"Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota expresses the love of Christ for all people through service that inspires hope, changes lives, and builds community."

LSS Disaster Services
Following a major domestic disaster, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) works together with the national office of Lutheran Disaster Response to bring help, hope and healing to disaster survivors and their caregivers. Lutheran Disaster Response is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

In Minnesota, LSS coordinates volunteers, contributions and resources from Lutheran congregations, and other Minnesotans who wish to help minister and care for the needs of children, families and elderly who have been affected by natural or human-caused disasters.

Current Updates:

July 9, 2010

We want to thank everyone for their support and assistance in the days following the June 17 tornado that ripped through several regions of Minnesota. Hardest hit was the Wadena community in northwestern Minnesota.

Currently, a local, long-term recovery committee has been established to help neighbors in Wadena and Otter Tail counties to rebuild their homes and lives. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota will be providing case management to help families in their recovery.

We know that many families are underinsured and displaced, including homeowners and renters. We also know that recovery takes a very long time. Families will need lots of support to rebuild their lives in the months to come. Some families have not only lost their homes, but all of their belongings as well. Because schools were affected, teachers also lost all of their supplies and will need help replenishing what they need to start their fall season.

If you can help with a financial contribution to assist in our recovery work, your generosity will be very much appreciated. You can give online at www.lssmn.org or send your contribution to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, 2485 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, memo: Minnesota Tornadoes.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and generosity. Minnesotans look out for their neighbors and we are so grateful.

June 23, 2010

Minnesota Tornado Disaster

On June 17, what appears to be an unprecedented number of tornadoes in Minnesota touched down in many regions of our state, causing three deaths, hundreds of injuries and wide scale damage. Our hearts go out to these families and communities.

While assessments are still underway, reports indicate that hundreds of homes, along with churches, schools and businesses, have had extensive damage with some structures completely destroyed in Wadena, Freeborn, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Faribault, Winona and Steele counties. Wadena was among the areas hardest hit by this devastation.

Lutheran Social Service, with help from Lutheran Disaster Response, is on the ground in Wadena right now registering, equipping and sending volunteers into neighborhoods to help families.

Volunteers are needed this week, Wednesday through Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.to help families remove debris, rake yards, chainsaw trees, and assist with general cleanup efforts. Volunteers should pre-register by calling 211 from a landline or 800-543-7709 from a cell phone. Groups larger than 15 are required to pre-register by calling 211. No volunteers will be needed on Sunday, June 27.

Volunteers should wear work clothes and sturdy gloves and bring shovels, rakes and brooms. They meet in Wadena at the Pamida Parking Lot, 801 Jefferson Street North, located a half mile north of highways U.S. 71 and U.S.10.

We know from many years of experience that volunteers not only provide valuable physical help, but they also offer families great comfort by simply showing up and letting them know that they are not alone in this disaster.

We also know that recovery takes a very long time. Families will need lots of support to rebuild their homes and lives in the months to come. If you can help with a financial contribution to our recovery work, your generosity is so much appreciated. You can give online at www.lssmn.org or send your contribution to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, 2485 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, memo: Minnesota Tornadoes.

We watch out for our neighbors in times like this. On behalf of the families we will serve, thank you for all you can do to help our neighbors now. Please visit us again for updates on relief efforts.

January 15, 2010

Helping in Haiti

Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti affected by the devastating 7.0 earthquake on January 12 that struck near Port-au-Prince, the region’s capital where two million people live. Thousands are feared to have died in the disaster. The ELCA is already at work responding to this disaster. Here is an excerpt from ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson’s statement regarding assistance in Haiti:

“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America already is responding through the Lutheran World Federation’s Haiti Program. Given the devastation caused by this earthquake, the ELCA has committed an initial $250,000 from ELCA International Disaster Response for Haiti and has authorized an additional $500,000 as congregations respond both to the immediate needs and long-term rebuilding efforts.

We give thanks to God that LWF staff escaped injury from the earthquake. We also give thanks that we have trusted and effective partners on the ground in Haiti who already are at work helping earthquake survivors. The ELCA is the largest regular supporter of the LWF’s program in Haiti, which helps communities escape the deep poverty in which so many Haitians live. Since staff is already in place, no precious time will be lost in shaping an effective response. The work of providing food and shelter and in helping people to rebuild their lives is under way”.

If you are looking for opportunities to travel to Haiti and assist personally in the recovery efforts there, or wish to make a financial donation to support relief efforts, please visit the Lutheran World Federation’s website at www.lutheranworld.org/.

Again, our prayers go out to the citizens of Haiti and relief workers already on the ground, serving in incredibly difficult conditions.