LSSN Temporarily Closes During Federal Shutdown; Reopening Planned

• Letter from Rev. Dr. Marta Poling Schmitt shared below in full

Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) has temporarily closed its programs, including food pantry and senior meal services, during the federal government shutdown. Because much federal funding supporting hunger and homelessness flows through state and municipal channels, LSSN is currently unable to receive its grant funding. LSSN will reopen when federal funding resumes.

While the Grand Canyon Synod regularly partners with LSSN in shared ministry, LSSN is an independent, separately governed nonprofit organization. The Synod does not provide operational oversight or direction for LSSN programs or business decisions. We are sharing this update to support communication, clarity, and care for those affected by the temporary shutdown.

In a letter shared below, Rev. Dr. Marta Poling Schmitt, secretary of the LSSN Board of Directors, provides:

• Status of the temporary shutdown

• Background on the Boulder Pines campus development

• Plans to expand with a federally qualified health clinic

• A long-term strategy to build a sustainable revenue stream

• Information about an upcoming year-end fundraising initiative: The 1985 Society (view PDF)

• An invitation for congregations to schedule an update with their councils this fall

Of particular note is the Board’s work with Clark County to complete the Boulder Pines campus—an innovative, wrap-around service model supporting families seeking to break cycles of intergenerational poverty. Upcoming EDI and CDBG grants (2026–27) are planned to support a primary care clinic and pharmacy, strengthening sustainable support for food and senior nutrition programs.

Rev. Dr. Poling Schmitt also lifts up the challenge of maintaining donor support amid a shrinking Lutheran base and affirms her dedication to nurturing a lasting Lutheran witness in Southern Nevada.

Congregations are invited to:

• Consider hosting a presentation for your council in November or December

• Share this update widely

• Pray for and support the ministry of LSSN

• Direct questions to LSSN board members

We share the full letter below as received.

Letter from Rev. Dr. Marta Poling Schmitt

Dear ELCA Southern Nevada colleagues, Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon Synod staff, and other stakeholders, 

I'm writing to update you on the current status of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada. The organization is temporarily closed during the federal government shut down due to lack of financial support. As you may or may not be aware, most federal funding goes through state and city municipal governments.Because they are not receiving grant funds, organizations like LSSN are not receiving grant funds to assist with hunger and homelessness. LSSN will reopen when the federal shutdown ends.

As of May, I serve as the secretary of the board of directors. In the first and second decades of this century, I served on the board. During my last tenure as board president, LSSN received a CDBG grant which allowed us to launch a capital campaign to build the permanent headquarters on Boulder Highway. It was built as an urban model of intervention for children growing up in poverty. The Boulder Pines campus was designed to "wrap around" families in need with the kinds of services that could help raise children out of intergenerational poverty. The campus includes a Boys and Girls Club facility, the Mater Academy (a public charter school), low-income apartments, and LSSN. It was designed to also include a health clinic on the last undeveloped parcel of campus land. The LSSN board of directors is working with Clark County to complete the campus plan. Our goal is to open a federally qualified health clinic, completing the original intent for the campus, and serving the many temporary and permanent residents on Boulder Highway. (Note: this corridor of Southern Nevada is challenged by high poverty. The area Walgreens recently closed because of the high incidence of theft.) LSSN will be able to fill the health care gaps in the contiguous area by opening a pharmacy and primary care clinic in the next three to four years. An EDI grant of 1.7 million in 2026 and a CDBG grant of 1.8 million in 2027 will form the core of our capital fundraising effort for this purpose. We will also approach businesses, congregations, and individual donors to support the effort. 

This plan will also provide a reliable revenue stream for the critical ministries offered by the organization: its pantry and senior meal program. Since my board engagement with LSSN beginning in the first decade of this century and during

subsequent years, I have been aware of the difficulty of maintaining a solid donor base. With ELCA membership aging, the base only grows smaller. So, if we are to maintain a solid Lutheran social service witness in Southern Nevada, a steady revenue stream is essential. By the way, this is a model that is being utilized in many other areas of the country and Clark County to provide the financial foundation for a variety of social service organizations.

In the meantime, we are embarking on a year-end fundraising effort that will fold into the LSSN 40th anniversary celebration in the spring of 2026. Our effort is titled "The 1985 Society." It is a time-specific effort to engage donors in the initial celebration of our 40 years of social ministry and advocacy in Southern Nevada. (See the attached file)

I would love to meet with your church councils in November or December to provide an update on LSSN. Please let me know if this is possible. 

And, please contact me or other board members if you have questions or concerns about the ministry of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada. As a donor who invested $100,000 in the first capital campaign (in memory of my dear David), I feel a strong commitment to building a solid and lasting Lutheran witness in Southern Nevada addressing hunger and homelessness far into the future.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Marta Poling Schmitt