[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 146 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEVADA-

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SUSIE LEE

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 13, 2021

  Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 25th 
anniversary of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN), who serves 
our southern Nevada community.
  Throughout their 25 years of service, LSSN has provided help to more 
than 383,231 Las Vegans in need.
  What began as humble means of helping the community in 1985, in the 
form of a food pantry and clothing closet, LSSN has grown to an immense 
operation serving a multitude of southern Nevadans over the last 25 
years that are low-income, at-risk of homelessness, homeless, families 
with or without children, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, 
and senior citizens.
  Despite the uncertainty and unprecedented challenges of the last 18 
months of the COVID-19 pandemic, LSSN found further ways to redouble 
their efforts to the community by distributing more than 770,596 pounds 
of food through their DigiMart Food Pantry to more than 62,840 people. 
This is nearly three times as many of Las Vegans they have served 
through the pantry prior to the pandemic. Additionally, LSSN provided 
rental assistance and rapid rehousing resources to 167 households in 
need. This allowed those families to remain or become sheltered in the 
midst of a pandemic ravaging our Las Vegas community and economy. 
Finally, LSSN served more than 7,960 hot and well-balanced meals to 
seniors, while also teaching nutrition education and physical activity 
through Zoom and other remote means.
  It was my honor to visit and tour the LSSN DigiMart Food Pantry in 
May 2021, as they unveiled an expansion of the facility from 750 square 
feet to 3,058 square feet. LSSN projects that this will allow them to 
serve an additional 5,000 families annually.
  I am in awe of the way our Nevada entities and community have 
continually stepped up to serve through numerous crises, and that 
gratitude extends to LSSN. I look forward to witnessing their continued 
growth and success in the years to come, and I encourage everyone to 
join me in celebrating and honoring their 25th anniversary.

                          ____________________