Driven by faith - HERE FOR ALL
LCCC E-Newsletter
Vol. 35, December 2020
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LCCC remains open and here for you with critical and essential services as we continue to move through this pandemic. Visit our website for up-to-date information. You are not alone...we will get through this together!
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Dear Friends, We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed, healthy New Year! We are deeply grateful to each of you for the tremendous love, support, prayers and donations that you have bestowed on LCCC and those we serve! God Bless!
Our Board President, Kathleen Oemke shares a special Christmas message: In the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola, “He who carries God in his heart bears heaven with him wherever he goes.”
This year, Christmas Season is very different. It is likely that we will not be able to visit with family and friends like we usually do. In the past, we took it for granted that this tradition would always be present in our lives. At times, maybe we even lamented having obligations to see some of the relatives.
Now, we have an opportunity for a more humble Christmas, but perhaps a richer and more rewarding experience. Shopping has to be completed in advance as many of us are turning to on-line buying. Scrolling through items trying to see what will be right for this or that person.
Isn’t it amazing that God has endowed us each with just the right gifts? He needs no scrolling. We are the ones who must discover our gifts and use them to the best of our ability. Without all of the usual holiday noise, perhaps we can reflect on our gifts and their use.
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Welcome Special Ministries! |
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Livingston Co. Catholic Charities Welcomes Special Ministries of Livingston Co.
Livingston County Catholic Charities (LCCC) is excited to share that on November 9, 2020, the Board of Directors of Special Ministries of Livingston County (SMLC) formally made the decision to close the organization as a legal entity. As a small non-profit that provides programming for adults with disabilities, it was becoming increasingly more difficult to manage the organization, financially support the services, and maintain the focus on quality services. With this decision, SMLC will remain as a program now at LCCC. “We believe in these services and in the program participants. We consider it a privilege to be entrusted with the participants and these programs,” shares Mark Robinson, Executive Director at Livingston Co. Catholic Charities.
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Stress Management over the Holidays |
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The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it's no wonder. The holidays often present a dizzying array of demands — cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few. And if COVID-19 is spreading in your community, you may be feeling additional stress, or you may be worrying about your's and your loved ones' health. You may also feel stressed, sad or anxious because your holiday plans may look different during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression.
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Your Donations are
LIFE CHANGING & LIFE SAVING!
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Your Year-End donations are greatly needed and provide critical, life enhancing and life-saving services to support our community's most vulnerable. 100% of your donations stay in Livingston County!
Without you, we are not able to serve on the front line combating substance abuse; providing healing through mental health counseling; providing care at Be Our Guest Adult Day for individuals with dementia and other related diseases; assisting low income and home bound seniors with basic needs or rides to medical appointments; aiding children and families in the foster care system; serving adults with disabilities through Special Ministries and so much more!
Please prayerfully consider your donation today to make a difference in the lives of those most in need! Click the link below to make your donation today - Thank You! If you've already made your special donation...Thank You!
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2020 CARES ACT & Charitable Contributions |
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If you are you planning to donate or have already donated to a charity, here's some information on the 2020 CARES Act:
Do it before year-end to get the tax deduction for 2020.
Cash donations:
- If you itemize deductions on your tax return, all of your cash donations are deductible up to 100% of your Adjusted Gross Income.
- If you don’t itemize, you can deduct $300 of cash donations.
Gifts of securities:
- Consider giving shares of your mutual funds or Exchange-Traded Funds that have appreciated. The charity will get their full value, and you’ll avoid paying capital gains taxes on the profits.
- Want to donate appreciated assets but don’t know who to donate them to? You can open an account in a Donor-Advised Fund and get a tax deduction for 2020 but delay making the actual donation to charity for years. Talk with me to learn more about this.
- Even though RMDs aren’t required this year, you can do an RMD and send it to a charity as a Qualified Charitable Distribution. You must be at least age 70½.
As we always recommend, please talk with your tax advisor or financial planner to learn more and see what best fits your situation.
Thank You & God Bless!
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Christmas Blessing Project |
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LCCC Elves readying to deliver Christmas Blessings! |
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Volunteers carefully packing boxes with donated items for delivery. |
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This project provided help and love to 170 Livingston County low income and homebound senior citizens. We are deeply moved by the overwhelming generosity of our community through donations to support this heart-warming project. Thank you to our donors, supporters and volunteers for helping to provide for the senior's basic needs and wrapping them in love during this blessed time of year.
Items for the Christmas Blessing project were lovingly provided by:
Alliance Catholic Credit Union, Amazon Wish List Supporters, Amman Family, Justin & Michelle Anderson, Arbenowski Family, John & Kathi Backhuus, Therese Brennan, Celeste Brooks, Brighton Up Bakery, Laura Campbell, Catholic Foundation of Michigan, Coalition of Oral Health for Aging, Cowdrey Family, Barb & Richard Czarnota, Dearborn Sausage Co., Dan Hall—Pinckney Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Extreme Machine, Friend of the Court, Gleaners, Carol Griffith - Griffith Realty, Hartland Lions Club, Holy Spirit Catholic School, Robert Jagow Jr., Penny Jones, K of C #2659, K of C #7304, K of C #11761, Bette Klann, Janet Kosiba, Gary Kozyra, Krazy Kookie Momma, Bob & Kay Kuch, Rob & Deb Kwapisz, LCCC Employees, Chris Larson, Marion Township Hall, Scott & Cheryl McLeay, Thersia Mendolia, Sherry Meyers, Linda Myers, Georgianna Paul, Jim and Charlotte Ratke, Michael & Joleen Rebarchik, Pat Reimer, Sue Remer-Smith, Chris & Richard Romanowski, Sheperd of the Lakes, Marie Sheridan, Splashy Sweets, St. Agnes Christian Service Committee, Prayer Shawl Committee & Parishioners, St. Augustine Parishioners, Jackie St. Germain, St. Joseph School & Quilters, St. John the Baptist Parishioners & 59er Club, St. Mary Parishioners, St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners, St. Patrick School Families, St. Patrick Christian Service & Parishioners, St. Joseph Mercy – Family Medicine Program, Brad Jones - Strickler Jones Financial, Universal Container Corp., Wysocki Family
All boxes were packed by staff and volunteers from Livingston County Catholic Charities and many community volunteers.
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Operation Good Cheer Delivers Holiday Cheer to Foster Children |
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“While just being together and having my girls back with me was enough of a gift for me, seeing their surprised faces and excitement upon discovering a pile of beautifully wrapped gifts for them, that they knew their momma couldn’t afford, made my heart smile and made everything right in the world,” Kristine C. said. “Operation Good Cheer truly put the magic into Christmas for my family this year.”
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Helping Create New Tomorrows! |
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LCCC therapists are helping rebuild lives everyday! Check out other inspiring videos located on the "New Tomorrows" Stories page of our website. Please help us share the work we do by sharing our video and upcoming marketing blasts on Facebook with your friends and family or just talking with others to raise awareness of our services and programs available in our community.
We need YOUR help to share the professional services and programs available in our community!
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LCCA Receives Special Recognition |
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This summer, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) developed new case studies from the most recent Drug-Free Communities (DFC) outcome data available. These case studies featured coalitions that documented reductions in youth substance use across all grade levels (middle and high school) and all substances (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription drugs).
These coalitions went through a rigorous training on CADCA’s model of Community Change. They implemented a comprehensive strategy that encompassed CADCA’s 7 Strategies for Community Change.
CADCA’s Public Policy Team interviewed coalition leaders to see what they had done across the 7 Strategies. They chose the best-of-the-best coalitions for our case studies. Livingston County Community Alliance (LCCA) was one of the coalitions selected. Livingston County’s outcome data will be shared with members of Congress, both in Michigan and in other states. Members of the Livingston County Community Alliance should feel a tremendous sense of honor and pride in their coalition’s selection as a case study. CADCA thanks them for their outstanding work.
LCCA staff members in photo: Cassandra Parker, Sarah McGeorge & Megan Palmer
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We LOVE our SPONSORS!
Special Ministries and LCCC gives a special THANK YOU to our Christmas party virtual event sponsors - DTE Energy (party snacks, crafts, lunch and gingerbread houses), Fowlerville UB Church (Christmas gifts), and St. Patrick parishioners (Christmas gifts). Thank you to LETS Bus and drivers for providing transportation to the team to deliver these special packages! We can't wait to share some photos from the event on our Facebook page and with our local media.
Your friends at Special Ministries continue to meet and share special moments through Zoom. We hope you all have a Safe and Blessed Holiday season and we look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces! Keep checking our Facebook page and the Special Ministries page of the LCCC website for the latest events!
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The hard-working staff in our Volunteer Caregiver Program are in dire need of volunteers to help transport for home-bound seniors! We have nearly doubled the number of seniors being served through the Program in the last few months due to the tremendous need for this vulnerable population.
Call Jamie or Katie today at 517-545-5944 to see how you can help!
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Thank you for shopping with AmazonSmile! Because of you we have received a total of $456. 51 this year!
AmazonSmile customers can now support Livingston County Catholic Charities in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones!
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On-going Groups & Meetings at LCCC
January 5 and 20 at 4:30 pm
3rd Monday of each month, 5:00–7:00 pm
Email Amy@LivingstonCatholicCharities.org for Zoom info
Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 pm
Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 am–11:30 pm
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Charitable Bequests Help Provide for Our Community's Future!
Did you know that leaving a Charitable Bequest in your will or trust to bestow on Livingston County Catholic Charities makes it easy to help ensure for generations the work of one of your favorite charities without dipping into your current income or savings?
Contact Julie Amman or Mark Robinson at 517-545-5944 or your lawyer or financial adviser for more information.
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Suicide Prevention Hotline (24/7): 800-273-8255
Livingston County Community Mental Health (24/7): 800-615-1245
Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255
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Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the Foster Care Parenting Tip of the Week or the Caregiver Tip of the Week along with other great information & activities.
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Click Here to Donate Locally & Give the Gift of Hope! |
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Livingston County Catholic Charities
2020 E. Grand River #104, Howell, MI 48843
Office Phone 517-545-5944 Be Our Guest Adult Day Phone 517-546-9910
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