Voices of VU: Meg Finley, Lutheran Settlement House

Lutheran Settlement House is on a mission to empower individuals, families and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational and advocacy services. Established in 1902, LSH has committed to serving Philadelphians by providing food access, housing, senior, education and domestic violence survivor services.

This month’s VU partner spotlight is Meg Finley. Meg is the Senior Services and Nutrition Director who oversees the senior center and nutrition programming. Learn more about Meg below!

Tell us about Lutheran Settlement House and how you got involved with them. 

Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) is a multi-service non-profit on the border of Fishtown and Kensington. LSH has been serving the community since 1902 through various programs, adapting and responding to the needs of the community at the time. Currently, we offer domestic violence counseling and prevention programs, a family shelter in North Philly, a food pantry, family caregiver counseling, and a senior community center.  Our mission is to build a support system and community for individuals in crisis so that folks can have the stability that everyone deserves and to be able to focus on the things that really matter to them.

I got to know LSH through my work at United Way about seven years ago.  I loved the holistic and human-centered approach that LSH takes to working with folks, with the ability to address multiple challenges through the various programs. I loved LSH’s work so much that when the senior services and nutrition program director role opened up, I was excited at the prospect of working for LSH, and with the older adults and Kensington/Fishtown community as a whole.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your time at LSH?

Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work with members of our senior community center, community members through the food pantry and community events, and caregivers of older adults. The most rewarding part is seeing the connections that folks build with each other through our programs and for the connections that I have made as well.  Hearing about how participants in the computer class now hang out outside of LSH, or a pantry volunteer chatting with a senior community center member about how their family is doing, is a little bit of daily proof that our programs are working!

Has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted LSH and the need for your services to the community?

COVID has definitely impacted LSH’s programs in the way we offer them, how much we are doing, and what we are offering. COVID abruptly stopped in-person programming on March 12, 2020. On March 16, 2020, we started delivering meals and produce to our senior center members and started offering all of our counseling services virtually.  

Here in the senior services and nutrition department, we were not able to have the senior community center open for in-person activities or meals, couldn’t provide in-home caregiver counseling, and had to rapidly ramp up our food pantry to accommodate a huge influx of people coming in for food and food donations. Many individuals who were coming to get food had never been in a position of needing a food pantry before, which can be really scary. Our main goal here was/is to make LSH a friendly, unintimidating, and non-intrusive place where asking for help is celebrated.  We don’t require any form of ID or income information. A year and a half later, the food pantry continues to be a high need. We distribute an average of 20,000 lbs of food a month, which is twice as much as we did before COVID. That’s over 500 pantry visits every month.  

There was also a higher need for counseling services both with domestic violence survivors and caregivers. Many domestic violence survivors who had received counseling from LSH in the past were in need of counseling again, as many were trapped at home with their abusive partner.  Caregivers also experience increased stress and depression as many caregivers were not only caring for their older loved one, but also children in virtual school and fewer external supports and relief.  

 With the Holidays coming up, how does that affect LSH? (Please feel free to add a call for volunteers for the Holiday season!)

The holidays are a busy time at LSH. Our food pantry distributes nearly 300 Thanksgiving food baskets to families in the community and clients across our programs. The senior community center holds special events, such as a cookie decorating party and holiday themed bingo. The family shelter offers special meals to residents and activities for the kids, including a visit from Santa. And domestic violence has a gift-wrapping party where donors sponsor a family by purchasing gifts from their holiday wish lists for the survivors to wrap and give to their children to make the holiday extra special.  

If you are interested in volunteering, our greatest need for volunteers is with our Thanksgiving basket distribution Monday, November 15 through Friday, November 19 from 9am to 3pm. We also can use help with our food pantry and free farm stand year round Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm. You can sign up to volunteer for a volunteer shift here!

What is your favorite part of Philly to explore?

This is so hard! I love how every neighborhood has its own vibe and I love to switch it up. During the holidays, I love checking out Christmas Village at LOVE Park and City Hall, but prefer to take off a day and go during work hours when it is not crowded. But as a relatively recent transplant to South Philly, I enjoy exploring East Passyunk. There always seems to be something going on or some new place to check out. I could also say the same for Baltimore Ave, Chinatown, or Fishtown (shameless plug for LSH!) – there are just too many good choices!

What has been your go-to meal/local restaurant for the colder weather?

It's a toss up between Good Spoon Soupery in Fishtown and Charlie was a sinner in Center City. Good Spoon has amazing seasonal soups all year round, but their curried red lentil with coconut rice on a chilly day? Can’t beat it. And Charlie was a sinner has the best and a big selection of hot cocktails, and everything on their menu is mouthwatering. Plus, it’s all vegan. If I could live there, I would.

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Thank you to Meg and the LSH crew for your work in the community. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership!