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Lutheran Social Services, which oversees the meal program at Luverne Senior Dining, is celebrating150 years in 2015.
LSS traces its beginnings back to a Lutheran church near Red Wing where a family of four children was orphaned in 1865.
Pastor Eric Norelius and the tiny Vasa Lutheran Church committed to caring for the children, and the mission expanded to include children, elderly and others in need.
To honor the LSS purpose and to celebrate its 150th year, Luverne’s Senior Dining representatives have planned special events in 2015
Volunteers at Senior Dining packed donated items in backpacks on Oct. 23 for students in the Southwest Youth Services program in Magnolia.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, local musician Bruce Dysthe was a featured guest for the noon meal at Luverne Senior Dining where the public was invited to join the meal and dance.
On Friday the celebration continued with Dress Up Day and Crazy Hat Day at Senior Dining.
On Nov. 13 volunteers will deliver backpacks to Magnolia where they’ll tour the SYS facility and meet some of the students.
Senior Dining Site Manager Janice Fick said the 150th anniversary of LSS is worth celebrating.
“It's important to celebrate our history, but also to find new ways of reaching out and serving others,” she said.
“Senior Dining provides a place to have fun, meet new people, eat a great meal, and give back to the community.”