December 2015 E-Newsletter          


In This Issue
Connect With Us

Only 2 more weeks of holiday shopping left until Christmas!

Do your shopping through
AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your purchases will be donated to LSMNJ, at no cost to you. Use AmazonSmile to shop on Cyber Monday, during the holiday season, and all year long!

  
  
The warm glow of candlelight is symbolic to us in many ways. Throughout history, the light dancing at the tip of a candle has accompanied many religious traditions, such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza. 

Not only does it serve as a symbol of warmth, comfort, and home, but in recent weeks, it has united our country and the world in remembrance of lives lost and in vigil of those injured and healing. It is a universal symbol of peace, hope, and most certainly, LOVE

At LSMNJ, our candle is always lit and forever burns to guide others to see the need to do more for New Jersey's less fortunate. And s
o we ask you ..... when you light a candle this holiday season, please light it for the hundreds of children in New Jersey without families, for the homeless without food and shelter, and for all those struggling to make ends meet just to provide for their family. 

Like the Light of the World, may our candle lights, combined, continue to make a difference.

 ----Merry Christmas
LSMNJ FOUNDATION RECEIVES LARGEST SINGLE GIFT
(L to R) Jennifer Cripps, Colleen Frankenfield and Beth Gebhart pose with $2 million check that was received from the estate of Lucille Astrella.
It isn't often that the staff at LSMNJ's Foundation gets a call like the one they received last month from Richard Bowe, an attorney in Stanhope, NJ. 

Mr. Bowe called to notify the Foundation that he was settling the estate for Lucille Astrella, who left Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey in her will.

Ms. Astrella died on June 29, 2015 at the age of 97. In her will, Ms. Astrella left $2 million to LSMNJ. She had learned about LSMNJ through her Jersey City congregation and supported its work in the City.

Even though The Foundation has received many planned gifts in the past, this was the largest single donation received. "Though I was amazed when I learned of her generous gift, I was not surprised that Ms. Astrella chose LSMNJ," explains Beth Gebhart, executive director for The Foundation. "The work that we do for New Jersey's less fortunate families and seniors resonates within the hearts of many, and donors, like Ms. Astrella, understand the value in supporting our programs and services."

Get the full story.

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER ACROSS THE STATE
Residents at Mt. Olive Senior Residence in Flanders came together to trim the trees,  decorate the building, and get residents in the spirit of the holiday.
Crane's Mill hosted its annual Horse & Buggy Rides and Breakfast with Santa for residents, their families, and the community in West Caldwell. 

Santa made a stop at LSMNJ's Burlington office to help the Adoption staff celebrate the season with families and their children.