A Message from Dr. David Anderson, Executive Director
People who volunteer with LYDIA say that the hours they spend interacting with our kids, or serving as a Safe Family, or sharing the ministry with their church are incredibly rewarding. Their contribution of time and talent benefits the ministry immeasurably.

As LYDIA continues to grow, we need more volunteers than ever. Would you consider being part of what God is doing at LYDIA through volunteering your time in one of the following areas?

• Serving as a Safe Families volunteer 
• Hosting group activities for kids in the Residential Treatment Center (perfect for small groups or church families) 
• Serving as a church liaison 
• Helping plan our Benefit Gala in December

This is a great opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of those in need! To learn more, please contact Erica Postma by or call (773) 736-1447, ext. 249.

Lastly, did you know that Safe Families was featured on Chicago’s ABC7 News in January? Reporter Harry Porterfield featured Safe Families as part of his "Someone You Should Know" segment. To watch the clip, click here.

Changing Lives Through Employment
What a difference a year makes. Last spring, Katherine Santos was skipping school to get high with her friends. Today, she is excelling academically at LYDIA Urban Academy (LUA) and working part-time at a real estate office downtown!

Katherine’s job is made possible through a new work-study program at LUA, and it’s motivating her to work toward a career. “I don’t even think about using drugs and alcohol anymore, because that will get in the way of my goals,” she says. “Now I want to go to college and become a first- or second-grade teacher.”

The work-study program is designed to help students just like Katherine gain valuable work experience and also contribute toward the cost of their tuition. We currently have only three placements in Chicago and would like to establish 20 more. Do you, or someone you know, have an entry-level position that could be filled by a LYDIA student? LUA prepares students for employment through a course that emphasizes a strong work ethic and explains the expectations of the business world.

This could be a great opportunity to benefit your company and invest in the life of a student. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Gina Olsen by or call (773) 736-1447, ext. 311. 

Safe Families Continues to Grow
Many thanks to Harvest Bible Chapel, which recently highlighted LYDIA’s Safe Families ministry during services at all four of its campuses! The church leadership has set a goal of recruiting 100 volunteer families, and we are grateful for their partnership.

Safe Families provides parents and children with a safety net of support in the midst of personal crises such as illness and domestic violence. Our more than 270 volunteer families simply take in the children, without any financial compensation, for as long as is needed. That sometimes means just a few days, although some placements last up to a year.

This month, thanks in large part to your financial support, we are launching the ministry in Rockford and Indianapolis. Additional volunteer families are needed to help us meet the demand in these communities and in Chicago. For more information and to learn about training, please  or call (773) 736-1447. To support the ministry financially through our secured, online site, click here. Thank you!

Salem Ranch Horse Auction
Salem Ranch invites you and your family to its Annual Horse Auction on Saturday, April 12! The day’s events include a horse auction featuring Arabians and other breeds, a live auction with hundreds of items, a bake sale, picnic lunch and many other family-oriented activities. All proceeds will benefit Salem Ranch, a boarding school that helps troubled boys through teaching, counseling, Bible study, an equestrian program and vocational training.

Your help is needed to make this event a success! If you have items to donate to the auction, are available to serve as a volunteer or would like to become a financial sponsor, please contact Jo Simmons at (815) 796-4561, ext. 121. Salem Ranch is located in Flanagan, Ill., 30 miles north of Bloomington/Normal and 90 miles south of Chicago.