Profitable Ventures

To find out more about the sevices LSSCO provides in central Ohio and throughout the state, log in to PowerPhilanthropy to view their portrait.

For most of us, the hum of lawn machinery is a welcome sign of summer. For a group of male clients at the Fairfield County Emergency Shelter, it's also a new beginning.

In 2008, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio (LSSCO) founded Fairhaven Lawn Care, a for-profit business in Lancaster. Fairhaven, the first social enterprise venture for LSSCO, provides job opportunities for clients of the shelter who have fallen on hard times, hoping to get them back on their feet and prepare them to re-enter the job force.

“Lutheran Social Services has always been able to adapt to community needs. With this program, we were looking to do something a little more innovative,” said Leslie Poole, president of Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio.

LSSCO utilizes the social enterprise concept by combining a job opportunity with an educational component—teaching workers about important issues concerning fiscal literacy, professionalism, job skill development, and self esteem. Last year, six employees were hired from the shelter.

A $25,000 grant from The Columbus Foundation helped support the social enterprise initiative, including hiring director of social enterprise, Joe DeLoss, to oversee this program. In addition to the lawn-care business, LSSCO is in the process of developing a catering business that is planned for central Ohio. This business, which has yet to be named, will employ clients of Faith Mission in downtown Columbus, and offer box lunches to businesses and organizations. This venture is scheduled to open for business in fall 2009.

“As case managers are working with clients to move them out of the shelter and into permanent housing, we’ll be working to move them into permanent employment,” Ms. Poole said.

Hear more about these innovative programs from Leslie Poole, president of Lutheran Social Services of Southern Ohio.