About Lutheran Social Services
Our Mission
Our mission is, “Motivated and guided by the compassion of Christ, we serve and care for people in need.” We have grown tremendously in the more than 30 years of service to the First Coast community and have a reputation for providing innovative, effective and credible programs within the community.
Our History
Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida was incorporated in 1979 by a consortium of Lutheran churches and Jacksonville community leaders. The first program was the Nourishment Network, a small food pantry which has now grown to become the only food bank in this region – Second Harvest North Florida.
Besides feeding the hungry, LSS provides services to the most needy in our community through a wide array of programs. In the fall of 1980, the Refugee and Immigration Services program was created in response to the influx of Southeast Asian refugees into the Jacksonville area. This program has expanded over the years to include resettlement services, employment assistance, adjustment services, educational assistance and translation services.
The ACE Program (AIDS Care and Education) was created in 1992 to provide assistance to people and families living with AIDS through case management, counseling support and information dissemination.
The next program added was Representative Payee Services, which was implemented in 1995 after the Social Security Administration and the Florida Department of Children and Families approached LSS to help with the management of fiscal affairs for people receiving Social Security and disability entitlements.
The latest program addition is The Sharing Place Thrift Store, which opened for business in January 2008.