Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

10/07/2026

📣 Free Training Opportunity for Direct Service Professionals!

Join LSS Financial Counseling for a free, two-day workshop to learn how to incorporate financial training into your work. With this training, you will be able to support individuals in building budgeting and savings, credit improvement and debt management skills.

Four Cornerstones of Financial Wellness Train-the-Trainer
Oct. 21-22, 2026 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | St. Paul

➡️ Learn more: https://financialcounseling.lssmn.org/for-organizations/train-trainer
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LSS Financial Counseling is grateful for the generous funding from the Affinity Plus Foundation in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines to offer this training for free.

10/01/2026

Whether you're a caregiver for a veteran or a veteran caring for someone else, LSS Caregiver Support & Respite is here for you.

Caregivers are encouraged to participate in Caregiver Respite Care, where they can take time for themselves while their loved one enjoys:
- Friendly companionship
- Activities like playing card or conversation
- Gentle outings in the community

➡️ Call 844.577.2673 or visit lssmn.org/core to learn more and get started.

09/29/2026

If you are near Fargo and are interested in learning more about local services for older adults and caregivers, join us on October 22! That day, the LSS Rural Aging Action Network Service will host the Older Adults Resource Fair. Attendance is free and no registration is required.

📅 Oct. 22, 2026 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | 📍 Fargo, North Dakota

➡️ Learn more: https://www.lssmn.org/services/older-adults/lss-rural-aging-action-network

This collaborative community event focuses on connecting older adults, caregivers, providers and community organizations to valuable aging and caregiver resources. The event will feature:
- Vendors that provide healthcare, caregiver, housing, nutrition and transportation services
- Networking opportunities
- An interactive workshop: Caring with Confidence: Tools and Support for Caregivers

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Thank you to AARP North Dakota, Greater Minnesota Community Services and Sanford Health for being event sponsors.

09/28/2026

Grief and loss can have lifelong implications on mental well-being, especially when it happens at a young age. An LSS Behavioral Health therapist, like Patricia, is available to support people with experiences like these.

Patricia is a certified grief counselor with LSS. She has spent the past decade supporting youth, and in recent years, working with youth and young adults who have experienced adoption and foster care.

“Grief and caregiver loss are the areas of behavioral health I’m most drawn to,” says Patricia. “Having lived experience in grief at a young age helps me understand what the people I serve are going through. I enjoy sharing creative approaches that give individuals the tools to support themselves beyond our time together.”

Patricia works with individuals of all ages in her Twin Cities office and via Telehealth.

➡ To make an appointment with Patricia or another therapist, call 888.881.8261

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See comments for more about our approach to behavior health and our behavioral health services.

09/25/2026

Staying connected, getting help with errands and having reliable transportation make a big difference for older adults. Senior Companion volunteers in North Dakota help make that possible every day. These volunteers, age 55 and older, share their time and talents — enhancing the lives of older adults to assist them in staying active, healthy and remaining independent.

We’re grateful to the Hillsboro Community Foundation and the Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota Foundation, Inc. for grant awards that help us strengthen support for older adults across North Dakota. Thank you! The grant awards will be used to reimburse volunteers for their travel while volunteering.

09/23/2026

“I feel like I am part of the family.”

That’s what Michael said when asked about his experience as an individual supported through LSS Host Homes. His host home providers, Mike and Jen, expressed a similar sentiment. “From day one, Michael has felt like he belonged here,” they said. “He fits so well with our family and our farm life.”

LSS Host Homes offers a nurturing, supportive, family-style living option for people with identified needs who are looking to gain skills and independence. In Michael’s case, this has meant having a welcoming home where he can work on projects in the shop and go fishing just down the road – all with nearby support from Mike and Jen.

LSS Host Homes has helped build a successful living situation for Michael and his host home family. If you would enjoy supporting a person like Michael, consider becoming a Host Homes provider for someone in your community!

➡ Learn more about LSS Host Homes and becoming a provider:

A nurturing and supportive Host Home provider offers a healthy and fulfilling family living environment for individuals with identified needs.

09/22/2026

At Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s Camp Knutson, every experience is about creating connection and belonging.

"Whether someone joins us for a summer camp, a family project or a retreat, we want every person who comes here to leave feeling seen, supported and connected,” says Jared, senior director of Camp Knutson. “That’s what continues to make Camp Knutson so meaningful and why this mission matters so much to all of us."

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LSS MN Deaf Mentor Family Services

09/21/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Celebration for Changing Lives and to everyone who donated online! Together, we have raised more than $1.4 million for LSS services that inspire hope, change lives and build community across our state.

We’re incredibly grateful to our LSS community for your support!

A special thank you to our gala event sponsors:
LutherAuto
Felhaber Larson
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
Thrivent
True Link Financial
And many more!

09/20/2026

LSS is full of gratitude after this evening’s Celebration for Changing Lives gala. We are thankful for everyone who joined us at The Depot in Minneapolis. Tonight was an incredible show of generosity, care and support.

We’ve also had numerous donations come from people online, and we appreciate knowing that our community outside the walls of this event is just as passionate about LSS' work as those we gathered with in person.

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➡ If you have not yet had the opportunity to make your gift, please consider giving now: www.lssmn.org/celebration/give.

09/18/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to connect with others? Become a Neighbor to Neighbor Companion volunteer!

As a Neighbor to Neighbor Companion, you'll spend time with older adults to offer companionship, practical support and a friendly presence. Volunteers may help with correspondence, simple household tasks, transportation — and most importantly — creating connections that help older adults stay engaged and independent.

Stipends are available.
➡️ Call 877.540.9443 or visit lssmn.org/volunteer/neighbortoneighbor to learn more.