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LCCC E-Newsletter
Vol. 83, December 2024
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As we prepare our hearts for the upcoming Christmas/New Year Season, HOPE is our wish and prayer for ALL from Livingston County Catholic Charities (LCCC) this year and in the following year of 2025. HOPE is a gift from God. It never disappoints.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Christian hope is “the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817).
Hope inspires us at LCCC to serve more men, women, and children in our county in the coming year. Hope provides the direction and wisdom to complete the renovation of the new building on Grand River by June of 2025. Hope inspires all our activities this year and the coming year as we trust in God to provide for all LCCC needs.
We are preparing to serve more in our Senior programs such as our Home Injury Control and Chore, Senior Christmas Blessing project, Be Our Guest Adult Day Senior Respite, Prevention of Elder Abuse Neglect and Exploitation, Caregiver Support, Community Liaison, and our Volunteer Transport and Caregiver programs.
We are so grateful at LCCC for the gift of Hope and the continued spiritual and financial support of all those in our community in Livingston County. All the co-workers at LCCC wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year full of Hope.
Many Blessings on All,
Mary Burns-Coral, Current President of the Board
Michael Sage, Incoming President of the Board in 2025
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2024 Senior Christmas Blessings Project | |
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The Christmas Blessings Project is a community supported project. It brings the Love of Christ, Help & Hope to community low income and home-bound seniors by supplying a Christmas food box, hygiene items, cleaning & paper products and more!
We sincerely thank all of the amazingly generous local businesses, individuals, clubs, schools, churches, organizations and groups for the incredible amount of items and funds donated to serve our county's most vulnerable seniors! This year we served over 300 seniors with your support!
A big thank you to the LCCC Senior Program staff and our amazing volunteers for all the love, dedication and HOURS they have put into this project!! God Bless all of you! Since donations continue to roll in, we will include a full list of everyone who has supported the Project will be included in the January e-newsletter.
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Helping Youth Thrive, With Your Help! | |
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The Livingston County Community Alliance (LCCA) is a county-wide coalition that aims to unite the Livingston County community to reduce and prevent youth substance use and to promote a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. Our purpose is to connect the Livingston County community to establish and promote healthy community norms concerning the use of alcohol, marijuana, prescription drug misuse and abuse, and tobacco/nicotine.
The LCCA meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month, except July, from 6pm-7:30pm at Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA). We are looking for community members to join our coalition and provide insight on what they know and see regarding youth substance use. We have several subcommittees that can use your expertise!
● Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Data Task Force
● By-Law Ad Hoc Committee
● Youth Marijuana Focus Area
● Underage Drinking Focus Area
● Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Focus Area
● Youth Tobacco/Nicotine Use Focus Area
● Marketing and Communication Committee
Your input on these committees can create change in Livingston County and help our youth thrive!
The LCCA also hosts events or participates in community events throughout the year. We could use volunteers to help us at these events. Volunteer opportunities include helping table events, volunteering at youth events like the Youth-Led Summit, collecting medication at Big Red Barrel Take Back days, etc. See articles below for more information.
If you are interested in joining any one of these groups or volunteering, please reach out to the LCCA coalition coordinator, Megan Crainer at meganc@livingstoncc.org.
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The Big Red Barrel Project | |
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The Big Red Barrel Project is an initiative aimed at safely collecting unused or expired medications to prevent misuse and to protect the environment. The Big Red Barrel has been around since 2011 collecting medications not only in Livingston County but around the state of Michigan. The Big Red Barrel Program has collected about 100,000lbs of pills!
To make this event a success, we need your help!
Volunteer Opportunities:
● Event Setup: Help with placing barrels and setting up signage.
● Collection Assistance: Guide participants and oversee proper disposal.
● Post-Event Support: Assist with cleanup and logistics.
● Outreach & Awareness: Spread the word about this program within your networks.
Recycle Livingston Dates where volunteers are needed on the first Saturday of every month: January 4th, February 1st, March 1st, April 5th, May 3rd, June 7th, July 12th, August 2nd, September 6th, October 4th, November 1st, and December 6th.
More dates will become available throughout the year for volunteer opportunities.
Volunteering is a great opportunity to give back to the community, meet new people, and support an important cause. If you’re interested, please email Holly Oswalt at hollyo@livingstoncc.org or 517-545-5944 ext 129.
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Livingston County high school youth came together to learn about leadership and engage in activities that promote mental health. Students from all five district high schools attended the fifth annual Youth-Leadership Summit. Megan Crainer and Madalyn Parker, the emcees, got the day started by pumping up the students for their first speaker, Judge Dan Bain.
Judge Bain shared his experiences as a drug court judge and educated students on the prevalence of fentanyl. Judge Bain explained an illustration that all families can try at home during dinner. Drop a few grains of salt on the table and look at 5 small grains - that is the amount of fentanyl that can kill someone. Sergeant Kretzschmer and Deputy Gwinn from the Livingston County Sheriff Office hosted a game show which included trivia questions and competitive minute-to-win-it games aimed at educating about the harms of using substances. Students competed against other schools to win a pizza party at their school!
Additionally, students participated in educational breakout sessions and each school created an action plan intended to promote a positive school climate. Prevention Specialists will be working with each school district to complete their action plans over the course of the school year. This event was made possible by the Livingston County Sunrise Rotary - Midnight In The Tropics grant. Thank you to all the volunteers, teachers, schools and sponsors for helping put on this successful event!
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Your Donations Are Life Changing | |
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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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Save the Dates: Upcoming Events | |
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Mark your calendar for the 2025 Salute t0 the Stars! This year's location will be The Reserve, a beautiful new venue in Pinckney, nestled on 15 private wooded acres with a beautiful new ballroom, outdoor space and exquisite views! The evening will include a delicious meal, cash bar, music, silent auction, guest speaker, honoree presentations, and a live ask.
Attendees will be treated to a special speech by Pete Burak, the Vice President of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization around the world. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization and the co-director of Pine Hills Boys' Camp. He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine and the host of two podcasts: Spirit-filled Leadership and The Hour.
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VOLUNTEER
LCCC is in need of volunteers for our programs! There are opportunities to fit any age or ability. Come and help serve YOUR community today. We have created a new form for you to view all volunteer opportunities and check which ones you might be interested in learning more about. Find out more!
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WORK
Interested in work that gives you a sense of purpose and fulfills your mission to serve the greater good?Join our team of dedicated and compassionate individuals who work in Livingston County to provide professional services and programs to our county's most vulnerable.
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How YOU can Provide Critical Services for Generations to Come!
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Looking for ways to maximize your tax savings and charitable giving? Consider using your IRA.
If you are 70 1/2 yrs of age or older, you can make cash gifts from your IRA to your favorite charity or charities without having to include the IRA distribution in your taxable income. Qualified charitable distributions, also called IRA charitable rollover, allows you to direct part or all of your distribution directly to a charitable organization in an amount up to $100,000 per person per year. The amount of your charitable distribution to a charitable organization is excluded from your gross income and is not subject to taxes. Please discuss this option with your tax or financial adviser prior to making the distribution.
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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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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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