October 2003

Each year, in this issue of Changing Lives, I attempt to update readers about our support for persons with developmental disabilities. Each year, I have difficulty choosing from a long list of accomplishments and equally long list of plans to improve our services. After worrying about what to say, I remember that the bulk of this issue is devoted to telling the stories of the individuals we support. I know that the stories of those we serve contain the most important information.  Click here to learn more!

Brittany and Brianna, beautiful newborn twins, delighted their parents as they learned to smile and coo, crawl around furniture, and discover the joy of having a constant playmate that looked just like them!  The girls developed like all other children - until about 15 months of age. Their parents wondered why they weren't walking. By 22 months, Paul and Danita Baker knew something was wrong.  Click here to read more!

Five years ago, Rob Larson, Director of Camp Knutson, Rob Lane (former Camp Co-Director), and their boss, Bob York, shared with the LSS Board of Directors a dream for Aug. 23, 2003. That vision included a completely renovated camp, with some expanded facilities to better serve the special needs children and their families who are the primary users of Camp Knutson. The plan was to find and invite Congressman Harold Knutson's family to this special 50-year anniversary that marks the date the congressman gave his lake home to the Evangelical Lutheran Church to provide a camp for underprivileged children.  Click here to read more!

LSS volunteer Rich Skoglund had been an electrical engineer by trade, working for 17 years for Medtronic Inc., a medical devices manufacturer. In 1996, he felt a calling to do something else, but he wasn't quite sure what that "something else" was. "I had a good job, and I was doing good things for people, but I wasn't getting that close to those I helped," Skoglund said. "I felt a calling to do something else, but not even I knew what it was. I tried to be a faithful servant and steward of God's gifts." Click here to learn more!

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota is highly regarded for providing excellent support for individuals with developmental disabilities. The stories featured in this edition provide real life evidence of this. We are proud that our annual survey indicates a level of satisfaction with our services that exceeds national industry standards. But we're not satisfied. We believe we can do better. And that's why we are introducing the Council on Quality and Leadership (The Council). Click here to read more!

For most of us, home is a warm and special place where we feel safe and learn to grow, serve and participate in the community. For David Murphy, that place was Lutheran Social Service's St. Stephen's Group home in Bloomington. David relished having his own home where he could be on his own, and took his role in the running of the household very seriously. He took the initiative, for example, to make sure the table was set for meals. That was his job! It was also at St. Stephen's where he met his best friend, Steve, and where he connected with work at Opportunity Partners, and enjoyed social outings, such as the train trips he took on occasion - something he loved.
  Click here to find out more!

Share the blessings and joy of the Christmas season with others by participating in the 2003 Sponsor A Family holiday gift program. This partnership between Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Service provides gifts and food gift certificates to approximately 2000 families in the metro area.  Click here to learn more!