Best Part? Anyone can do it!
The holidays can be magical but can also be challenging, lonely, and overwhelming for some. This year has been especially difficult for many people.
The new annual LFS Holiday Check-In Challenge addresses that. For the rest of 2024, Lutheran Family Services (LFS) is sharing mental health tips, resources, and information to help individuals support their friends, family, and themselves.โฏ Everyone is challenged to check in on at least one friend each week, just to make sure they are doing okay. One text, call, or coffee — can make all the difference.
Why it’s needed: Surveys show 64% of those with mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression, report their symptoms increase significantly over the holidays. Author Simon Sinek says nothing can replace human connection — and just eight minutes with someone can make a huge difference in their well-being.
How the Check-In works:
๏ท Participants are asked to follow Lutheran Family Services (OneLFS), share the
Holiday Check-In Challenge posts, and tag at least two other people, challenging them
to do the same.
๏ท Set a goal to check in with at least one friend each week between now and the end
of the year (or beyond). This can be a text, a card, a coffee — whatever works.
๏ท If you’d like, share a little about your check in experience with us. For example, take
a selfie when you’re grabbing coffee — and share to the LFS pages. Challenge others to
do the same. Use the hashtag: #LFSCheckIn to encourage others to reach out also!
๏ท Feeling really ambitious? Let us know why this campaign matters to you. Drop a 30
second video in your feed and tag LFS!
About Lutheran Family Services
Founded as an orphanage in 1892, Lutheran Family Services is now the largest human care organization in Nebraska and Western Iowa. Every year, its employees deliver exceptional services to thousands of children, individuals, and families. A broad spectrum of services ranges from foster care and childrenโs behavioral health to helping human trafficking victims and newly resettled refugees. LFS marks 50 year of Refugee Resettlement in 2025. You can find a full list of programs here. LFS is a 2023 recipient of the Better Business Bureauโs Torch Award for Ethics in both Omaha and Lincoln.
