In the summer of 2008, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio (LSS) launched a social enterprise initiative. In its simplest form, a social enterprise is a business that is created to support or enhance an organization’s mission.

As an extension of our mission of “creating a better world by serving those in need,” we intend to create meaningful work experiences for residents of our homeless shelters. Our vision is to build an employment model that equips shelter residents with the necessary skill sets to live a more independent and satisfying life.  

As a requirement of employment in an LSS social enterprise venture, our Client Employees engage in a comprehensive, incentive-driven training curriculum called Fourward. The Fourward program is based around embedded, real-life experience in four areas: fiscal literacy, professionalism, job skill development and esteem building.

Fairhaven Lawn Care, our first social enterprise venture, is based out of the LSS of Southern Ohio office and employs clients of our Fairfield County Emergency Shelter and Fairhaven Place supportive housing program. Fairhaven Lawn Care provides a full spectrum of commercial lawn care services throughout southern and central Ohio.

Freshbox Catering, our second effort, is a boxed-lunch company where patrons enjoy a sandwich, chips, apple, pickle spear and chocolate-covered Oreo and contribute to social change. When you purchase a boxed lunch, you are supporting Faith Mission, as 100 percent of the proceeds support the shelter’s work-training program.  Through the program, clients will gain assistance in a number of employment fields, including interview preparation, fiscal literacy, computer skills, and customer service and argument mediation.  For more information or to place an order, visit www.freshboxcatering.com.

Further details on the social enterprise program’s development can be found by visiting our blog, Pioneering Lutheran Social Services. The blog’s intention is to engage community stakeholders in a conversation about the programs development, successes and shortcomings.

For more information, contact:

Joe DeLoss, Director of Social Enterprise

jdeloss@lssco.org

500 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Ste. 245

Worthington, OH 43085
(614) 228-5200


Or click here to request more information.