Celebrating with Color and Style in Klamath Falls
The bright colors of Klamath Falls’ Latino community were on display during our annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival Saturday, May 7. Held during the first Saturday in May, this was the 14th Cinco de Mayo Parade. The parade is sponsored by LCS Northwest’s Hispanic...
Patrick D’Amelio: A Dad at Heart
Patrick D’Amelio knew what he wanted to be. “At the most basic human level I understood in my heart that I wanted to be a dad,” D’Amelio said. “It was no more complicated than that.” The youngest of 10 kids from a Catholic family, he had a deeply held spiritual belief...
Forever Young at Heart: Doris Matthews
With her globetrotting days behind her, 95 year-old Doris Matthews is determined to maintain her independence. She also maintains her annual donation to Lutheran Community Services Northwest. “I just believe in what you believe in,” she says firmly and without...
Empathy Key for Caregiver of the Year
The role of a caregiver is to provide assistance to elderly clients, but the key to doing the job well is empathy. “As a good caregiver, you have to be patient and understanding and have compassion, but being able to empathize is vital,” says LCS Northwest’s Ninibeth...
Making McMinnville a Better Place for Children and Families
They work as a team without pay. Satisfaction comes from knowing they’re helping some of McMinnville’s youngest and their parents. L.V. VanBlaricom and Vicki McConnachie are friends. When VanBlaricom retired three years ago, she decided to volunteer at A Family Place,...
Helping the Arlington Area Homeless Through Our Community Resource Center
LCS Northwest’s Arlington Community Resource Center (ACRC) played a central role in helping to count the Snohomish County homeless population and connecting them with resources. For the first time, groups including LCS Northwest organized a North County Resource Fair...
Video: McKenzie’s Life Brightens with A Family Place
Yamhill County, OR – Breaking the generational cycle of substance abuse is tough. For two-year-old McKenzie, her parents’ chemical dependency created huge stress at home. With the help of A Family Place, McKenzie and her family have a brighter future. A Family Place...
Fighting for Sexual Assault Victims in Washington Legislature
Not all sexual assault victims have equal rights in Washington. LCS Northwest Spokane and the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in Seattle have formed a cross-state partnership to raise awareness and pass a bill that would standardize protection orders. We...
We’re Teaming with Elmer’s to Start Memory Cafés in Pierce County
The first Memory Café in Pierce County for people at all stages of dementia and their care partners will start at the end of January. Lutheran Community Services Northwest is hosting the Memory Café at Elmer’s Restaurant in Tacoma Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 3-4:30 p.m....
5 Questions: Beth Farmer, International Counseling and Community Services Program Director
Beth Farmer has been the Program Director of International Counseling and Community Services (ICCS) since 2007. ICCS is a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest with offices located in SeaTac and Kent, Wash. Farmer is a licensed clinical social worker who...
King County will Welcome All Refugees in 2016
SeaTac - The Seattle media converged on our SeaTac offices last week as King County Executive Dow Constantine held a press conference here to make it clear that King County will welcome all refugees in 2016. That includes Syrian refugees. “Here at this location we see...
Transitions: Valentin’s Journey of Change and Challenge
Valentin doesn’t waste his time. He had an interest in Russian, so he learned to speak it. He was fascinated by technology, so he studies computer engineering. He likes anime, so he’s planning to visit Japan. At 21 years old, Valentin has accomplished more in...
Tacoma Zoo Walk Helps People with Early Stage Memory Loss
Society isn’t set up for people with dementia. The opportunities to socialize and take part in activities are limited. It’s just the opposite of what needs to happen, as research shows that activity and socializing reduces the impact of dementia. That’s where a...