For Immediate Release 

Contact Martha Lindberg Mann  -  508-654-4290 or mmann@lssne.org

22 Refugee Families in West Springfield Left Homeless - Again

The Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of New England’s Services for New Americans (SNA) program in West Springfield was severely impacted by the tornado that ravaged the area June 1. Although the office at 593 Main Street was spared, many refugee families were not: 22 families lost there homes and several dozen families have been seriously affected. 

Eighty percent of the families left homeless in West Springfield are refugee clients of Lutheran Social Services. 

The families are temporarily sheltered by the Red Cross in the gym of the local Middle School. 

Three refugee families had lived in two triple decker homes on Union Street that were completely flattened by the 165 mph winds in the twister. 

LSS dedicated staff and volunteers are working hard to relocate these families and meet their other urgent and immediate needs.  Several homes in the neighborhood of our program were destroyed, and the area has been cordoned off.  LSS employees are not only helping our own clients but are walking the streets to render what aid they can to other victims. 

Our program temporarily lost all power, and communication were limited to cell phones. Power was restored about noon on Friday.

Sadly, one of the four people who died in the tornado was a former LSS client, a Russian gentleman who had remained in touch with our program and the Russian refugee community.

The Lutheran Social Services Foundationh as sent out an emergency appeal for donations to help these families, whose lives have been uprooted yet again.  Lutheran Disaster Response has made a $10,000 emergency donation.  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has issued a challenge grant of $1 for every $3 up to $15,000 raised by LSS for victims of the storm. If successful, the challenge will bring in at least $20,000 in additional aid. 

Please keep these affected families in your prayers and remember them with your gifts: http://gifts.lssne.org/Home.aspx

 
LSS Services for New Americans is the largest refugee resettlement program in Massachusetts, serving more than 800 individuals annually through offices in West Springfield, Westfield, and Worcester, Mass.