Alumni couple Katie and Jeremy Schroeder probably did not expect their LVC year of service to end in marriage and children, with both of them continuing to serve LVC years later. But here they are! Katie (Chicago ’03-04) was corralled in 2020 into serving on the LVC Board of Directors, and shortly thereafter was asked to serve as vice chair. She also chairs the external relations committee; leads orientation for new Placements; organizes recruitment of new LVC Volunteers at Gustavus Adolphus College where she has a full-time job as director of the Gustavus Fund; and joins other engagement events, like the fireside chats. She alsoRead More →

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Local Support Networks (LSNs) are coming to an LVC city near you! In April we’re kicking off the start of the RE-BUILD: rebuilding LSNs in program cities, creating more structured networks for supporting Volunteers, providing more opportunities for alumni to reconnect, and garnering support for national efforts. Ready to pull together your network? Register to join the kickoff Zoom meetings position us all for the Volunteer year that begins in August. Twin Cities, MN #1 Wednesday, April 14, 1:30-3:00pm (central): REGISTER HERE. For questions, contact Rachel Kennedy, rkennedy@lutheranvolunteercorps.org. #2 Thursday, April 22, 5:30-7:00pm (central): REGISTER HERE. For questions, contact Rachel Kennedy, rkennedy@lutheranvolunteercorps.org. Baltimore, MD Tuesday,Read More →

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On March 5, 2021, LVC’s monthly Program Day for Volunteers explored what COVID-19 has further revealed regarding health disparities in marginalized communities. Discussion included how Native Americans care for its members as family units rather than individuals during the pandemic; how African Americans and people of color were more represented among the sick and dying, but were less represented in the vaccine priority list; how homelessness, senior and trans status increase vulnerability to COVID-19; and the unknown impact of unmet dental care on health. LVC Volunteers received a broad range of perspectives, considered the intersectionality of the pandemic, and broadened knowledge of the pandemic beyondRead More →

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Written by Sijia Tong, LVC Volunteer, 2020-21 _______________________ LVC Placement partner, Grace Lutheran Church, is a small inner-city congregation in Omaha, NE, situated in the middle of a block on a no-through street. This means that ministry has to be connected to the neighborhood. So Grace Lutheran Church identified community needs, and got to work. The church decided to take a risk and become the site of a fresh food pantry two years ago. The pantry meets on Monday morning and offers fresh food received from two grocery stores each week. In addition, the church has also grown to be the gathering place of multipleRead More →

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As many organizations look for ways to increase diversity, equity and inclusion while also dismantling institutional “isms” in society—racism, sexism, heterosexism, and the like—LVC is approaching the issue with a different lens. READ MORE HERE. (February 11, 2021, Lutheran Services in America.)Read More →

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