Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI)

Fictive kin* foster parent, Sharron, talks about going into “mom mode” while balancing kids’ activities, age differences, travel, and running her own daycare. Melissa goes on location to showcase our incredible foster parents on “Coffee Break with Melissa youtu.be/riygeH0iLSA

Our next Compassion on Tap happy-hour fundraiser is Tuesday, May 19 from 6-9pm at Demo Brewing Company in Chicago. LSSI’s Associate Board is raising money to host a family-fun day for our foster families across the city. All are welcome (21+)! TICKETS ⬇️ lssi.org/about-us/event…

Join LSSI when @theChicagoStars of the @NWSL host @NWSLBoston on Saturday 4/25 at 5:30pm in Evanston. A portion of ticket sales benefit LSSI programs if you use the link below. Let’s pack the stands, raise awareness & make this match a night to remember! gofevo.com/event/Lutheran…

Happy Easter from LSSI!

So many Easter baskets to share with our families who need them most! Many thanks to Cambridge Lutheran Church in Cambridge and First Lutheran Church in Geneseo for donating dozens of wonderful baskets to our office in Moline.

Teens are cool & they need homes too! There's a desperate need for foster parents willing to care for teens and siblings. Melissa taps into a wealth of foster care knowledge from Chris Hawes who celebrates 24 years at LSSI. Ep 2.6 Coffee Break with Melissa youtu.be/qlqE_JIJaBk

Good Shepherd Sunday is nearly here and resources for your congregation are now available to download at bit.ly/LSSIGSS. We’re grateful for all of our partners on the schedule this month and next!

For the cost of a monthly subscription, you can make a lifetime impact on the people we serve. It’s easy to join The Inspired: LSSI’s Monthly Giving Program! Just go to lssi.org/giving/monthly…

Our Easter baskets are overflowing thanks to Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale! Their annual “Book in a Basket” project provided an incredible 103 baskets for families served by our Children’s Community Services office in Marion.

Time is running out! You have until Tuesday, March 31 to designate your 2025 @Thrivent Choice Dollars to LSSI and support the 62,000 people we serve across Illinois. Simply click here bit.ly/4bWrS3e or call 800.847.4836 and say "Thrivent Choice."

We always have so much fun checking in with our valued partners during @NISynod Congregational Resource Event at Sauk Valley CC-Dixon. We loved meeting donors from Faith LC in Rochelle and First LC in Freeport, as well as co-leading a workshop w/ Katlyn from St. Barnabas in Cary.

There’s still time to celebrate your congregation’s partnership with LSSI and schedule a Good Shepherd Sunday during the Easter season. Check out some of our scheduled visits below or see the link for more details bit.ly/LSSIGSS

A little sleet and snow could not stop our delivery of wonderful Easter baskets from Peace Lutheran Church of Lake Zurich to our hardworking Intact staff in Blue Island. Thanks for supporting our Intact Family Services, which help families stay together. bit.ly/3AKjFzt

One of the many ways we bring healing, justice, and wholeness to people and communities is through collaboration with other organizations. Read about our partnership with St. Cyprian's Ecumenical Food Pantry at Chicago’s @uiflc in our latest newsletter. bit.ly/421SWcY

LSSI Program Development Project Manager Adrienne presented a workshop on mental health at Metropolitan Chicago Synod (@ELCA) Lay Leadership Day. She emphasized congregations can be a "trusted first listener" for those experiencing mental health challenges bit.ly/42sCdzO

You can support foster care in so many ways beyond being a foster parent. First Lutheran Church in Rock Island, provides homemade frozen meals for foster families whenever they need them. Watch episode 2.5 of Coffee Break with Melissa youtu.be/Ajz5l2BLMOA

We love to see our schedule filling up for Good Shepherd Sunday! Next month we’ll be at Bethany/Batavia, Bethlehem/St. Charles, Good Shepherd/Oak Park, Grace/Springfield, Our Saviour's/Arlington Heights, St. John’s/Bloomington, St. John's/Springfield & Trinity/Evanston

To celebrate World Social Work Day & National Social Work Month, we talk to our Chief Operating Officer about her start with the organization in 1994, how social work prepared her for senior leadership, and why the profession of social work is so important youtu.be/iLM_Z5sKDxk

We recently visited Pastor Tom and the congregation at St. John Lutheran Church in Peru, for an LSSI Sunday. Thank you for the hospitality, as well as donating to our Holiday Hope Chest and giving hand-made quilts to children in foster care served by our office in Nachusa.

Thank you to the incredible volunteers from St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary, for hosting bingo night at Gable Point Senior Housing in Crystal Lake. Our residents look forward to it every month!