Finding New Ways To Help More People

For Over 60 Years And Counting

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) is the result of a 2011 affiliation between two social ministry organizations, Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA) and Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas (LFS). Before these two organizations joined forces, LSA offered services for seniors, including retirement living, nursing care, assisted living, and adult day services, while LFS provided family services, including foster care, residential services for adults, disaster response services, refugee resettlement, veterans’ services, and adoption.

Today, as Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC), they continue to serve these groups with an expanded catalog of services. In addition, LSC has added programs that benefit other segments of the population that are often underserved. These services include the following:

  • Disaster response
  • A New Americans Program for those forced to flee their home country
  • Residential services for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or brain injuries
  • Transitional housing

A Rich History Of Serving Others

Click the arrows to scroll through our history.

1888

North and South Carolina Lutherans join with three other synods to establish the Lutheran Orphanage of the South in Salem, Virginia. The effort followed a wave of faith-based efforts to reach out to widows and orphans of the U.S. Civil War.

1930s

The Salem orphanage expands its campus and assumes the name Lutheran Children’s Home of the South. During the Great Depression, 144 children reside there.

1960

North Carolina Lutheran Homes is established by the NC Synod to meet the needs of older adults and in 1962 opens its first ministry, Lutheran Home Hickory. Its second ministry, Lutheran Home Albemarle would open in 1971 followed by Lutheran Home Salisbury in 1976.

The synods begin to withdraw support from the Children’s Home in an effort to establish programs for children in their own territories.

1972

Lutheran Social Ministry Agency of Greater Columbia, SC launches a children’s ministry.

1974

While continuing its support of the Lutheran Children’s Home, an NC Synod study commission recommends pursuing an affiliated children’s services program in NC. In 1976, the board of Lutheran Children’s Home establishes an NC Division and the first Lutheran Family Services (LFS) office is set up in the basement of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC.

1978

North Carolina Lutheran Homes and St. Andrews and Bethany Lutheran Churches cooperate to build and administer Lutherhaus, a federally-subsidized apartment complex for low-income and handicapped individuals in Hickory. The complex opens in 1980.

1979

LFS begins working with Lutheran churches in North Carolina to resettle the Montagnards, a process that continues for many years.

1981

The North Carolina Synod opened a division of the Children’s Home in Raleigh, N.C., in 1976 for the purpose of developing services for families and children in North Carolina. Articles of Incorporation for Lutheran Family Services were filed September 15, 1980.

1986

The NC Synod approves broadening the nursing home ministry. North Carolina Lutheran Homes is renamed Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA).

1987

LFS is accredited by the Council on Accreditation, and the agency’s services expand to include foster care and refugee and immigration services.

1991

The NC and SC Synods approve creation of Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas to renew the social ministry partnership between the two states.

LSA opens Crescent View Retirement Community, a rental retirement community in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Arden.

1993

Trinity Oaks Retirement Community opens in Salisbury. With Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks, the campus becomes the ministry’s first continuing care retirement community.

1994

An adult day care operation in Salisbury comes under the LSA umbrella and is renamed Abundant Living Adult Day Care.

1997

In March, complete union is achieved when Lutheran Social Services of Central South Carolina joins forces with Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas.

2000

The new Lutheran Home – Hickory opens. Included in the new building is Shepherd House, a special area for Alzheimer’s care. In 2001, Dogwood Gardens, an assisted living facility, is erected on the site of the old Lutheran Home – Hickory.

2001

Lutheran Home – Hickory West and Lutheran Home – Winston-Salem become part of LSA through a lease-purchase agreement. The homes are purchased in 2006.

2005

LSA purchases a building at 1416 South Boundary Street, Salisbury and in 2007, both LSA Management and Abundant Living Adult Day Services move into the renovated space.

2007

Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks opens the Virginia Casey Center, dedicated to the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and memory impairment.

2008

The purchase of Elms at Tanglewood, an assisted living residence serving elders in Clemmons, North Carolina, is completed at the end of 2008.

2009

LSA begins providing geriatric care management services on a contract basis in limited areas of the state.

2010

LSA kicks off its $5,000,000 Keeping the Promise capital campaign to help support the construction of four nursing homes (Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Hickory, and Clemmons), major renovations at existing homes, and the creation of a comprehensive program of at-home and community based services.

After years of effort to establish services for seniors in New Hanover County, construction begins on Trinity Grove, a 100-bed contemporary neighborhood-style skilled care nursing home in Wilmington. It is completed in June 2011.

2011

Construction begins on Trinity Glen, a skilled care nursing home that will replace 117 of the Lutheran Home Winston-Salem beds. The home is completed in June of 2012. Trinity Elms in Clemmons will replace the other 110 Lutheran Home beds in 2014.

After a yearlong effort and with the blessing of the NC and SC Synods, LSA and LFS become affiliate social ministries. They will continue to operate as separate corporations with separate boards that are made up of the same individuals.

LSC enters partnership with Searstone.

LSC joins NC PACE Program as partner members: PACE @ Home.

2012

In June of 2012, LSA and LFS unite their ministries under the name Lutheran Services Carolinas. The introduction of the new name also includes new names for the Lutheran Homes: Lutheran Home Hickory becomes Trinity Village, Lutheran Home Albemarle becomes Trinity Place, and Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks becomes simply Trinity Oaks.

Trinity Glen, the replacement home for Lutheran Home Winston-Salem, opens and hundreds of community volunteers participate in transferring residents to their new home.

LSC expands its community-based services by launching its own geriatric care management program.

LSC joins NC PACE program as partner members: Senior TLC.

2013

Trinity Ridge, the replacement home for Lutheran Home Hickory West, is completed and hundreds of staff members and volunteers join together to transfer residents to their new home.

2014

Trinity Elms health and rehab opens in Clemmons, N.C.

2016

The Building Independence project, a partnership between LSC, Habitat for Humanity, and The Serving Cup, completes the building of three homes for developmentally disabled adults in Raleigh.

2018

Independent living apartments open on the campus of Trinity Elms in Clemmons.

2019

Trinity Landing, a senior living community in Wilmington, breaks ground.

Partnership with Tsali Care Center, a skilled care facility, to provide support services.

2020

LSC joins two NC PACE programs as partner members: PACE of the Triad and PACE of the Southern Piedmont. LSC also opened a new group home in Durham, Moretz Manor, to serve those with traumatic brain injuries.

LSC acquires an affordable housing project: Dallas High School Apartments.

2021

2021 LSC opened Kinard Manor, an addiction recovery program for women, located in Greenwood, SC. LSC also rebranded its refugee and immigrant services program to LSC New Americans Program.

2022

2022 LSC welcomed the first residents to Trinity Landing, opened WeCo Cottage (collegiate recovery home), established Trinity Recovery, and expanded its New Americans Program to Greenville and Charleston in South Carolina and Asheville in North Carolina.

Aston Park, a skilled nursing facility in Asheville, becomes part of LSC.

GlenFlora, a skilled nursing facility in Lumberton, becomes part of LSC.

2023

2023 LSC opened New Americans offices in Salisbury, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC, launched New Americans Immigration Program and Day Services for Youth Program in Columbia, SC. LSC also broke ground on independent living apartments at Trinity Village and expanded Trinity Recovery into an additional four counties.

Our Vision

The vision of Lutheran Services Carolinas is to fulfill the proclamation of Christ in John 10:10,
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Our Mission

Empowered by Christ, we walk together with all we serve.

Core Values

In 2012, LSC employees identified six core values or principles that define the culture and the character of the
organization and are fundamental in fulfilling the LSC mission. In 2021, LSC added a seventh value: Justice.

Bringing together the skills and knowledge of many individuals broadens perspective and improves decision making. Collaboration fosters an atmosphere of trust and cooperation while enriching the workplace and the LSC organization.

Compassion is at the foundation of the LSC ministry. To be compassionate is to recognize the hurt or unhappiness of another and act to change it. LSC employees work in a compassionate manner to improve the lives of all they serve.

Any job worth doing is worth doing well. LSC employees strive for excellence and encourage it in others. Employees seek out opportunities for personal growth and development and encourage others to do so as well.

Many employees choose to work at LSC because the desire to serve is intrinsic to their faith; they feel called to love and to serve. LSC employees strive to be content and joyful in their work and to create an atmosphere of support and forgiveness.

LSC employees work responsibly, honestly, and in a transparent manner. There is an expectation of honesty at all levels of the organization. LSC promotes a just culture, where employees feel comfortable voicing concerns, seeking help, or admitting failures.

God calls us to “Do Justice,” to be in a right relationship with God and with each other. Every person should live free of bias, favoritism, and discrimination. The people of LSC will work to create a just culture throughout the organization and in all the communities we serve.

LSC strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, and differences are accepted and enjoyed. LSC employees embrace the gifts of all and recognize the worth of each person.

The LSC Way

Holding Ourselves To The
Highest Standard

The LSC Way is a customer service program created by and for the teammates of Lutheran Services Carolinas. The LSC Way aligns the mission, vision, and values of LSC and puts them into real-world practice as we serve our communities.

The LSC Way emphasizes that we truly walk together with all we serve by observing the following principles:

  • Lead By Example
  • Serve Joyfully
  • Communicate Consistently
  • Welcome All
  • Abundant Living
  • You are the key

The LSC Way is our North Star in terms of how we treat our clients and each other each and every day.

Where We Serve

Help is never too far away

To ensure we are walking alongside as many people as possible, LSC has a healthy presence throughout North and South Carolina. If you are interested in one or more of the services we provide, please contact the LSC location nearest you.

North and South Carolina
LSC Administrative Office
1416 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Salisbury, NC 28145
Trinity Living Center
1416-A S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Salisbury, NC 28144

On-site health services and enrichment for older adults during the day.

Trinity At Home
820 Klumac Rd, Salisbury, NC 28144

Personal care and support services that allow older adults to stay comfortably in their own homes.

Trinity Oaks (Independent Living)
728 Klumac Rd. Salisbury, NC 28144

Independent living apartments, cottages, and assisted living residences.

Trinity Oaks (Health and Rehab)
820 Klumac Rd. Salisbury, NC 28144

Rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and specialized memory care.

LSC New Americans Program Salisbury Office
201 W. Council St., Salisbury NC 28144

Refugee resettlement

LSC Raleigh Office

Child and family services, refugee resettlement.

LSC ACTT Team
891 Willow Dr., Suite 2 Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Assertive Community Treatment Team. Mental health services in Orange, Person, or Chatham Counties.

Green Level Apartments
Cary, NC

Adult residential service.

Raynor Street Apartments
Durham, NC

Adult residential service.

Whittecar Home
Raleigh, NC

Adult residential service.

Building Independence
Raleigh, NC

Adult residential service.

Moretz Manor
Durham, NC

Traumatic brain injury residential service.

Trinity Elms (Assisted Living)
3750 Harper Rd. Clemmons, NC 27012

Assisted living and specialized memory care.

Trinity Elms (Health and Rehab)
7449 Fair Oaks Dr. Clemmons, NC 27012

Skilled nursing care and rehabilitation.

Trinity Elms (Independent Living Apartments)
7543 Fair Oaks Dr. Clemmons, NC 27012

Rental model independent living apartments for those 62 and older.

Wilson Smith Cottage
Winston-Salem, NC

Adult residential service.

Trinity Glen
849 Waterworks Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Rehabilitation and skilled nursing care.

Lippard Lodge
Clemmons, NC

Adult residential service.

Mountain Ridge Group Home
Gastonia, NC

Adult residential service.

Dallas High School Apartments
300 W. Church St., Dallas, NC 28034

Affordable housing for those 62 and older or 55 and older if disabled.

Trinity Ridge
2140 Medical Park Dr. Hickory, NC 28602

Skilled nursing care and rehabilitation.

Trinity Village
1265 21st St. NE, Hickory, NC 28601

Rehabilitation, skilled nursing, assisted living, and specialized memory care.

Trinity View
2533 Hendersonville Rd. Arden, NC 28704

Independent and assisted living rental apartments.

Aston Park
380 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
LSC New Americans Program Asheville Office
10 N. Liberty St., Asheville, NC 28801

Refugee resettlement & Transitional Living for Young Adults

LSC Columbia Office
1118 Union St. Columbia, SC 29201

Child and family services, refugee resettlement.

Trinity Recovery
1927 Marion St., Columbia SC 29201

Child & Family Services.

WeCo Cottage
West Columbia, SC

Collegiate recovery home

LSC New Americans Program Columbia Office
Day Services for Youth Program
LSC Transitional Foster Care for Unaccompanied Children
GlenFlora
5701 Fayetteville Rd, Lumberton, NC 28360

Rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and specialized memory care.

Child & Family Services
12 N. 6th St., Wilmington, NC 28401

Intensive Alternative Family Treatment (IAFT), foster care, and therapeutic foster care.

Trinity Grove
631 Junction Creek Dr. Wilmington, NC 28409

Rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and specialized memory care.

Trinity Landing
5215 Junction Park Circle, Suite 102 Wilmington, NC 28412

Independent living on Wilmington’s Intracoastal Waterway, complete in 2021.

LSC New Americans Program Myrtle Beach Office
1551 21st Ave. N., Suite 21, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
LSC New Americans Program Charleston Office
1520 Remount Road, North Charleston, SC 29406
LSC New Americans Program Greenville Office
421 N. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601

Child and family services, refugee resettlement.

LSC New Americans Program Clemson Offfice (satellite)
111 Sloan St. Clemson, SC 29631

Refugee resettlement.

LSC New Americans Program Spartanburg Office (satellite)
415 S Pine St, Spartanburg, SC 29302

Refugee resettlement.

Trinity Place
24724 S Business 52, Albemarle, NC 28001

Rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and assisted living.

Kinard Manor
Greenwood, SC

An abstinence-base recovery program for women.

Our Team

Moving Forward, Always

LSC Leadership

Boards of Trustees

Though Lutheran Services for the Aging (LSA) and Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas (LFS) began operating under the name Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) in 2012, the organizations continue to be governed by separate Boards of Trustees. Each board is made up of the same individuals. This unique structure allows the needs of each entity to be evaluated within the framework of the entire organization. Both boards are comprised of community volunteers.
Membership & Accreditation

Lutheran Services
In America

Lutheran Services Carolinas is a member agency of Lutheran Services in America (LSA). Lutheran Services in America is a network of over 300 health and human services organizations that touches the lives of more than six million people annually through the work of Lutheran social ministry by serving communities and transforming lives.

The Council on Accreditation (COA) partners with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards. COA envisions excellence in the delivery of human services globally, resulting in the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Over 1500 organizations serving more than 7 million persons are currently either COA-accredited or engaged in the accreditation process. COA has the volunteer commitment of more than 1000 team leaders and peer reviewers. It is governed by a board of 34 trustees representing a wide variety of interests and perspectives.

Visit Website

Collaborations & Partnerships

Like Minded. Fully Committed

Lutheran Services Carolinas entered into a partnership in 2013 with Carolina Therapy Services to establish Trinity Rehab, a for-profit organization. Because half of Trinity Rehab is owned by LSC affiliate LSA Therapy, half of its profits are available to further the mission of LSC. Trinity Rehab provides speech, occupational, and physical therapy services to LSC senior services operations. The partnership gives LSC a more active role in the provision of those services.

Serving Cup, in Raleigh, NC, offers support to adults with disabilities including many LSC clients. One popular Serving Cup project is its Coffeehouse ministry, which offers adults with disabilities and their caregivers a place to enjoy entertainment and special events while connecting to local resources. The Serving Cup ministry was also key in the establishment of LSC’s Green Level Apartments, and Whittecar House, and has most recently partnered with LSC and Habitat for Humanity of Wake County on the Building Independence project, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Wake County, allowing them to live as independently as possible. For more about Serving Cup, click here.

Located in Cary, NC, SearStone defines itself as a “New Urbanist” community designed for those age 62 and “better.” The SearStone community continues to grow. As a SearStone sponsor, LSC partners with SearStone in directing a portion of the proceeds from this not-for-profit venture to benefit eldercare programs in the Triangle area.

For many years, the state of North Carolina has worked toward creating alternative housing options that could offer a home environment for every child. Rapid Resource for Families is a nonprofit organization created by Alexander Youth Network, Barium Springs Home for Children, Easter Seals UCP, and Lutheran Services Carolinas to help children transition from group homes to therapeutic foster care.

Located in Greensboro, NC

Located in Gastonia, NC; opened in January 2014.
Learn more by calling 704-874-0603 or by visiting Senior TLC on Facebook.

PACE is a Medicare program and Medicaid option for North Carolinians age 55 and over who are in need of skilled nursing care but wish to receive that care in their own homes. Lutheran Services Carolinas now collaborates in four North Carolina PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) initiatives:

PACE@Home

Located in Newton, NC

Perched on a hill at the edge of Lenoir-Rhyne University and next to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, sits Lutherhaus, a small apartment complex that has been serving low-income seniors and people with disabilities since 1981. Updated in 2008, the 50 pet-friendly 600-square-foot apartments feature walk-in closets, balconies, and safety-call systems. Call (828) 327-0393 to learn more.

The Lutheran Support Group of Gaston provides ongoing support for LSC in Gaston County, including support for Mountain Ridge, a group home for adults with developmental disabilities in Gastonia. This coalition of 15 Lutheran Churches helps with maintenance and upkeep of the home and offers hospitality to residents through their congregations.

Since its inception in 1939, Global Refuge has helped over 379,000 refugees build new lives in the United States largely due to its nationwide network of local resettlement partners like Lutheran Services Carolinas. Together with churches and community volunteers, refugees are receiving the support they need to find welcome and success in American communities.

LSC is the lead agency for Lutheran Disaster Response in North and South Carolina. LSC facilitates disaster preparedness and response services to congregations, families, and individuals through a two-state collaborative called Lutheran Disaster Coalition of the Carolinas (LDCC).