Lutheran Social Services of Northern California

Provides compassionate, caring, nonsectarian services to people in need. Programs in Bay Area include transitional housing, supported housing services, individual counseling, money management services for people, disaster relief, homeless support.

How do you help people in my community?

LSS provides services through seven program sites in Northern California and maintains Area Offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, the East Bay, and Santa Clara County. In the event of natural disasters, LSS provides assistance throughout Northern California wherever it may be needed.

Why do you need my support?

Individuals gift are essential to the continued operation and expansion of LSS programs. Without support from individuals, we cannot continue to operate. Even though LSS receives funding through City, County, and Federal contracts, those contracts never fully cover the costs of providing the services offered. Some of our program receive no contractual funding at all and rely entirely upon gifts and grants from individuals and foundations. Many new programs can only be established after significant support from individual donors has been generated for seed money to get the program up and running. Our ability to provide new services -- and to maintain existing programs – is directly linked to support from individuals.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

LSS is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, which accredits social and mental health service agencies in North America. As an accredited agency, LSS has demonstrated that has effective management, is fiscally sound, designs its programs to meet the community needs, monitors and evaluates service quality on a continual basis, and has qualified staff and safe and accessible facilities. In fiscal year 1999, fundraising and management costs combined amounted to only seven percent of the agency’s expenditures. Annual reports as well as a detailed independent, audited financial reports are available upon request.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Because most of our services involve clinical work and special training, it is difficult to accept programmatic volunteers. However, there are ways in which individuals and groups can volunteer. LSS operates three resale boutiques that generate significant program resources for the agency. Volunteers in many capacities are always welcome at these stores located in Sacramento, Walnut Creek, and San Jose. In addition, church groups provide the volunteer base for our Friendship Banquet program in the East Bay, which provides home-cooked meals for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families at monthly gatherings for food and fellowship. To find out more about how you can help contact our administrative office at 415-474-8400 or by e-mail at lssrpavich@aol.com, and we can direct you to the appropriate coordinator for your area.