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February 3, 2025 — LFS Response to Allegations on X

We at Lutheran Family Services in Nebraska (LFS) work daily to serve all of God’s people and to preserve America’s greatness.

It is our therapists, social workers, counselors and other professionals who are helping people recover and manage their addictions, mental health, and trauma. We work alongside law enforcement during crises, we help children who have been sexually abused, and we provide safe spaces and support for struggling veterans. We do all of this on a sliding scale, meaning if someone doesn’t have insurance or can’t pay for it, we can still help them. That’s possible, in part, because of the federal funding and the trust that we’ve earned over our 133 years of service to our communities and state.

To allegations that we are somehow “money laundering,” please know that we are highly audited, accredited, and endorsed by the Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator. Our financial reports are available on our website. We were founded by Lutheran pastors, but we are not an evangelical organization. We are not a church. We do not proselytize. We simply serve. We are here because we know if we weren’t, there might not be anyone to lend a hand. And then where would we be?

We have provided refugee services for 50 years, since the fall of Saigon. Those with refugee status are highly vetted people who came to the US at the invitation of our government. Most wait years, even decades before getting the “golden ticket” of being able to come to America to rebuild their lives. They have been driven from their homes by the likes of the Taliban or Isis and have nowhere to return to. Many helped our armed forces during conflicts and face certain death if they go back to their home countries. All persons with refugee status are here legally. They are not trying to sneak in. They have followed our rules and laws from day one, and as part of their resettlement, are required to pay back the cost of their plane ticket once they are working. And we help them, as good neighbors do.

Our services, along with those of other non-profits in our communities, provide a safety net that allows society to operate with calmness and consistency. We know this is something that Americans value.

So, we strongly encourage Gen. Flynn and Mr. Musk to visit us to learn more. Come talk with our clients — parents who’ve adopted children, young people who have a home after aging out of foster care, those in recovery, and our veterans. Learn about who we serve, and how we transform federal grant funding into children, families, and lives saved. Reach out at info@OneLFS.org.