Lutheran Services in Iowa

11/28/2025

Zainab Farah, originally from Somalia, arrived in the U.S. with her family in 2013, seeking stability and opportunity after years of displacement.

In 2022, she and her husband became owners of Najah Grocery & Deli on University Avenue in Des Moines, naming it after the Somali word for “success.” The store quickly became a hub for African and Middle Eastern foods, offering grocery staples alongside a deli counter serving popular dishes like Somali sambusas and sautéed goat.

For Zainab, owning Najah fulfilled a dream of entrepreneurship and creating a place where African families feel at home while introducing others to new cuisine.

She first connected with Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), through the Community Navigator Pilot Program, attending business coaching sessions to grow her business. She then completed LSI’s Isavings match program (IDA), which helped her purchase a vehicle to transport products and better serve her customers.

Additionally, Zainab became an active vendor at the Global Greens International Market, where she built community connections and introduced her food to new audiences.

She eventually earned a spot at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, and continues to share Somali cuisine with a broader audience.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the LSI Leadership Team!

Today, we give thanks for the incredible people who make our work possible. To our dedicated employees, compassionate volunteers, churches, and generous supporters your commitment to serving Iowa’s children, families, and communities is the heart of our mission.

From all of us THANK YOU, and Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃💛

11/27/2025

Our Daily Services team celebrated Thanksgiving by preparing a full holiday meal for the clients and staff spending the day with us. Many of the dishes were lovingly homemade by supervisors on their own time. We’re grateful for a team that shows up with heart and makes sure everyone feels included during the holidays. 🧡🦃

Visit our website to learn more about Daily SCL: https://lsiowa.org/sfpd/daily/

11/26/2025

As we continue to celebrate LSI’s 160-year legacy, we’re grateful for community partners who help strengthen our mission.

Thank you, Katherine Harrington, President and CEO of West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, for your support and for the positive impact you bring to our community. Your leadership continues to inspire and uplift those around you.

11/26/2025

A huge thank-you to the IMT Insurance Personal Lines team for donating five Thanksgiving baskets to LSI families this week!

These baskets will support clients in Early Childhood, Services For People With Disabilities, Migrant Services, and Immigrant & Refugee Community Services.

We’re grateful for your generosity this holiday season! 🧡🦃

11/25/2025

We Made the News! 🌱✨

Big excitement to share — our brand-new greenhouse was featured in the local newspaper 🎉

The article celebrates our growing investment and the fresh opportunities this greenhouse brings to our team and community. We’re thrilled to see our hard work getting recognized and can’t wait for all the growth!

Lutheran Services in Iowa has purchased Dogpatch Urban Gardens to house a program that helps families learn about farming and entrepreneurship. See link below ⬇️ bit.ly/4rhU5an

11/25/2025

Last week, our Child Care Business Program Celebration brought together providers, partners, and community members who are helping transform child care access across Iowa.

We’re proud to support immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs as they take steps toward becoming registered child care providers, and we’re grateful to every partner who makes this meaningful work possible.

11/24/2025

In honor of LSI’s 160 years, we invited community leaders to share their wishes for this milestone.

Thank you, Deidre Williams, Fractional Talent Strategist with Williams & Associates, for sharing your expertise and for your ongoing support of our community. Your leadership continues to inspire positive change.

11/24/2025

Thank you to The Gazette for including LSI and several of our team members in this story about the urgent need for Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act. LSI is proud to have welcomed hundreds of our Afghan Allies to the state who are now contributing to our local communities!

https://www.thegazette.com/federal-government/we-owe-them-iowa-resettlement-leaders-tout-progress-urge-congress-to-act-as-trump-slashes-refuge/

11/24/2025

Thank you to everyone who made National Adoption Day so meaningful!

This past week, LSI teams were grateful to be part of the celebrations in Sioux City and Council Bluffs as families finalized adoptions and children found permanency.

From craft tables and activities to volunteers supporting families through their big day, we were honored to help create a welcoming and joyful space.

We’re so glad to have been part of these moments, and we hope the joy, love, and sense of belonging felt on Saturday rippled across Iowa. Congratulations to every child and family who said “yes” to forever. 💙✨

11/23/2025

Meet Paige, one of LSI’s newest mental health counselors serving the Spencer and Storm Lake communities! 💙

Paige is a temporarily licensed Mental Health Counselor offering in-person therapy for children, teens, and adults, as well as telehealth across Iowa. With over five years of experience supporting individuals through depression, anxiety, mood disorders, life transitions, and stress, Paige brings a calm, compassionate presence to her work.

Using a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach, she helps clients build skills for emotional regulation, coping, and personal growth—creating a personalized plan that supports healing and long-term well-being.

At LSI, Paige provides a supportive space for individuals to explore challenges and rediscover confidence. If you’d like to connect with Paige, click “learn more” to complete our intake form. We’re here to help you take the next step.

LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, a...

11/22/2025

Supportive Saturday 💚 | National Adoption Month + National Adoption Day

Today is National Adoption Day, making this Supportive Saturday extra special as we celebrate the families, youth, and professionals who help make safe, permanent homes possible across Iowa.

Throughout November, we’re honoring LSI team members whose compassion brings hope and healing to children and families.

Meet Tina Royer, RRTS Eastern Area Program Director — celebrating 31 years with LSI.

“I initially stayed at LSI because the flexibility was a lifesaver—especially with three young kids at home and a calendar full of soccer games, school events, and snack days. Over time, it’s the incredible relationships and mentorship from other long-haulers that kept me here. And let’s be honest—once I unofficially declared our household a non-profit, I learned to appreciate the mission more than the money!”

Each year, our staff join National Adoption Day events with community partners, courts, and volunteer judges. From craft tables to supporting families as they finalize adoptions, LSI is honored to stand with youth and caregivers on one of the most joyful days of the year.

Thank you, Tina, for your leadership, humor, and unwavering heart — and for the impact you’ve made on Iowa families for more than three decades. 💙

We serve families in 30 western Iowa counties, including major cities like Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Storm Lake, and surrounding areas.