Page 14 - Samaritas Our Hands Winter 2024

LEGACY

KEY Moments

June 11, 1934 1965
Lutheran Inner Mission The Grand Rapids Senior
League of Greater Detroit 1951 Living Center becomes part
organizes as the first agency LSSM raises funds and of LSSM with nursing care.
where various Michigan constructs Detroit’s Future renovations and 1973- 1999
Lutheran congregations Luther Haven, home expansions offer seniors a 1975 The Reverend Carl E.
officially cooperate in a to 30 healthy, active continuum of assisted living Following the Fall of Thomas leads the
social justice model. The seniors who cared for and Memory Care. Grand Saigon the agency agency to its greatest
League invited all each other. Their Rapids evolves into the restarts refugee growth, from $2
individuals eager to join as monthly $96 rent central hub for west Michigan, resettlement, helping million in programs to
members in addressing the price is modestly dynamically encompassing war-torn Vietnamese $96 million, serving
increasing demands that affordable today at the entirety of Samaritas’ core find a home in 25,000 people in 54
surpassed the capabilities of $1,160. services. freedom and hope. Michigan cities.
volunteer work.

1940 1955 1967 1980
Lutheran Social Becoming the Legacy Adoption The Danish Village
Services of Michigan national Link in Services (formerly and Grand Ravine
(LSSM) Child Welfare Refugee Work, we are Lutheran Adoption affordable housing
Department hires the named the Michigan Services) marks a developments were
first full time case refugee agency for record with its 2,000th constructed to meet
worker to serve 125 Lutheran Immigration adopted child. Fast the growing demand
individual children and and Refugee Services forward to 2022- for senior living
families. (known today as Legacy places its spaces. LSSM saw an
Global Refuge) 10,000th child in their overwhelming
forever home, building response of 700
futures for countless applicants for just 149
families. units, a need that
continues unabated
today.