Here at Lutheran Services Florida, we often hear from our dedicated staff how a life was positively impacted. While we could tell you some of the wonderful things taking place behind the scenes, we recognize that it’s often more powerful to hear directly from clients instead.

This week, we are sharing a feedback survey from one of the youth from our shelters. After hopping from place to place with his brother, this teenager tells us how coming to LSF’s program began to change his life (and soften his heart).

What was your reason for looking to LSF for help? Where were you before working with LSF?

“My case manager brought me from “night-to-night” to have a long-term place for me and my brother.”

What was your first encounter with LSF like?

“Mr. Anthony and Ms. Mina were nice. They gave us clothes and cooked us food. We are in school.”

Where do you think you would be without LSF’s program?

“I don’t know. I’m glad I stayed because Ms. Mina and Mr. Anthony love us even when we don’t follow the rules. They let us hug them and cook.”

Where are you now as a result of working with LSF? How is your life better?

“I go to school and I am in the band. Ms. Mina says if I stay off restriction, I can do karate. I don’t curse adults out.”

Tell us any other details about your life that led you to our programs.

“I had no place to go because [of] me and my bother’s behavior but Mr. Anthony didn’t kick me out—he helped me.”

Would you recommend LSF to someone else in need? Why?

“Yes, because they love us even when we are bad. They come to our school. They answer our calls from school. They let us cook with them. We catch fish and cook them. They let us hug them when we are sad. Even though my family doesn’t come, they come to my band shows.”

If you know of a young person who needs shelter, support, or resources, please contact our team at www.lsfnet.org.