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Even though Lutheran Community Care (LCC) Blair Athol hits the big 40 this year, its services are still constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. In addition to their many existing projects, LCC has recently introduced the new "Living Healthy Project" at the Blair Athol site. The program works with disadvantaged families to improve nutrition habits within the family home and introduce physical activity as a regular feature in their everyday life. The strong focus on increasing the number of children, young people and families participating in sports and physical recreation programmes is supplemented by facilitating better nutrition and physical activity outcomes for people on low incomes.
"LCC Blair Athol is in the heart of the community in this area", LCC Blair Athol Manager Sharon Good explains. A service like this is particularly important in a community that has been identified as being in the highest relative socio-economic deprivation area by the Griffith University study, "Suburban Scars". "This is why we are here and doing what we do. We are proving over and over again that our work and ministry is absolutely vital in meeting the increasing needs of individuals and families who come to us for help", Sharon said.
In an effort to respond to the growing binge drinking epidemic amongst young Australians, LCC is also introducing the "On Friday Night In Kilburn" program. The youth driven music, dance and film project engages young people, including culturally and linguistically diverse and indigenous young people, to express their experiences, feelings and thoughts on binge drinking. The project also incorporates education on the associated risk factors of binge drinking.
"Lutheran Community Care is part of the community in which it serves", says Sharon, also explaining that their refugee support program is a major part of supporting the Adelaide community. "With all of our programs, we rely heavily on volunteers". Sharon explains that the LCC Emergency Relief (ER) program has recently increased its services from 24 appointments per week to 42. Volunteers do much of the interviewing and control the food storage area. Donations from congregations of food, money and clothing are a wonderful way for the community to help each other through the LCC service.
The original vision and dream for the LCC site at Blair Athol was for a Community Centre, serving the surrounding suburbs by providing food and clothing donated by the congregations. Over the 40 years, it has done all of this, and more. Many additions have been made to the property to help LCC stay relevant and cope with the increases in services required the community. Most recently, the modernisation process has included the installation of a new computer hub for volunteers and clients. To cope with increasing maintenance needs and continual growth in the coming years, Blair Athol will renovate its main office site. There will be a larger waiting room with an accessible toilet, a larger training facility with a modern catering size kitchen. The Charity Shop will also get a makeover to increase the size of the shop and sorting areas.
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