so much support from community, I “I remember the day I first talked to Mary,” Zohreh said.
would not have found my way and could not continue,” “I cried and said ‘I give up’. She has been an angel to me.
Zohreh said. She saved me and gave me a reason to continue.”
Zohreh arrived in Australia last year to visit her brother To help Zohreh discover what her youngest son needed
and decided she wanted to stay for a better life and from her, Mary signed her up to a free, seven-week
study. One month later, she was granted a visa. Her Circle of Security program facilitated by LCC. She also
children were already in the country with her, but her spoke about her feelings through counselling sessions.
husband had work commitments in Iran. While she was
certain her husband would join them in Australia, sadly Circle of Security is based on decades of research into
his visa application was denied earlier this year. how parent-child relationships can be supported and
strengthened. By about week four of the program,
Zohreh said she hasn’t received much clarification as to progress had already been made with Zohreh’s son.
why this decision was made, but COVID-19 has certainly He had connected with staff at the kindergarten and
made gaining a visa more difficult in Australia. The happily attended without his mother by his side.
outcome left her feeling incredibly guilty, alone and
broken. Mary said it was a wonderful moment, which meant
Zohreh could begin her study while her son was being
“For 24 hours I sat in my bed and I cried,” she said. “When cared for.
my husband found out I had a visa, he sold our house in
Iran, because I was pretty sure he could come here. “A lot of the time our children cling to us because of
something going on in us, fear or guilt, and he wanted
“My eldest son was fine at school, but unfortunately my to go and explore, but yet he always turned back
younger son got separation anxiety because he was because Zohreh had a need,” Mary said.
separate from his father and all of the family. He always Continued on page 2
wanted to be with me.
News
& Views
A Message
From The CEO
• Continuing to provide a Financial Capability and
Wellbeing Service for Alice Springs, Ntaria and 39
Each and every day, I feel honored and privileged remote communities
to lead such an inspiring organisation of over 650
dedicated staff and volunteers, delivering 50 programs • Approval as the sole SA support agency for the
across both South Australia and the Northern Territory. National Community Hubs Program for the period
2020-2023
2019 saw Lutheran Community Care celebrate 50 years
of serving the community here in South Australia and I wish to specially acknowledge our incredible
10 years serving communities in the Northern Territory. volunteers. Volunteering plays a critical role in
empowering individuals, in fostering active citizenship
Over the past 12 months, we have strengthened our and in building inclusive and resilient communities in
capacity to deliver life changing services to those most which we can all flourish. Without this special group of
vulnerable and those in need of our care and support people, the work we do would simply not be possible.
through the introduction of new services and the
expansion of existing services. As our sector evolves, it is critical that our services are
delivered ethically and made accountable to the people
As an organisation we have continued to identify we serve. As a care organisation, we must be agile and
areas and communities in need, responding with love, ready to accept these challenges within a Christian
compassion and empathy. Some of our highlights framework. LCC intends to grow and expand service
included: delivery, especially in to evolving areas of need.
• Significant growth of Foster Care Services in both Finally, as I reflect on our achievements and growth
generalist and specialist placements over the past 18 months, it has been our resolute and
committed connection to our Church that underpins
• Supporting nearly 1200 families and individuals in the work we do in communities across both SA and
our housing and homelessness program the NT. LCC will continue to grow our connection and
commitment to the Lutheran Church of Australia and
• Expanding our opportunity shops including the SA-NT District into our future.
launch of ‘Elcies’ Op Shop brand
It is my privilege, blessing and honor to lead Lutheran
• Continuation and growth of Family Zone Ingle Community Care forward into a sustainable future,
Farm, connecting with several hundred families per focused on serving those in need, through the love
year through a range of services, including home of God.
visiting, parent education, parent support groups,
playgroups, mobile crèche, facilitated access and Kind regards,
other child contact-related services Rohan Feegrade
Continued from page 1 a lot to offer and share with the others. It really reminds
“I think coming to community and meeting the other me why I do my job. We all need to be vulnerable to be
mums helped Zohreh realise that there are others in supported.”
similar circumstances and it doesn’t matter what culture
you come from. We all share the same needs for our While Zohreh continues to wait for an update regarding
children.” her husband’s visa, she is enjoying her study four days
a week and LCC is continuing to support her and her
Mary added it had been rewarding to watch Zohreh family.
grow as a person and make the most out of her difficult
situation. “Regardless of if I stay here or go back to Iran, I will
never forget Mary in my life,” Zohreh said.
“She’s an amazing lady,” Mary said. “She brought her
children out here for a better life and she had to know
that what has happened is out of her control. Her
contribution in the group was just amazing and she had
2 News & Views September
News
& Views
Elcies Norwood has been a huge success since opening in October 2019. Elcies Norwood Volunteer Flora Wang.
Elcies Excels volunteers. They’re helpful, they’re really kind, and
nobody judges them.”
And Expands One of those volunteers is Flora Wang, who has been
To The Barossa working at Elcies Norwood since June. She said it has
been one of the best things she has done this year.
It is almost a year since Lutheran Community Care
opened its first Elcies op shop on The Parade, “I have met some kind people and learned a lot during
Norwood, and the fashionable store has certainly this period,” Flora said.
made its mark in the local community.
“What I love is that I can help people and it’s a
With good-quality stock, friendly volunteers and a meaningful job. The experience is wonderful and makes
modern layout, Elcies has quite quickly become a me feel like I’m a part of the community.”
favourite amongst sustainable shoppers in Adelaide.
Following the success of Elcies Norwood, Lutheran
In the first 20 weeks of trading, before the pandemic Community Care is opening a new Elcies in the Barossa
forced it to close for a few months, the number of sales on October 1.
at Elcies exceeded expectations.
Located at Shop 4, 46 Murray Street, Tanunda, the
This extra revenue has allowed LCC to help new store will stock high-quality donated items,
considerably more people across the metropolitan area including clothing, shoes and accessories. All proceeds
through programs such as emergency relief, financial will stay in the Barossa and enable LCC to help more
counselling and homelessness services. local people who present to our Nuriootpa office for
assistance.
LCC Op Shop Manager Babs Deane has watched Elcies
grow from small beginnings and said its success has In order to function efficiently, Babs said the new store
also boosted Lutheran Community Care’s profile in the needs about 40 new volunteers, while locals can also
broader community. make donations at the Tanunda shop or the Nurioopta
office (26 Second Street).
“Because it’s got such a large following in Norwood,
people are suddenly far more aware of LCC and what “We need volunteers who really want to be a part of
we do,” Babs said. their community and make friends, but not be afraid of
hard work,” Babs said.
“Customers feel that it’s one of the best op shops, if
not the best op shop they’ve ever been to. It is light
and bright and they always comment about the music. If you are interested in volunteering with LCC, please
contact LCC Volunteer Administrator Renee Stevens
“But more importantly our customers love our on 0437 836 134 or rstevens@lccare.org.au.
News & Views September 3
News
& Views
Have Your Donation Doubled
On October 8
Beyond Bank has selected Lutheran
Community Care to take part in
its Dollar Match Day campaign on
Thursday, 8 October 2020.
This means that Beyond Bank will
double every donation received
through its Foundation on this
particular day. All donations must
be made through its website:
Guests from LCC’s major partner LLL Australia enjoyed the 50th anniversary ball in 2019.
www.beyondbank.com.au. The funds
will then be forwarded to LCC.
Join Us At Our Gala Dinner In 2021 To find out more about this fantastic
opportunity, visit www.lccare.org.au
Following Lutheran Community Care’s highly successful 50th or call 8269 9333.
anniversary gala ball in 2019, we are excited to announce that
we are holding a Gala Dinner fundraiser in 2021.
Proudly brought to you by Intract Australia, this is an event not to
be missed! Support LCC By Shopping
Join us for a spectacular evening where you will enjoy a delicious three- At Drakes
course dinner, premium beverages and first class entertainment. We are
Do you shop at a Drakes
delighted to have Channel 9’s Brenton Ragless as the MC for the event,
supermarket? LCC has joined the
as well as live music from the talented Ash Gale of The Sundance Kids.
Drakes Community Dollars Program
When: Saturday, 5 June 2021, 7pm-midnight and has received a number of key
Where: Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide tags that can be swiped when
Dress: Black tie purchasing items from any Drakes
Tickets: $170 per person supermarket in South Australia.
All proceeds raised from this event will support Lutheran Community Every time you swipe your tag,
Care’s Emergency Relief Fund, which assists those in the community a small portion of your purchase
that need urgent help. will be donated to LCC. If you
would like to receive a tag,
Tickets will go on sale soon! Find out more at please email Amelia Dawkins
www.lccare.org.au/how-you-can-help/lcc-dinner/ (adawkins@lccare.org.au).
4 News & Views September
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