LSS in the News

CEO thanks donors for their generosity

June 30, 2011

MA tornado victims no longer homeless

I write to you today in gratitude: 455 of you generous people have donated a total of $63,667 to assist the LSS refugee families who are victims of the devastating June 1 tornado. You responded with immediacy and compassion to the compounded suffering of families who had already been uprooted in their past lives. Thank you!

Tomorrow will be July 1 - one month since the tornado that displaced these families. To you and me, one month doesn't seem so long.

To the refugee families left homeless by the tornado, however, one month has seemed like years: long hours of boredom and anxiety about finding a new home.

I am happy to tell you that, one by one, we have found housing for all 40 families who are LSS refugee clients. This has been a mighty effort by our LSS staff! As you can imagine, the list of displaced families in Western Mass. is staggering, and the competition for affordable housing continues to be fierce.

Yet - with your help -- we have kept our promise to find safe lodging for each and every individual in our care so that they can resume their pursuit of the American dream of independence and self-sufficiency.

Your gifts have been used to support this effort of relocation, to provide new homes for homeless people!

Now, these families begin again: their needs are for new household goods - furniture, pots and pans, sheet and towels - to replace that which was lost.

We at LSS will continue to update you. And once again, I thank you for your help in this time of great need.

In Service Together,

Heather

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Heather Feltman

CEO/President
Lutheran Social Services
888 Worcester Street, Suite 160
Wellesley, MA 02482

www.LSSNE.org

HELP MA TORNADO VICTIMS

P.S. Just one more thing! As FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has assisted all of the residents in Central Mass. who were left homeless by the tornado, they have continually called upon LSS for expert help in translating for non-English speaking clients. So LSS has filled another and unforeseen need.