_{Dear Friend,}

_{For generations, Lutherans have been guided by a simple but powerful calling: to welcome the stranger. At Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), this call continues to shape our work every day.} 

_{LSSNCA continues to serve nearly 4,500 refugees from Afghanistan, Colombia, Eritrea, and Ukraine, who are rebuilding their lives in our communities. Our services span a continuum of care — from providing safe, caring homes for unaccompanied children to offering employment support, education, wellness programs, and immigration legal services. Each of these programs represents more than assistance; they are pathways to belonging, stability, and hope.} 

_{Yet we must acknowledge a difficult truth: the work of welcome has changed. Policies are increasingly restricting the ability of people fleeing violence and persecution to seek safety in the United States, while protections for many who have already arrived are being limited or reconsidered. Many families rebuilding their lives here now face renewed uncertainty.} 

_{We see this uncertainty not as an abstract issue, but directly in the lives of the people we serve.} 

_{During an Iftar gathering this past Ramadan, a client approached me — visibly shaken. He had already gone through vetting, an interview, and had a green card application pending. In his hands was a notice to appear for an immigration re-interview just days away. His voice trembled as he shared his fear: everything he had built here — his safety, his future, his new baby — felt at risk.} 

_{This happened on a Sunday, and within hours, our legal team connected with him. They listened to his fears, reassured him, and began preparing him for what lay ahead. Over the next few days, they spent hours walking him through the process, helping him find steadiness in the midst of uncertainty. When Wednesday came, they stood with him at his interview, which lasted three long hours.} 

_{His case is still pending. The outcome is not yet known. But what is certain is this: he did not face that moment alone.} 

_{This is what it means to endure with purpose.} 

_{This message of endurance is also at the heart of our Spring Campaign. We know that this year has asked much of you — our supporters, partners, and community. Your generosity has already sustained so much of our work. If you are able, we invite you to consider making a gift through our Spring Campaign to help ensure our mission continues.}

We endure because the need endures. 



We endure because the call to welcome and serve endures. 

And most importantly, we endure with purpose — grounded in our faith, our values, and our belief that communities are stronger when every neighbor has the opportunity to thrive. 

Thank you for your continued support for the work of welcome.  

With gratitude, 

Chief Executive Officer

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

When Farid arrived in the United States from Afghanistan in August 2024, the path before him was full of uncertainty and possibility. But he was not alone. Staff from Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) were ready to guide him and his family through every step of the transition.

LSSNCA is excited to welcome Monique Perry as Vice President for Institutional Advancement. With 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, she will help drive fundraising, strengthen sustainability, and expand community impact. Read our full statement here: LSSNCA Welcomes Monique Perry, VP, Institutional Advancement.

LSSNCA legal team joined Project Stay — part of the D.C. KinCare Alliance — to provide free legal consultations at the Festival Center in Adams Morgan (Washington, D.C.). 



Project Stay supports immigrant parents in planning for their children to remain safely in the United States with a trusted caregiver, and we were proud to help families prepare for their future.

LSSNCA’s employment team, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), and World Relief (WR) — and with representatives from the Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA) and the Governor’s Office, hosted a job fair in Greenbelt — bringing together over 70 job seekers and six employers. The event led to several on-the-spot hires, and many more interviews scheduled — providing employment opportunities for refugee communities.

LSSNCA distributed toys, diapers, and non-perishable food, along with other essential items to 205 individuals through two distribution events this month at our Greenbelt office and Resource Center (in Alexandria).  

We are grateful to St. John’s Church, whose community donated over 200 toys and enrichment items, and everyone who made these two events possible.

Donate: Your support today will help us reach our $50,000 Spring Campaign goal. 
    

Advocate: Join our partners at Refugee Council USA in denouncing discriminatory arrest, detention, and re-screening of resettled refugees.

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