News

July 2020 News

Friday
Jul 17

A new partnership in Wright County is helping support families who may not have anywhere to turn. The county is now working with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota to provide its Crisis Nursery, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

“There’s a lot of need in the area,” said Kate Hengy-Gretz, the crisis nursery facilitator for LSS.

Wright County has operated a crisis nursery since 1992. In the fall, however, the organization running the program was unable to continue doing so because budgetary limitations. 

June 2020 News

Tuesday
Jun 9

COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of our world, but one thing it hasn’t changed is that there are children in need of loving homes.

There are more than 900 children in Minnesota’s foster care system who are waiting to be placed with adoptive families. The pandemic hasn't changed the need for foster families, but it has changed how state and private adoption agencies are currently operating.

Wednesday
Jun 3

Many residents in Minneapolis, impacted by grocery store closures, damage to businesses, job loss and transportation challenges need help with basic needs.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) will be organizing a collection of basic needs on Thursday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Center for Changing Lives, 2400 Park Avenue South in Minneapolis.

Tuesday
Jun 2

45 Million Americans are in the process of paying off mountains of student loan debt.

But financial experts say the COVID-19 pandemic provides many with a unique opportunity.

According to the Institute of College Access and Success, Americans have compiled $1.6 trillion in student debt.

But many who have college loans recently got some good news when the CARES Act was signed in March. 

Those with federal student loans would be granted forbearance.

May 2020 News

Saturday
May 16

Through a new federal grant that is part of the CARES Act, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is now able to provide older Minnesotans ages 60+ two meals a day, seven days a week through its LSS Meals service – up from one daily meal.

Since the start of the pandemic, Lutheran Social Service has experienced a dramatic increase in meals requested. More than 120,000 meals have been served since mid-March, an increase of 30 percent over the same period last year.

Thursday
May 14

Kris Hanson will lead new efforts in Duluth to find and support caring foster parents for children who are unable to remain safely in their homes as a Therapeutic Foster Care Coordinator for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Hanson, a former foster parent, fostered children while also raising her own children.

On an average day, there were approximately 9,300 children and young adults in care last year, primarily due to parental drug abuse and child neglect, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.