Our Stories
The Umbrella Story
A few years ago, South Puget Sound District Director Trudy Sorensen was blessed to walk with a stranger who reminded her of the work of Lutheran Community Services Northwest in the South Sound. Trudy had just left work and she could already see the stranger down the...
‘A Family Place’ Expands to Reach more Children
LCS Northwest has been keeping Yamhill County’s vulnerable children safe and families together since 2013 through our A Family Place relief nurseries. The first nursery opened in McMinnville in 2013, followed three years later by a second one in Newberg. We are now...
Black Lives Matter at LCS Northwest
Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Northwest condemns the murder of George Floyd and police bruitality. We are committed to not only dismantling systems of oppression, but also providing healing and opportunity. We recognize the pain of friends, families and the Black...
Coalition Works with Oregon Legislature to Extend Refugee Services
A collaborative effort led by faith-based organizations, including LCS Northwest, and community leaders convinced the Oregon Legislative Assembly to invest in refugees. The legislature funded services that connect refugees with needed resources to rebuild their lives...
Adoption Dream Comes True for Refugee Youth
Barbara and Jeremy Tantrum became a licensed foster home in 2009. Parents to a toddler and guardian to an Ethiopian teen, they wanted to foster a refugee or immigrant youth through LCS Northwest. In January 2010, the Tantrums learned from us that six Congolese...
Helping Children by Using Their Language
Play is the natural language of children. Young children learn exceptionally fast through observation and interaction. They acquire language by engaging with adults and children before they can speak. Play, however, isn’t learned; children are hard-wired for play....
Seniors Learn to Connect in Pandemic
During a time of increased isolation, seniors like Kattie Payne and her husband, John, are finding new and safe ways to connect in the digital space. “Maybe this form of connection is another way that’s being opened up for all of us who deal with Alzheimer’s disease,...
