Voices Summer 2026

goins on

By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president

Pausing to celebrate: Innovation, partnership and the LSC Way

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) teammates spend most of their time in the all-consuming task of caring for people. We don’t spend much time celebrating, as there is always something that needs to be done, but celebrating is important. I am trying to do better.

LSC has been asked three times recently to speak at the state or national level about our innovations. When we got our heads out of the ditch, we started looking at our laundry list of innovations. These innovations warrant sharing and celebrating.

LSC has innovated in this ever-changing environment by helping co-found a provider-led network for Medicare Advantage and other third-party contracting, researching/participating in newish ISNP (Institutional Special Needs Plan) and ACO (Accountable Care Organization) programs.

LSC innovations start with proactive nonprofit ownership. LSC’s strong, diverse Board of Trustees has spent a great deal of time on governance and leadership: adopting and studying the Carver Policy Governance model, which clarifies the roles of board and management to ensure maximum effectiveness, developing a Board Portal so all records and documents are at our digital fingertips, and creating a robust strategic planning process. All of the above are led by a Board-adopted Vision, Mission, and Values that guide everything we do.

The LSC Way, LSC’s homegrown customer service program, seeks to instill the Vision, Mission, and Values in everything we touch. We all strive to emulate extraordinary teammates like 20-year veteran Trinity Oaks Executive Director Bill Johnson, 22-year Trinity Oaks LPN Sonya White, and 39-year GlenFlora CNA Ed McNeill.

Mission focus must walk hand-in-hand with business focus for LSC to succeed. LSC advocates at the state and national level for adequate government reimbursement to cover the cost of care for America’s most vulnerable citizens.

PACE

(Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a newer model that keeps low-income seniors in their homes and provides a day services program, including activities, health care, meals, and therapy, through an all-inclusive, capitated Medicare Advantage plan. The government supports the innovative program because of its outcomes for participants. LSC is a partner/sponsor in four of the 13 PACE programs in the state.

Over the last few years, LSC has focused on reducing disruptions in foster care placement. Moving is traumatic, especially for a foster child. LSC’s data-driven approach has reduced disruptions, leading to better outcomes.

Foster children are living in Department of Social Services offices, which is no place to live. Sometimes DSS cannot find a foster home for the most difficult foster children. In Columbia, the State of SC encouraged LSC to open a Day Services Program, then add an overnight shortterm shelter for children who would otherwise be sleeping in the DSS office. LSC’s Day Services Program provides a classroom, activities, outdoor space, food, and a private shower (the most popular service)!

In 2025, LSC began launching Heartful Living, an educational and cultural program to better serve residents with memory care needs. Most LSC senior communities have a secure memory care neighborhood, and all of our

communities support residents with memory care needs. Heartful Living helps teammates meet and serve residents where they are.

LSC saw a great need for legal assistance for legal refugees and immigrants. LSC sent teammates to training to provide non-attorney legal services. That program has exploded due to the great need, now also serving victims of human trafficking.

Technology is the future. LSC was one of the first nursing homes in the USA to go fully paperless in its medical records. LSC now has electronic payroll systems, a comprehensive dashboard for all data, and has even experimented with robots to deliver food and supplies.

Many years ago, LSC co-founded the Unity Group, a collaborative on property and liability issues with other NC nonprofit providers. Unity has saved LSC hundreds of thousands of dollars, including teaching us best practices in risk management.

LSC partnered with a for-profit partner to create Trinity Rehab to provide therapy services to LSC residents, then sold a stake to two other nonprofits. Trinity Rehab now serves approximately 20 nonprofit senior care organizations, providing best-in-class rehab services in a bestin-class collaboration.

Similarly, LSC has partnered with a for-profit partner to create Leading Care Pharmacy, serving 10 LSC campuses, and will investigate similar growth as Trinity Rehab.

Please notice how many times the words partner, mission, and collaboration are used above. Much of LSC’s success has been because we focus on our mission, and we love to partner and collaborate. That has been a winning combination, and that’s something to celebrate!

A place to feel safe

LSC’s new Welcome Center supports youth in foster care transitions

LSC is excited to announce the opening of a new Welcome Center for foster youth, launched in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

The Welcome Center provides a safe, supportive place for South Carolina children and youth — from birth to age 21 — who are entering foster care or transitioning between placements. For many young people, these moments are marked by uncertainty and crisis. The Welcome Center offers a stable, welcoming environment during this critical time.

“LSC has a long history of supporting children and families involved in foster care, and the Welcome Center allows us to meet yet another critical need for youth in South Carolina,” said LSC Child & Adult Services Executive Director Bethany Vause. “In addition to our Day Services for Youth Program, this new resource ensures that children entering foster care have a safe, supportive place during one of the most uncertain moments of their lives.”

Youth who stay at the Welcome Center receive room and board, along with supervision and comprehensive medical, social, and mental health assessments. The center is staffed 24/7 with awake, professionally trained teammates who provide direct care and trauma-informed support.

Whether a child stays for a few hours or up to a week, the Welcome Center is designed to help youth feel safe, supported, and prepared for what comes next.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment by LSC and the South Carolina Department of Social Services to ensure that children and youth entering foster care are met with compassion, stability, and high quality care from the very beginning.

Youth who stay at the Welcome Center receive room and board, along with supervision and comprehensive medical, social, and mental health assessments.

2025 Worker of Wonders Awards

The Worker of Wonders (WOW) Award recognizes volunteers across LSC who demonstrate outstanding dedication and service to our ministry. The awards are presented annually in both North and South Carolina.

SOUTH CAROLINA: JIM AND DEBBIE LAWLER

Jim and Debbie Lawler volunteer with LSC’s New Americans Program in Columbia, South Carolina. They began by helping furnish temporary housing for new arrivals and by supporting their church, St. Martin’s in the Fields, in its early services to welcome refugees. They collected groceries for an arrival and then began recruiting within the church for a Circle of Welcome.

“Once they had a Circle, they accepted their first family match and led that team with such incredible attention, supporting good boundaries, and showering such love and kindness on their matched family,” said LSC South Carolina New Americans Program Outreach Coordinator Sarah Lewis, who nominated the Lawlers for the award. “Once that commitment was finished, they recruited their team again to serve two families at once. And then once that commitment was over, they led a third team to welcome another family.”

When arrivals halted in 2025, the Lawlers began helping with refugee health screenings and transportation.

“In looking for ways to be of service, we are particularly drawn to opportunities to work with people who have backgrounds and experiences that are different from ours. The New Americans Program provides us with that opportunity,” they said. “We have come to value and respect our refugee families, who have given up lives that they know for uncertain futures in unfamiliar places, hoping to improve their prospects. Their patience, persistence, courage, and stamina inspire us. We find that even the simplest tasks, like learning English and cooking together, help us know each other better.”

Lewis added that the Columbia team would not have made it through that time of transition without the help of the Lawlers.

“We value the easy and productive collaboration we have with the staff of Lutheran Services Carolinas,” the Lawlers said. “We are also grateful to our church, St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal, for their generous response to needs we bring to them.”

NORTH CAROLINA: KAREN PUCKETT

Karen Puckett, the WOW Award winner in North Carolina, is also a volunteer with the LSC New Americans Program in Salisbury. She began as a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Circle of Welcome and continued volunteering as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher after the Circle’s term ended. She has a North Carolina teaching license and has taught ESL to children at the K-12 level and to adults in community college.

“Karen went above and beyond by helping a refugee family settle into their new life, assisting with cultural orientation, organizing housing setup, and coordinating essential donations,” LSC Refugee Services Coordinator Dawn Ranes said in her nomination for Puckett. “Her commitment continued as she provided ESL tutoring to 12 refugees, empowering them with the language skills that are necessary to thrive in the United States.”

Karen Puckett received her award from LSC CEO Ted Goins at the Shepherd Society dinner at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Puckett also assisted with airport pickups and grocery shopping, and, according to Ranes, left a lasting impact on the lives of those she served.

“I was excited,” Puckett said about winning the WOW Award. “I love Lutheran Services Carolinas because of all of the wonderful things the organization does throughout our state, so winning an award from LSC was a thrill!”

Standing with families through uncertainty

Recent federal immigration policy changes have caused instability for families served by LSC. Legal arrivals now face a shifting landscape of policies, program rules, and federal support. With refugee admissions suspended, resettlement services reduced, TPS protections changing, and increased screenings, families are confused about their stability. Immigration systems are complex, slow, and unpredictable, causing prolonged uncertainty. Meanwhile, families must manage everyday responsibilities like rent, utilities, transportation, food, and trusted support to remain stable.

That’s when community matters most.

Through LSC, the Good Neighbor Fund helps ensure families are not left to navigate disruption alone. This fund provides timely, flexible support that helps families remain connected to critical resources such as transportation, legal guidance, trusted advocates, and caring individuals who walk alongside them when circumstances feel overwhelming.

The Good Neighbor Fund allows LSC to respond quickly when families face sudden interruptions or unexpected delays — helping cover basic needs that preserve stability while families work toward their next steps. It is a reflection of community in action: neighbors supporting neighbors when it matters most.

One recent intake budget showed that maintaining stability for a family during a disruption requires consistent support for housing, utilities, transportation, and food. The Good Neighbor Fund exists to meet those needs with compassion, dignity, and care — strengthening safety nets and restoring hope.

You can make a difference today. Scan the QR code with your phone camera to support the Good Neighbor Fund and help LSC families hold onto the progress they’ve made and find steady support as new challenges and uncertainties arise.

Together, we are the connection families rely on.

Welcome New Shepherd Society members

LSC’s Shepherd Society stands as a pillar of support and dedication within the organization, comprising a community of donors and volunteers whose unwavering commitment fuels the advancement of LSC’s vital services.

The Shepherd Society encompasses three categories:

• Donors whose financial contributions total $1,000 or more within a calendar year — as well as lifetime members, now known as Golden Staff members, whose cumulative giving reaches exceptional milestones of $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for organizations. These donors not only sustain

but amplify LSC’s ability to provide essential services.

• Individuals who have generously included LSC in their estate planning, ensuring a lasting impact that extends far into the future.

• Individuals who epitomize the spirit of service by contributing 100 hours or more per calendar year to LSC ministries. They directly enhance the organization’s capacity to support and uplift neighbors in challenging

circumstances.

Welcome to the following new LSC Shepherd Society members who have joined since January 2026.

• Mrs. Linda L. Behrendt

• Libby Brown

• Natalie Keck

• Kellner Charity Fund, a Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, Boston, MA

• Lars & Susan Kullstam

• Brian & Margaret Van Horn

• Martin & Melissa Westendorff

For more information about the Shepherd Society, contact LSC Director of Development

Emily Dubay at edubay@lscarolinas.net.

“God will put you where He wants you”

Lynn Barringer Nail of Trinity Oaks

Lynn Barringer Nail, a life enrichment specialist at Trinity Oaks assisted living and an LSC teammate for nearly 40 years, remembers the Salisbury, North Carolina senior living community before it was Trinity Oaks.

“When I started with LSC, Trinity Oaks health and rehab was known as the North Carolina Lutheran Home,” she recalled. “Then it became the Lutheran Home, then Lutheran Home Salisbury, and then the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.”

She joined the health and rehab team in 1986 as a certified nursing assistant and grew with the organization.

“In 1990, one of our activities teammates went out on a maternity leave and didn’t come back,” Nail said. “So, I stepped into a new role.”

The rest is history. Thanks to her long and successful tenure, Nail knows almost everyone on the Trinity Oaks campus.

“The biggest change I’ve seen at Trinity Oaks over the years is the clientele,” she noted. “Before independent living came along, residents didn’t come here until they had to. Now, they come here because they want to.”

Nail makes a point of building rapport

“My parents taught me the value of Christian service. Listen to God; He will put you where He wants you.”

— LYNN BARRINGER NAIL

with independent living residents because eventually, some of them spend time in assisted living.

“Sometimes a married couple will come in together, and one of them will transition to assisted living,” she said. “I enjoy getting to know them ahead of time.”

In her work with assisted living residents, Nail provides a wide variety of activities designed to enhance cognition, strengthen bodies, and boost mood.

“I have two dogs who I bring in for visits,” she said. “They’re service dogs and also trained as ‘good citizen’ dogs. They’re very popular.”

Nail’s weekday exercise classes have been a major factor in helping residents recover from the pandemic.

“COVID was hard on residents’ bodies in more ways than one,” she said. “Isolation protocols helped contain the disease — but it also meant a lot of time spent in their rooms. We’ve been able to rebuild strength and stamina through gentle daily stretching and exercise.”

Other resident favorites include noodle ball (with pool noodles), adult coloring and other crafts, and one-on-one manicure touch-ups for the ladies.

“We try to provide a little something for everyone,” Nail added. “It’s all part of living abundantly.”

Lutheran Services Carolinas names Stephanie Herrin-Huneycutt Vice President of Strategy

LSC is pleased to announce Stephanie Herrin-Huneycutt as its new Vice President of Strategy.

Herrin-Huneycutt brings more than 25 years of experience in long-term care, having served seniors across a wide range of settings, including community alternative living programs, assisted living communities, and long-term care facilities. She has been a licensed nursing home administrator and licensed assisted living administrator for more than 20 years, offering deep expertise

and leadership in senior services.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and most recently served as administrator at Trinity Place in Albemarle, North Carolina, where she led the

community for five years.

In her new role, Herrin-Huneycutt will focus on business development for new senior living communities and the growth of existing ones. She will also lead the evaluation and development of new partnerships to further LSC’s vision and mission across its senior services.

Outside of work, Herrin-Huneycutt enjoys spending time with her husband, their three grown children, and four grandsons. She and her husband also love being outdoors, especially kayaking and hiking.

A Julie Hood receives Distinguished Service Award

fter more than four decades of unwavering commitment to children and families, LSC’s Julie Hood has been named the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Palmetto Association for Children and Families. The award honors individuals who have dedicated their careers to child and family services and distinguish themselves as leaders in the field.

As LSC’s South Carolina Child Services Director, Hood oversees all programs related to children, including foster care and the Day Services for Youth program.

She was nominated for the award by Bethany Vause, LSC executive director of child and adult services, who describes her as “the epitome of what a leader in child welfare looks like.”

Hood’s career spans more than 40 years in child and family services, including 21 years with LSC SC and an additional 18 years serving children and families through roles with Carolina Youth Development Center, South Carolina Department of Social Services, Texas Department of Human Services and more.

Throughout her career at LSC, Hood has been a force for innovation, compassion, and bold thinking. According to Vause, whenever a new idea surfaces about serving children and families in a different or expanded way, Hood’s response is almost always the same.

“Her answer is always something along the lines of, ‘Let’s do it,’” Vause shared. “Julie has championed innovative programs, inspired her colleagues, and touched the lives of countless children and families. She’s attended countless weddings and graduations for former clients who were once on her caseload.”

One of those former clients is Daniel Harris, who credits Julie with shaping not only his childhood, but his future.

“Julie Hood was my social worker when I entered therapeutic foster care way back in 2004,” Harris shared. “In the 22 years since, our relationship has changed many times —

from being a kid in foster care, to college connections, to working in social services, and now partnering together on foster care reform and policy work.”

Harris describes Hood as everything the foster care system should strive to be.

“Julie is the best of the foster care world. This award is more than deserved,” Harris said. “If the foster care system had more Julie Hoods, no kid in foster care would ever question if they are loved, valuable, or if there were people in their corner.”

For Hood, the recognition brought gratitude and humility.

“It was such an honor and surprise to

receive the award,” she said. “I felt such gratitude for the people who believe in me and have worked alongside me through the years. I know how much this work is a group effort, and I feel proud of the mission that drives us every day.”

Hood’s impact is felt not only through programs and policies, but through the thousands of lives she has touched along the way. Her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication reflect the very best of LSC’s mission.

As Vause puts it simply:

“I’ve always said I want to be Julie when I grow up.”

In good hands

Tabatha Burch receives the 2025 You Are the Key Award

Each year, LSC’s child and family services team presents the You Are the Key Award to one exceptional teammate who embodies The LSC Way: leading by example, serving joyfully, communicating consistently, welcoming all, and ensuring abundant living.

For 2025, the award went to Tabatha Burch, program licensing and operations manager for LSC’s South Carolina child and family services. No matter where they are located, teammates across the organization value Burch’s steady leadership and quiet expertise.

“I am genuinely humbled and honored to be named the 2025 You Are the Key Award winner. I recognize that all of my nominated teammates were equally deserving of this accolade,” Burch said. “My success would not have been possible without the unwavering support and motivating atmosphere fostered by my team.”

At LSC, many of the most critical moments of service happen behind the scenes — and that’s where you’ll typically find Burch. For example, she oversees LSC’s South Carolina foster care licensing process.

“Each foster home needs a state license that’s renewable every two years, and we have about 60 foster families and growing. LSC Foster Care must renew its Child Placing Agency or CPA license with the state every year. I keep track of all of them,” Burch says.

Burch also manages background and DMV checks, tracks fire inspections for South Carolina Host Homes, and liaises with the State of South Carolina — helping programs confidently navigate complex state regulatory systems.

Within LSC, Burch is South Carolina’s primary point of contact with the IT team. “If Tabatha doesn’t have the answer immediately, she will go above and beyond to find it,” says one teammate. This reliable, solu-

tions-focused approach allows her teammates to focus on serving clients.

You’re almost guaranteed to meet Burch when visiting the Columbia office; her desk is near the entrance. That also means she gets to interact with a wide range of clients. Her generous spirit, curiosity, and respect for difference enrich everyone she works with.

“I’ve enjoyed learning about different life experiences and cultures through the New Americans Program,” she says. “And because Trinity Recovery is operating out of

our office right now, I get to meet members of the recovery community.”

In addition, Burch’s teammates say she is a quick, enthusiastic learner who shares newfound knowledge generously. One might say she’s a natural servant leader.

Burch concurs. “Before joining LSC, all of my jobs involved serving others — whether in restaurants, retail, or law enforcement.”

Dependable, detail-oriented, and deeply committed to LSC’s mission, Tabatha Burch really is the key to LSC’s South Carolina operations.

A Google search that changed everything Darrell and Dawn Osborne’s foster-to-adopt journey

For Darrell and Dawn Osborne, the journey to becoming parents didn’t begin with a long-laid plan or a perfect roadmap. It began with a simple Google search — and a willingness to open their hearts.

Married later in life, the Osbornes knew they wanted to build a family but faced the reality that having biological children might not be possible. Still, the desire to love and nurture a child never faded.

“We said, ‘Well, how about foster care or adoption?’” Dawn Osborne shared. “I had always wanted to do it when I was younger.”

As they researched foster care options, LSC stood out. After submitting an inquiry, Dawn Osborne received a call from Torrie Evans, an LSC team member who patiently walked her through the process, answered questions, and sent the necessary paperwork.

“That conversation really stuck with me,” Dawn Osborne said. “We were older, and we knew we didn’t want babies or infants — we really wanted a school-aged child. Torrie understood that right away.”

Soon after, the Osbornes were connected with Kimberla Burrows, LSC’s Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP) director, who would become a steady guide throughout their foster-to-adopt journey.

OPENING THEIR HOME AND THEIR HEARTS

The Osbornes began by providing respite care for two boys, gaining valuable experience and confidence as foster parents. After that season ended, they waited patiently for more than a year and a half, trusting the process.

Then, in June 2023, Burrows reached out with a profile that felt different from the start.

“We looked at it and said, ‘She seems like a good fit,’” Dawn Osborne recalled. A week or two later, they met her—just sitting and talking for about an hour. That initial connection led to a weekend visit, and by the end of it, the couple felt sure.

“She was great,” Dawn Osborne said. “My husband and I both thought she was a good

Darrell and Dawn Osborne adopted their daughter, Freelyn, through Lutheran Services Carolinas. They knew when they met her that she was the perfect fit for their family.

fit for our family.”

The day before her ninth birthday, Freelyn Danielle joined the Osbornes’ home—and their lives forever.

HELPING FREELYN THRIVE

Now 11, Freelyn Osborne is preparing to start middle school next year. She is curious, thoughtful, and full of potential. When she first arrived, however, she carried challenges common among children who have experienced instability.

Her previous social worker had explained that Freelyn had missed significant amounts of school and was academically behind. At age nine, she struggled with basic reading skills.

“I remember thinking, ‘I guess I’m the right person,’” said Dawn Osborne, a special education coordinating teacher with CharlotteMecklenburg Schools (CMS). “This is what I do.”

In January 2025, Freelyn Osborne was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, particularly around new experiences. The Osbornes leaned into patience and encouragement — coaching her through social situations, new friendships, and team sports like softball and volleyball.

“She wants to do things so badly,” Dawn Osborne explained. “Sometimes it just takes

a lot of reassurance — reminding her, ‘You asked for this, and you can do it.’”

Together, they’ve worked to give their daughter a sense of normalcy and belonging.

“She might have gone from school to nothing before,” Dawn said. “Now she’s part of a team. She’s part of a family.”

A BIGGER WORLD, A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Freelyn Osborne’s world has expanded in ways her parents could hardly have imagined. Before joining the Osbornes, she had never traveled outside Winston-Salem. Now, she’s been to Florida, Minneapolis, and Mississippi.

“Just the other day, she texted me and said, ‘I want to go to Brazil,’” Dawn Osborne laughed.

Through travel, school, sports, and daily routines, Freelyn Osborne is discovering confidence, curiosity, and dreams for the future, supported by parents who believe deeply in her potential.

A MESSAGE FOR OTHERS CONSIDERING FOSTER CARE

Looking back, the Osbornes are grateful — not only for Freelyn, but for the support they received through LSC every step of the way.

“LSC made the process very easy,” Dawn Osborne said. “Having Kimberla there, having Torie explain everything—it mattered.”

For anyone considering foster care or adoption, she offers simple but powerful advice.

“If your main goal is family — giving a child a chance at normalcy—and you’re willing to open your heart, be supportive, and help a child become the best version of themselves, then go for it.”

Through LSC’s Special Needs Adoption (SNAP) program, families like the Osbornes are proving that love, patience, and commitment can change a child’s story — and create a new one filled with hope.

Visit https://lscarolinas.net/child-programs for more information on LSC’s foster care and adoption programs.

PART TWO

• Rev. Dr. Leroy Cannon Columbia, SC

• Mrs. Elizabeth Derrick Salisbury, NC

• Rev. Mary Finklea Florence, SC

• Mr. Larry Gates Wilmington, NC

• Mr. Ted Goins, Jr. Salisbury, NC

• Ms. Sharon Graeber Greensboro, NC

LSC board of trustees

• Mrs. Tami Hefner Conover, NC

• Mr. Rick Herman Weaverville, NC

• Mrs. Susan Kullstam Huntersville, NC

• Dr. Joel Miller Hickory, NC

• Mr. Doug Nelson Tobaccoville, NC

• Mr. Zach Osborne Raleigh, NC

• Mrs. Virginia K. Aull White Rock, SC

• Mr. Wayne M. Bach Hickory, NC

• Dr. Jill S. Bates Apex, NC

• Ms. Loretta Beam Vale, NC

• Ms. Miji Bell Baltimore, MD

• Mrs. Terry Bellamy Asheville, NC

• Mrs. Sarah Benbow Cary, NC

• Mrs. Andrea T. Benfield Newton, NC

• Mr. Frederick H. Black Chapel Hill, NC

• Ms. Maggie Blackwell Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Larry L. Bowman Newton, NC

• The Rev. Jann Boyd & The Rev. Kevin Ogilvie Lexington, SC

• Mrs. Betty Brown Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Don Bumgarner Conover, NC

• Dr. Jim Chapman Columbia, SC

• Dr. Kay Conrad Winston-Salem, NC

• Mr. J. David Cooke Greenville, SC

• Mr. & Mrs. Richard Cosgrove, Jr. Richfield, NC

• Ms. Christine Crater Lexington, NC

• Rev. Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson Charlotte, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Luther W. Dasher Fort Mill, SC

• Mr. & Mrs. Tony Deely Mt. Pleasant, SC

• Mr. Damon Dequenne Winston-Salem, NC

• Rev. Dr. Alfredo Oviedo Hendersonville, NC

• Dr. Reneé Rogers Kernersville, NC

• Rev. Will Rose Chapel Hill, NC

• Dr. Eunika Simons Columbia, SC

• Dr. Nisha Singh Orangeburg, SC

• Dr. Avery Staley Mooresville, NC

LSC Board of Advisors

• The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. David A. Donges Columbia, SC

• Mr. Charles Downs Hudson, NC

• Mr. Donald Erickson Wilmington, NC

• Ms. Angela Fawver Irmo, SC

• Marycruz Figueroa & Andy Flack Greer, SC

• Dr. Sylvia Flack Winston Salem, NC

• Mr. John B. Fleming, Jr. Cary, NC

• Mr. Chris Fogarty Monroe, NC

• Mr. John Frye Wilmington, NC

• Dr. & Mrs. Robert K. Gaither Albemarle, NC

• Mrs. Tammi Gates Wilmington, NC

• The Rev. Jennifer M. Ginn Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Thomas L. Gipson Raleigh, NC

• Rev. & Mrs. James K. Glander Blythwood, SC

• Dr. David Goltra, Jr. Mt. Pleasant, SC

• Dr. Ellen Goode Raleigh, NC

• Mr. Cary Grant Durham, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Gresham, Jr. Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. G. Parker Hatchett Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Josef Herz-Lane Apex, NC

• The Rev. Wolfgang Herz-Lane Apex, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. William Hillegass Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Perry Hood Salisbury, NC

• Dr. Gail Hounshell Salisbury, NC

• Mr. Eric Hoyle Winston-Salem, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. James Huddle Glen Allen, VA

• Mr. Greg Hudgins Durham, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Alan W. Hunsberger Wilmington, NC

• Mrs. Betty Hussey Durham, NC

• Mr. White Iddings, Jr. Hickory, NC

• Mr. Bert E. Joines, Sr. Winston-Salem, NC

• The Rev. David R. Keck, Jr. Mooresville, NC

• Ms. Marsha Kinley Belmont, NC

• Mr. Robert O. Klepfer, Jr. Greensboro, NC

• Mrs. Kaye Leonard Salisbury, NC

• Mrs. Betty Lohr Hickory, NC

• Ms. Marie Magaletti Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Matangira Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Van Matthews Greenville, SC

• The Rev. Dr. James A. McDaniels Greensboro, NC

• Mr. Will McKaughan Rock Hill, SC

• Mrs. Loretta Meyers Wilmington, NC

• Mr. Geary Milliken Johns Island, SC

• The Rev. Dr. Jane P. Mitcham West Columbia, SC

• Mr. George A. Moretz Hickory, NC

• Mr. Robert A. Mullinax, Sr. Newton, NC

• Mr. Bill Mullinix, Jr. Kinston, NC

• Mrs. Barb Trapp-Moen Durham, NC

• Mr. David Turner Columbia, SC

• Mr. Brian Van Horn Mooresville, NC

• The Rev. Russell Myers, Jr. Albemarle, NC

• Mr. Hoang Nguyen Durham, NC

• Ms. Jill Nothstine Pittsboro, NC

• Ms. Mary Ponds Granite Quarry, NC

• Mrs. Beth B. Pottle Wilmington, NC

• Dr. David W. Potts Greenville, SC

• Mr. Jesse Ray Asheville, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Edward E. Ruse III Raleigh, NC

• Rev. & Mrs. Robert Shoffner Hickory, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Bill Sliney Rock Hill, SC

• The Rev. David A. Sloop Durham, NC

• Ms. Zandra H. Spencer Salisbury, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Steve StanfieldSwitzer Wilmington, NC

• Mr. Jeff Stewart Durham, NC

• The Rev. Dr. Scott J. Suskovic Charlotte, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Jay Swain Asheville, NC

• Mrs. Eloise Thomas Matthews, NC

• Mr. Eric Vaughn Raleigh, NC

• The Rev. Andrew Weisner Hickory, NC

• The Rev. Gregory B. Williams Hendersonville, NC

• Mr. & Mrs. Ray Wise Wilmington, NC

• Mrs. Anna Yonge Lexington, SC

• Mr. & Mrs. David Yount Charlotte, NC

In 2025, more than 2,500 Lutheran Services Carolinas teammates, along with 2,553 donors and 4,494 advocates, improved the lives of thousands of Carolinians

12,250

Individuals and families served by LSC’s child and family programs

Survivors of human trafficking got help to begin new lives 184

Generous donors 2,553 Legal refugees & immigrants served 4,411

4,494 Advocates spread the word about LSC

Youth participated in the Day Services for Youth Program in South Carolina. 505

C O R E V A L U E S

Combat wounded veterans received supportive services 6

563 Foster children served

Individuals served by LSC’s Foster to Adopt Program 89

Collaboration: Trust, enjoy, and cooperate to enrich your workplace.

Compassion: Recognize the hurt or unhappiness of others and act to change it.

Excellence: Any job worth doing is worth doing well. Strive for excellence.

Faith: Love, serve, and be joyful in your work. Support and forgive.

Integrity: Work honestly, seek help, admit failure.

6,185 People received resources through Trinity Recovery

591,280

Individuals served through LSC’s Disaster Services Program. 286

Residential service days provided to seniors

101

Adults thrived in LSC developmental, TBI & recovery homes

Justice: Create a just culture throughout the organization and in all the communities we serve

Respect: Recognize the gifts and worth of everyone

LSC Senior Services OPERATIONS

Revenue

Expense

Operating income

STATEMENT

$192,324,963

$184,272,157

$8,052,806

Unrestricted contributions $815,658

Operating income with contributions

Other unrestricted changes

. $8,868,464

$25,758,366

Total increase in unrestricted assets $34,626,830

Other restricted changes

Total increase to assets .

NURSING HOME

OCCUPANCY: 91.6%

Nursing Home Payor Mix:

• Medicaid: 49.7%

• Private pay: 30.4%

• Medicare: 7.8%

• Hospice: 4.4%

• Insurance: 7.7%

$780,790

$35,407,620

LSC EXPENSES (both Senior Services and Child and Family)

• Program Services 85.9%

• Administration/Development/ Marketing 14.1%

LSC child and family OPERATIONS STATEMENT

$36,727,469

2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Senior Services – Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA) ended the fiscal year with an Operating Income of $8,052,806, which was well above budgeted expectations of $5,856,008.

Nursing occupancy ended up at 91.6% for the fiscal year, and assisted living occupancy was at 87.0%; both were slightly under budgeted for the year but closer to historic expectations after coming out of COVID. Despite being under budget on occupancy, the nursing and assisted living communities had strong reimbursement rates and ancillary revenue sources such as therapy services that allowed LSC to exceed revenue expectations. This, combined with a focus on expense control allowed for a nursing and assisted living Operating Income of $4.3 million.

Independent living continued to outperform financial expectations. The area finished the year with an occupancy rate of 95.2%, which is just above the 94.4% budget. That translated into an operating income of $5.3 million, which is a favorable variance to budget of $2.1 million.

There were several new ventures during the last fiscal year. In Hickory, NC, LSA’s newest 72-apartment independent living community Trinity Village IL opened mid-December 2024. The community will be in fill-up mode throughout the coming fiscal year 2026. LSA also began a joint venture with Neil Medical Group to create a new pharmacy partnership, Leading Care Pharmacy LLC. The goal is more streamlined operations and competitive pricing to enable the partnership to expand beyond just servicing LSA members. LSA has also shown steady progress in its partnership with Liberty Institutional Special Needs Plan (ISNP) throughout 2025. Enrollment across facilities reached 172 members in October, approaching the goal of 200 enrollees at eight locations by January 2026. The plan’s focus is on care coordination and cost containment. And finally, Trinity at Home, which has provided home care services at Trinity Oaks and the surrounding community in Salisbury, expanded to both Hickory and Wilmington, supporting senior residents with personalized care and outreach.

LSA continues to look to add additional services in other areas where LSA is considered a provider of choice.

$37,990,204 Operating income

Unrestricted contributions

($1,262,735)

$851,443

Operating income with contributions ($411,292)

Other unrestricted changes

Total increase in unrestricted assets

$432,337

$21,045 Other restricted changes $1,079,286

Total increase in net assets

PROGRAMS BY STATE

• South Carolina | 55.8% • North Carolina | 44.2%

$1,100,331

• Refugee & Immigrant 35.4%

Child & Family Services – Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas (LFS) navigated multiple programmatic issues during the year, ending with an operating loss of ($1,262,735). Thankfully, with donations and investment income, there was a slight increase in unrestricted net assets of $21,045.

One of the main factors affecting programming was in the New Americans Program (NAP) due to the change in administration. The cornerstone program area of refugee resettlement effectively closed, and unfortunately, team members associated with that area had to be reassigned to other program areas or, in some cases, laid off. Certain NAP support contracts with North Carolina and South Carolina still remained intact during the year and, hopefully, will continue into the new fiscal year.

LFS’s largest service line, foster care services, had a strong financial year that was well above budgeted expectations. Dedicated foster parents and caseworkers served 563 children, and the Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children program helped 32 children as they awaited reunification with their families or guardians.

LSC’s disaster services served 286 individuals with the help of partners. Towards the fiscal year end, a Lutheran Disaster Relief (LDR) grant of $741,000 was received for future work in the western part of North Carolina next fiscal year. Moreover, approximately $525,000 has been received from the American Red Cross for relief efforts in South Carolina.

Despite fiscal year 2025 being a difficult year, LSC is well-positioned to meet the changing programmatic needs for the coming fiscal year.

Connections that create impact

In Fiscal Year 2025, giving to Lutheran Services Carolinas reflected the deep connections that carry our mission forward. Individuals, congregations, foundations, and businesses continued their generous support, and many donors broadened their impact by contributing non-cash gifts in addition to traditional giving. Together, these connections transformed generosity into lasting support for the people and communities LSC serves.

Legacy Corner

In Fiscal Year 2025, 18 planned gifts — many created years ago — made a meaningful impact at LSC today.

Gifts in Kind

Turning connections into care: Nearly 13% of all giving to LSC comes through gifts in kind, demonstrating how donated goods and services create real, mission-advancing impact every day.

“We hope you’re inspired by the meaningful work shared in this report. As we look to 2026, your gift — whether renewed or given for the first time — helps LSC write the next chapter of service, expanding our impact and connecting with more people in need.”

We hope you’re inspired by the meaningful work shared in this report. As we look to 2026, your gift — whether renewed or given for the first time — helps LSC write the next chapter of service, expanding our impact and connecting with more people in need.

For more information, reach out to the LSC Development Team at donate@lscarolinas.net

(Lutheran Services for the Aging, Inc.)

Post Office Box 947

Salisbury, North Carolina 28145

Phone: 704-637-2870

Toll free: 1-800-HELPING www.LSCarolinas.net

Return Service Requested

If you are receiving multiple copies of LSC Voices or no longer wish to receive the newsletter or other mailings which might include LSC fundraising requests, please call or send the mailing label from this page along with your request to LSC at the above address.

“Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.”

Spring cleaning

Round out your spring cleaning by creating or updating your estate plan with our partner, FreeWill. It’s an easy way to care for the people you love and make your wishes clear — now including tools to document guardianship and funeral preferences.

Create your free will today at partner. freewill.com/LSC.

Questions? You’re always welcome to reach out to Emily Dubay at Edubay@lscarolinas. net.

Already included Lutheran Services Carolinas in your plans? Please let us know at partner.freewill.com/ record/LSC so we can thank you for your generosity.