Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota's mission statement is, "Guided by God's love and grace, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota brings healing, help and hope." New American Services is one of nineteen programs at LSS of ND. We help provide resettlement for refugees from around the world to Grand Forks, ND.

Description:
The Grand Forks office is a satelite office of the Fargo Program Center. I am a one person office and as a result, without volunteers, I could not sucessfully resettle refugees. Volunteers are vital in all aspects of resettleemnt. Together we secure and set up the new apartment, welcome the new arrivals at the airport and take them to their new home. We help them with English tutoring, enroll the children into school, help learn to ride the city bus, help them find employment, help navigate their medical appointments, help them set up a checking account, learn how to budget, and befriend them in their new lives here in Grand Forks. Our ultimate goal is to help the new refugee become responsible US citizens.

History:
Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota has been resettling refugees since the 1940's. After WWII, LSS of ND resettled persons from Germany displaced by the war. Then in the 1970's they resettled persons from Vietnam after that war. In the 1990's we were resettling Bosnians, and now Africans from the countries of Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Burundi are coming to Grand Forks to start a new and better life. They are getting a second chance for themselves and their families. How very lucky they are to be able to come to the US from war torn countries and United Nations refugee camps and how blessed we are to be able to meet and befriend these wonderful people. They come with great hope and work very hard to have a piece of that big American dream.

Contact people:

Dawne Barwin, Program Coordinator, (701) 772-8552, (email) Sinisa Milovanovic, Program Director, (701) 235-7341, (email) Darci Asche, Special Projects Manager, (701) 235-7341, (email)

Office fax number: (701) 772-8552

Address:

1001 24th Avenue South Grand Forks, ND 58201 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.lssnd.org

Directions:

My office is at Zion United Methodist Church. My office door is located on the south side of the building. There is a LSS of ND sign on the south door, come in that door, up the stairs. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: CAT bus line #10 ?, 1 minute minute walk