Our Story

For over 125 years, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) has touched the lives of people across the world. Each day, individuals from all different walks of life join together to generously give of their time, energy, and resources to help improve the quality of people’s lives. Our vision is to “Change the world – one grace-filled life at a time.” We strive to achieve this by providing a variety of compassionate social services that touch nearly 120,000 people annually.

Our proud heritage began in 1882, when Pastor E. J. Homme opened a home for orphans in Wittenberg, Wisconsin. Today, this home still serves many children and youth in need and is the inspiration for the social ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. We welcome you to explore our storied history of growth and development, and join us in our bright future.