Tory Merhar, who joined Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota in 2016 as the Senior Director of Partners in Community Supports (PICS), has recently stepped into the new role of Senior Operations Director.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Host Homes, a service that empowers people with disabilities to lead independent lives in community while receiving support in a family home.
Host Homes matches people with disabilities with individuals or families who provide personalized support in their homes.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is seeking volunteers in North Dakota for its Senior Companion service, in partnership with AmeriCorps Seniors, a national service agency, to offer friendship and support to older adults in the community. Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota a 156-year-old organization assumed operations of the Senior Companion service in North Dakota February 1, 2021, assuring that essential support through this service continued for older adults. Senior Companion volunteers are age 55 and older and visit older adults weekly, providing friendship, offering encouragement, sharing their time and talents, assisting with errands, grocery shopping and transportation to appointments to support older adults in remaining healthy and independent.
With the fall school season upon us, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) is seeking volunteers statewide for its Foster Grandparent service to offer guidance and encouragement to children and youth in the community. Foster Grandparent volunteers are older adults who traditionally offer one-to-one mentoring in the classroom and other settings to children and youth who may be experiencing academic or social challenges.
It started as a question. When committee members who have overseen construction of a commercial kitchen at Zion Lutheran Church talk about the project, they say it all started with a question about food service needs at Kids of the Kingdom, the child care center based at the church.
Heidi Wiste, a longtime adoption expert, became president of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota (Children’s Home) on August 19. She was also named associate vice president for Adoption and Foster Care at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS). The two organizations have been partners in Adoption Services since 2012. “It is an incredible honor to step into this role and lead the Adoption Programs at Children’s Home and LSS,” Wiste said. “I am fueled by my passion for this work, the energy of our incredible adoption team and our collective commitment to our mission to help all children thrive.
Four years ago, members at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield started to dream about transforming their kitchen and nearby gathering space into a place that could prepare healthy and delicious meals, build community and foster intergenerational relationships at the same time. When Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) learned about their plans, they also started to dream how the two organizations could work together. The statewide nonprofit, through its LSS Meals services, prepares and distributes meals for older adults through community sites, home delivery and frozen shipped meals. With common goals of service, the two faith-based organizations decided they were a perfect match and are teaming up in a new partnership to open a Community Bistro Dining Site whose kitchen began meal preparation on August 16.
Alexis Oberdorfer has been named Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s first Vice President and Chief Officer of Community Engagement and Partnerships. Previously, she served dual roles as President of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota and Associate Vice President for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. In this new role, Oberdorfer will lead Lutheran Social Service in partnering with other organizations and community leaders to advance new innovations and enterprises that build healthier and more sustainable communities that improve people’s lives.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES, suspended payments for all federally held student loans. Interest rates on all federal student loans also were reduced to zero. This pause was extended several times.
Now, after three years of suspended interest and payments, interest started to accrue again on September 1, 2023, and payments will restart in October 2023. Borrowers will receive advanced notice on the specific date of their next payment.
On a living room wall in Ron and Jane Brown's St. Cloud home, a decal bears witness to a sentiment the couple has been living out for more than four decades:
"Children deepen the heart of a home."
And on the side of a Little Free Library in front of their home are the words "Every child is a story yet to be told."
