(Radio Iowa) – The leader of Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) says donations from across the state helped them continue working with around 200 refugees, despite the January loss of federal funding. L-S-I’s director of refugee services, Nick Wuertz, told supporters at the community’s response to the funding cut was immediate and generous.

Donations ranged from ten to 200-thousand dollars. He says organizations all across the country had to make staff layoffs immediately, and but they didn’t have to because of the donations.

L-S-I received donations from almost 600 people.