by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
About four years ago, Wayne Rieley didn’t move back to Jacksonville from Rome, Ga. because of a new architecture job, but to be president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services.
When Rieley received a phone call from the president of LSS’s Board of Directors about filling the role as the president and CEO of LSS, he thought it was a little out of the ordinary.
“I thought it was an unusual request for someone who was an architect,” he said. “But I love what I do here.”
While an architect, Rieley spent about 15 years on LSS’s Board of Directors.
LSS has four programs right now and there is another one currently in the works, said Rieley.
The Refugee and Immigrant Services Program assists those who have been granted the status of refugee by the State Department. LSS staff members speak over 20 languages to accommodate the refugees and help them learn about the American culture. This program’s goal is to help them become economically self-sufficient.
In April, 16 refugees went through their program. Rieley said they have arrangements with apartment complexes, and employers to help get them on the right track.
“These are highly motivated people and we work with them for up to five years,” he said. “We support them financially for 90 days and help them find a job or help them receive proper education.
“As they develop skills within those five years, we will help them find better paying jobs and better homes.”
LSS also offers an AIDS Care and Education (ACE) Program to help those who are HIV-positive or living with AIDS. LSS helps the individuals with anything from health care to basic living skills.
Another program is the Representative Payee Program. LSS is the only agency that manages Social Security checks for people who are not capable of spending their money the correct way. Some reasons why people are in the Payee Program is because they could be too old, suffer from a mental illness or substance abuse.
Their fourth and probably their most recognizable program is the Second Harvest Food Bank. The warehouse full of everything from produce to Gatorade to bread, is located on the corner of Jessie and Haines streets. Right now they are distributing about 7.5 million pounds of food a year, but the need is about 14 million pounds of food a year. That is a goal the Food Bank is striving to reach, said Director Patrick Colley.
Anywhere between 60-70 volunteers come in to help sort the food and make sure the food hasn’t gone bad.
Colley said the shelves can be full in the morning and by the afternoon, they are almost empty. The shelves look like grocery store shelves, and it is important that there is a variety of food.
“When you are receiving food assistance, you don’t want to feel like you are receiving food assistance,” Colley said about having a wide variety of food. “You want to sit down and have a nice meal.”
A new program that Rieley and LSS are looking into is having international adoptions.
“There isn’t an agency in this area that does that, so we are taking a closer look at starting it here,” he said.