Help Support Ukrainian Refugees
Due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, many Ukrainians have fled their home country in search of safety. The federal government is currently working to expand and develop new programs with a focus on welcoming Ukrainians who have family members in the United States. This is a fluid situation, so please check back periodically for updates.
To sponsor a Ukrainian Refugee, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website or visit welcome.us for more information.
What you can do TODAY!
Monetary Donation
Make a cash donation here: https://lfsneb.scalefunder.com/cfund/
OR
mail a check made out to Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, 124 S. 24th St. Suite 230 Omaha, NE 68102.
Volunteer
If you are interested in assisting refugees by giving your time and talents, we are looking for individuals and groups who are interested. You may visit our volunteer website at https://lfsneb.volunteerhub.com/ to fill out a volunteer profile and learn more about the volunteer assignments we offer. If you have more questions, please call Holly Kaffenberger, Director of Volunteer Services, hkaffenberger@lfsneb.org; 402-657-7258.
Potential Employment Opportunities
If you, your company, or someone you know would have jobs available for our arriving refugees, please contact Carol Tucker, Business Services & Outreach Coordinator, ctucker@lfsneb.org; 402-536-3518.
Donate Items From Our Amazon Wish List
Amazon Wish List: www.lfsneb.org/lfsamazon
Order requested items and they will be sent to LFS.
Furniture/Household Items
Please be sure to view our list of approved items and sign up today for a designated drop-off time.
- Donation Drop Off – Thank you for your interest in donating essential items for refugees in Nebraska! Unfortunately, we are not able to pick items up. Here you will find all items that we accept, items we cannot accept, and the sign-up sheet to drop off items in Omaha or Lincoln.
Accepted items
- Furniture in good repair
- Couches
- Living room chairs
- Coffee tables
- End tables
- Dresser/Wardrobe
- Dining room table and chairs
Household goods
- Kitchenware
- Silverware sets
- Dish sets
- Pots/pans
- Mixing bowls/serving bowls
- Kitchen utensils
- Can openers
- Rice cookers
- Pressure cookers
- Toaster
- Blenders
- Kettle/water cooker
- Coffee maker
- Ovenware
Bathrooms, Bedrooms & Household Supplies
- Shower Curtain/curtain rods
- Bathmats
- Mop and Broom
- Light Bulbs
- Trash bags
- Tool kits
- New linens, towels, bedsheets, and blankets
- Hygiene items
- Cleaning Supplies
- Baby Supplies
Items we cannot accept
- Clothing – We do NOT accept clothing donation
- Used towels, linens, and bedding – We can only accept and distribute these items if they are new
- XL furniture – Many of our clients live in apartments and smaller houses that do not have space for large furniture. Additionally, we need to be able to easily move furniture so anything that is too heavy for two people to carry we cannot accept
- Used mattresses and bedframes We can only accept and distribute new mattresses and bed frames
- Used car seats and boosters We can only accept these items new to ensure the safety of all our clients
- Anything that is broken, missing hardware, or in poor condition
In Omaha, sign up to drop off donations HERE!
In Lincoln, sign up to drop off your donations HERE!
We are not able to pick up donated items. Donated items should be in good shape to serve and last a family for a while until they are fully on their feet.
When you partner with Lutheran Family Services, you share your gifts and abilities to help those less fortunate. Please consider volunteering your time, sharing your expertise, becoming a prayer partner, or making a financial gift.
Other ways to support LFS include:
- Providing child supervision for our Centers for Healthy Families’ Nurturing Parent Program classes
- Mentoring or sponsoring a refugee family
- Assisting staff at LFS community events and fundraising activities
- Helping with our Foster Care Closet and boutiques at our Centers for Healthy Families
- Mentoring newly-arrived refugees facing numerous challenges in transitioning to life in the United States
- Helping refugee gardeners in the Global Roots program as they grow food for their families and food to sell at farmers’ markets
These are just some of the activities and areas which provide rewarding volunteer experiences!
We are pleased to announce that we have returned to in-person events, programs, and services at all locations across Nebraska and in Pottawattamie County, IA. For the health and safety of our volunteers, staff, and communities, we follow CDC guidelines. If you have specific questions about volunteer opportunities for any LFS program or location, please contact our Director of Volunteer Services, Holly Kaffenberger at Hkaffenberger@lfsneb.org or call 531.444.3433.
Become a Corporate Impact Partner
Corporate Impact Partners and Event Sponsors ensure the growth and sustainability of vital programs that make a real impact on the lives of people who are most vulnerable. Philanthropy at its finest is greater than making a single financial gift; it lifts those in need and strengthens communities for generations to come.
Become an integral part of our mission to bring safety, hope and well-being to all people.
For more information about becoming a Corporate Impact Partner or to sponsor an LFS event, email or call Lisa Shkolnick, Director of Development at lshkolnick@lfsneb.org or 402.214.7278.
Child Supervision
Centers for Healthy Families: We are always in need of child supervision at our Centers for Healthy Families in North Omaha, Fremont and Council Bluffs. Caring for young children and infants and opportunity to interact through quality play in a childcare setting while their parents participate in LFS parenting program activities.
Post Adoption Support Groups: Volunteers are needed to care for children while parents and guardianship parents of adopted children attend a Right Turn® support group. This position allows parents to attend support group and have the peace of mind their children are being well taken care of.
Meetings are held once a month at Nebraska Children’s Home Society at 4939 S. 118th St. in Omaha, and 4700 Valley Rd in Lincoln.
To begin the volunteer application process, please click here to complete an application.
The Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska with Fremont Family Friends create and restore safe and happy childhoods.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska opened the Building Families Boutique (now the Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families®) in 2007—on the same Fremont site where LFS was founded in 1892. The Center focuses on early intervention, healthy parenting education and support of struggling families with children under age five, plus expectant mothers. The Center serves hundred of parents and children annually.
This innovative human care programming is designed to help children and their parents in many ways, but with one goal: each child shall be nurtured, secure and prepared to succeed in learning and in life.
By joining Fremont Family Friends, you can help in many ways, including with:
- “Fremont Family Friends Dinner” – Annual fundraising event to raise awareness and support for the critical work done at the Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families®.
- Advisory Council – An opportunity to get involved and give input at quarterly meetings with the program coordinator to discuss various outreach and program needs.
- Sara’s Boutique – Gather diapers, seasonal clothing, and other baby supplies for Sara’s Boutique, either individually or in a “giving circle.”
- Childcare -Read to and play with children in the Center while their parents participate in classes. Staff supervision is provided and day and evening opportunities are available.
- Pat on the Back – Reward struggling parents who have worked hard to better their family within our Centers for Healthy Families®.
- Share Your Skill – Read to children, help with scrapbooking or teach a budgeting class. Whatever your skill is, we can help you share it with those who want to learn.
Internships and Practicums
LFS offers internships and practicums through our various programs that include both clinical and non-clinical opportunities. Submit an application here and send a cover letter detailing your areas of interest and internship requirements to hkaffenberger@lfsneb.org.
Thank you for your interest in employment with Lutheran Family Services!
Serve on the LFS Board of Directors
We are honored that you are interested in serving as a board member on the Lutheran Family Services Board of Directors.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska has a mission to express God’s love for all people by providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family and community life. Directors guide the organization’s policy direction in an effort to ensure that we accomplish our mission.
Thank you for considering Board of Directors involvement, and for the personal time and energy that you will be putting into this important aspect of building a stronger Board and thus a stronger community.
In our sincere effort to successfully recruit a qualified and diverse slate of candidates, we have developed a comprehensive selection process. The process includes the following six steps:
STEP 1: All interested parties should carefully review the Board Member Commitment Form to self-assess their qualifications and their realistic view of the time commitment that Board service will require.
STEP 2: Each candidate should then complete the electronic application in full. All applications must be received electronically. You will need the following to complete your application:
- Prior board experience
- Three references
- Volunteer experience
- Resume to upload
STEP 3: The Governance Committee will carefully review and assess all applications and will select candidates for further consideration.
STEP 4: The Governance Committee will select a group of candidates for in-person interviews.
STEP 5: The Governance Committee will select the finalist pool for full Board consideration.
STEP 6: The Board elects the new Directors at its third-quarter Board meeting to serve an initial three-year term, beginning January 1.
Apply today.
Questions? Please fill out the form below and someone will reach out to you.
