Lutheran Services in Iowa

A big thank you to Businessolver for an incredible week! 🌟 We are truly grateful for your time and collaborative efforts with LSI.
What a fantastic way to conclude the solver service trip with LSI - with a celebration and lots of pizza.

Day 3 with Businessolver!

We were thrilled to continue to host volunteers from Businessolver for a special day at our LSI Global Greens farm! Together, we explored our beautiful farm and gardens, and we also participated in a very touching garden memorial.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our mission and contribute to our vibrant community. Your dedication helps us continue growing and nurturing both our farm and the families we serve.

Here’s to more wonderful partnerships and shared moments in our journey toward a sustainable future! 🌿🤝

Day 2 with Businessolver:
Team members from Businessolver shopping for
Immigrant families.

Day 2 with Businessolver:
Team members from Businessolver, LSI staff, and Ka HSA families are working together to create a beautiful memorial garden at the LSI Des Moines campus in honor of Ka Hsa . 🌿✨

Day 1 with Businesssolver

Group 1: Shopping for in-kind items for apartment set up for new families 🛒

Group 2: Getting ready for Ka Hsa memorial garden 💐🪷

Celebrate International Friendship Day with us!💚See how LSI is fostering connections and building communities!

We had an incredible time at the Lutheran Church of Hope’s Taste of Hope event in Des Moines! 🌟 The delicious food and wonderful company made for a truly memorable evening. A huge thank you to everyone who made it so special! 🍽️✨

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Today is International Self-Care Day! The term “self-care” is a popular buzzword, especially in North America. We asked Sarah Van Gorp, a therapist at LSI who works with immigrants and refugees, what self-care looks like in other cultures.

“While self-care in the U.S. context focuses on individual practices, self-care within many communities we work with focuses on community and family care - not isolation. People are expected to care for each other, receiving care from others when they need it. Wellness involves connecting with cultural traditions, religious practices (prayer, meditation, music, healing, holidays) and cultural food practices. People can also practice some type of communal or habitual exercise, movement, or being in nature. Sometimes people find wellness in a type of cleansing practice – cleansing of their home or themselves.”

How do you practice self-care? How might your practices be similar to those of other cultures?

There's another farmers market in Des Moines!! Have you heard of LSI Global Greens? 🥬🥕

"Now in its 10th year, and sponsored by the Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), Global Greens helps immigrants and former refugees build small businesses through farming. The program provides land access at a farm in West Des Moines (where the produce is “Certified Naturally Grown”), plus business development assistance and technical support. Some graduates of the program now rent urban farms in other areas of the Des Moines metro."

A Farmers' Market Without the Frenzy No crowds, no Kettle Corn, and plenty of parking—Global Greens Farmers Market makes it easy to buy fresh, locally grown produce directly from farmers.

A team that plays together, hopefully, stays together. Our CEO, Renee Hardman, was proud to conclude a two-day Leadership Retreat with VPs and Directors. They worked out together, bowled together, visited with our National President, and of course had two days of visioning about our future for our 160-year-old organization serving thousands of Iowans.

Lutheran Services in Iowa is hosting FREE ongoing virtual prenatal classes available to anyone across Iowa.

The first round of virtual classes take place in August (8th, 22nd, and 28th) at either 1:00pm or 8:00pm depending on the day and topic. If you have any questions, please contact Lutheran Services in Iowa.

To register, complete the link: https://bit.ly/3LqsaBo

Voting together!

There was joy, laughter, hugs, smiles, music, and food — lots and lots of food. Why? Sunday, July 14 was national voting day for the Rwandan diaspora. At LSI and around the world, Rwandans gathered to cast their vote for their country's next president and parliament members.

LSI was selected to serve as one of the 17 regional polling sites in the USA. Hundreds of Rwandan families from six midwestern states drove up to 12 hours round trip to LSI’s Des Moines campus to participate in their country's official election.

“I am proud that LSI was invited to serve international democracy in this way,” said Renee Hardman, LSI President & CEO. “Voting is a basic human right and aligns with our mission of care and compassion. My heart is full!”

LSI serves children and families in all 99 counties in Iowa, with thanks to a broad base of generous private and public sources of funding. You can join us! https://lsiowa.org/give/

Check out the LSI Global Greens farmer's market Saturdays from 9 a.m. -12:30 at 1907 Carpenter Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314!

In observance of the 4th of July, all LSI offices are closed today. We wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

If you grill it, they will come! 🇺🇸 🍔

We had a great Fourth of July celebration on our Des Moines campus. Happy (almost) Fourth to all!

Did you know LSI has a farmer's market? Check out the LSI Global Greens market on Saturdays from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m.

The 4th of July is coming up! 🇺🇸

Test your knowledge of U.S. facts with our mini U.S. Citizenship test.

Take the test: https://ow.ly/GzXl50Sr84Y

Individuals studying to take their U.S. Citizenship test study 100 possible questions. On the day of the test, 10 questions are randomly selected. Participants must answer 6 of the 10 questions correctly to pass.

How did you do on the test?

We were SO Inspired by Dr. Dau Jok's keynote address at our Empower event! Thank you, Dr. Jok, for sharing your story of coming to Iowa from South Sudan.

We are honored to be dedicated to helping people like you make a new home in Iowa.

We Are Iowa Local 5 News stopped by to interview LSI at Des Moines World Refugee Day.

Sara Hilgenberg, LSI Refugee Education Coordinator, encouraged community members to learn more about our refugee neighbors including their culture, stories, and important contributions to Iowa.

Thanks, We Are Iowa, for taking the time to interview our team! Check out the interview here:

Des Moines community comes together to celebrate World Refugee Day Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen also proclaimed June 20th as World Refugee Day.Subscribe to Local 5 on YouTube: https://bit.ly/Local5YouTube_subscribe Add Lo...

We had an incredible time at Des Moines World Refugee Day this Saturday hosted by Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa. What a great day full of delicious food, exciting performances, and wonderful connections.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn how we’re making a difference in the refugee community. We’re proud to partner with so many impactful community organizations working to welcome our newest neighbors.

Due to flooding, LSI’s Spencer office located at 605 Grand Avenue, Suites 309-314 will be closed until further notice. Therapy clients requiring immediate assistance may contact our central intake team at 1-888-457-4692 to arrange therapy appointments by telehealth.

Our hearts are with staff, clients, and all in northwest Iowa affected by flooding.

We’re so excited to announce a current LSI team member and former refugee, Patrick Karemera, is now a U.S. citizen! What a great way to celebrate World Refugee Day!

Patrick came to the U.S. from the Democratic Republic of Congo about five years ago as a winner of the Diversity Visa lottery. In October 2019, Patrick was hired as an administrative assistant at LSI where he quickly became popular with guests, volunteers, and staff due to his friendly smile, cheerful demeanor, and love for helping others.

At the end of 2021, as LSI started to bring its resettlement program back to Des Moines to support the incoming families from Afghanistan, Patrick was hired as one of the first resettlement caseworkers, a role he still holds today.

We are so proud of Patrick and all he has accomplished personally and professionally here at LSI. Congratulations Patrick!

Summer is here, and our Host Homes community is buzzing with excitement! 🏡✨ Whether it's camping, splashing in the pool, or enjoying BBQs with friends, our host homes mentors and mentees are making unforgettable memories together.

Through our LSI Host Homes program, we believe in creating a warm, supportive environment where everyone can thrive and feel like family. This summer, we're celebrating the joy, laughter, and connections that make our community so special.

Today is World Refugee Day. This international holiday honors those who have been forced to flee their home country and celebrates those working to help refugees create a new life away from home.

We know refugees often feel powerless. At LSI, we strive to empower those displaced families to reach for a new dream in Iowa. Our Immigrant and Refugee Community Services works to resettle refugees safely in Iowa, equips them with the tools and education needed to thrive in the U.S., and supports them every step of the way.

🌟✨ Celebrating Juneteenth with a heart full of joy and pride! 🌟✨

Today marks a special milestone for the Burundian Iowans Association (BIA) and our community at LSI. We're thrilled to announce that Bizimana Charles has officially received the keys to a tractor, marking the culmination of a journey filled with partnership, determination, and empowerment.

Over the past two years, LSI has had the privilege to stand alongside BIA as they navigated challenges and triumphs to secure funding and resources. Through our collaboration and the support of incredible partners like JustFund Farm and Food Justice fund, Farm Commons, Drake University Law Center, and local insurance agents, we've overcome barriers and enabled BIA to take full ownership of this tractor.

"We are proud of you and are so happy for this day to come," shared Zac Couture, LSI Land and Production Supervisor. "This tractor will empower you to expand your efforts, cultivate more crops, and shape a brighter future."

Renee Hardman, LSI President & CEO, added, "We are honored to have been part of this journey with BIA. This tractor represents more than machinery; it symbolizes resilience, community strength, and the power of collaboration."

For Bizimana Charles and the entire BIA community, this day signifies newfound independence and opportunities ahead. "Having this tractor will make our activities easier and give us more time to plan and grow," expressed a grateful representative from BIA. "Thank you to everyone at LSI for your unwavering support and belief in our vision."

As we celebrate Juneteenth, let's reflect on the spirit of empowerment and unity that drives us forward.