Click here to donate to our Disaster Relief Efforts
All donations go 100% to Disaster Relief efforts. LCC does not take administrative costs from designated donations.
To read our "Dollar-In Dollar-Out" policy: click here.
"Welcome Home" Our Neighbors in Iowa's East District
Support packs for flood victims.
The
Iowa East District recently informed Lutheran Church Charities that
approximately 250 to 400 Lutheran families were among those who have lost their
homes during the recent Iowa floods. Whether they move into temporary housing or
can go back into their home, most families will have to replace all of their
kitchen items. This can be a major expense. LCC is asking you, your family, church, or organization to put together
Welcome Home Packs. Your
group will send these packs to churches in the Iowa East District for
distribution to families returning home.What is a Welcome Home Pack?
It is a box filled with new kitchen items, for a family of four to six. For example, a set of pots and pans, a set of dishes, glassware, and flatware. The pack would also include a set of kitchen towels, washcloths, potholders and oven mitts. The pack can include any other utensils and kitchen items that a family would need when they move into temporary housing or back into their home. These starter kits will give the families a start to help with making meals and a sense of feeling more at home. Each box should also contain a personal note or letter from the donor welcoming them home and a Christian message, devotional book etc. Lutheran Church Charities will also supply you with a letter to include in the box for the family, as well as an address label.
Click
here for a complete list of suggested items to be assembled into the packs
With
flooding taking place in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Ohio - volunteers and help
will be needed throughout most of the summer.If you would like to volunteer please click here...
If you would like to contribute click here (dollar per dollar goes to help with the flooding)...
Continue to prayScrub Buckets Needed
If you would like to help put together Scrub buckets
- click here for the list of items needed in each bucket
If you know of specific families affected by the flooding that needs help, please contact us at
LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org or call 866-455-6466
LCC Needs Tools for our Disaster Response Work
Lutheran Church Charities would like to have some additional tools on hand so we can be prepared for any upcoming disasters. If you own any of these tools and are not using them, please consider donating them to be used for our Disaster Response work. If you are at any garage, yard or estate sales this upcoming season, please consider purchasing any of the following tools for Lutheran Church Charities, so we can be better prepared to make a difference.Please click here for the list.
Lutheran Church Charities Hosts LCMS Disaster Relief Conference This Week
On Monday and Tuesday, June 2 and 3, Lutheran Church Charities is hosting the Regional Disaster Response Training in conjunction with LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The training is at the Northern Illinois District Office in Hillside.
Personal View on Watseka and the Flooding from Tim Hetzner
On January 9th flooding began in the small town of Watseka Illinois,
Population 8,000. In the town there are two Lutheran Churches - Calvary
(LCMS) and Faith (AALC). Lutheran Church Charities immediately contacted
them and the surrounding churches to monitor the situation. On the 11th LCC
sent out an appeal for volunteers and on the 13th we began our work in
Watseka. 120 families have been flooded out. Many of the families are
within 1-4 blocks of Calvary.
What needs to be done? We need boots on the ground to help people sort out the personal items that are still in their homes. We need boots on the ground to help salvage and save and toss items. Financial assistance is needed for families on fixed incomes. Furniture is needed for families who do not have the means to purchase new or used furniture. Cars are needed for those who lost theirs. Some had flood insurance - most did not. I could go on - but I think you get the point I am making. There is a song that was written a few years ago, it starts out "Rise up, O men of God, have done with lesser things!" That is what can be done - Rise Up and Be the Church Jesus Christ Died for and Saved to Serve!
In our newsletter you will see opportunities to serve and support. Pray and Rise Up!
Serving Together, Serving Christ, so we can Serve Others in His Name
Tim Hetzner
President of Lutheran Church Charities
Emergency Volunteers and Support Needed for Watseka Flooding
Rev. Donald Love at Calvary Lutheran Church in Watseka, Illinois
This whole community has been hit with severe flooding, which is still increasing. Calvary served as a shelter for the Red Cross until they had to evacuate. With power and telephones out, Pastor Love has not been able to contact all his members but he has personally been in contact with families that have been flooded. Some examples:
- Retired LCMS Pastor and His Wife: Lost everything in their home, it is under water.
- Widow, 89 years old: Lost almost everything in her home - has 3 feet of water in her kitchen.
- Farm Family: Their farm is under water and their animals - they do not know how they are because they are all out in the fields. Will not know how they are until they can get onto their property.
These are just some of the families that he shared with me.
LCC Staff will be going to Watseka to do an on-site evaluation. Most likely volunteers will not be able to come into the area until Tuesday at the earliest. I have been in contact with the area Red Cross who are saying the same. I have also been in contact with Rev. Glenn Merritt at LCMS Human Care and World Relief and have kept him abreast of the situation.
Over the next several days LCC will assess the situation and establish a point of operation in Watseka. We have been in contact with the area LCMS churches as alternative sites to establish a home base if we cannot set up in town.
Immediate Help:
Financial
Financial assistance to help the displaced families - temporary housing and personal items.
To donate, click here;
Prayers
For safety and the presence of Christ to bring comfort to those hurting and in pain;
Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer to help - please fill out our volunteer form.We will then keep you informed as to when we can come in to help and what is needed. Please indicate which days you can help next week.
Supplies
Some items that will be needed once we can get in:
- Dry Vacs
- Waders and boots
- Work gloves
- Garbage bags
We will keep you posted on our web site as more details are known. For those who sign up to volunteer we will be emailing you with updates.
Update on Tornadoes in Illinois/Wisconsin:
-
Rev. Mike Pfingsten at St Paul Harvard:
-
Although a number of families have suffered damage - it is manageable at this point and no one is displaced. "Other areas are more in need" according to Pastor Pfingsten.
-
Rev. Allan Buss at Immanuel Belvidere:
-
Volunteers showed up this week from our earlier appeal as well as volunteers at Immanuel Belvidere - all seems to be taken care of. Those displaced are living with other family members.
In the Midst of Disaster - the People of God always shine through with the Hope that we have in Jesus Christ. In the midst of Chaos the Compassion of Christ brings hope and healing - and God works through His People to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Thank you for your faithfulness in Serving others in His Name!
Gulf Coast Trip Update
LCC staff member Deaconess Dianna Bonfield (photo at right) has returned from the Gulf States visiting all the volunteer camps. She spent Thanksgiving at Bayou Grace in Houma, Louisiana and then returned to Illinois on November 25th.
Click here for daily updates and pictures on her trip.
We are now into the long term rebuilding work. At present the volunteers are working on about 10 homes and the cafeteria/community building at the volunteer camp. The aim is to have enough structures enclosed so that volunteers will have work throughout the winter. The SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS TORNADO RELIEF ORGANIZATION (SCKTRO) has completed 31 projects of 150 on file.
VOLUNTEER CAMP
There are 40 bunk beds available now. A camp cook will begin work on Nov. 12. The cafeteria/community room is nearly completed. A very nice shower facility is operational. Orphan Grain Train sent all of modular/trailers for this camp. Our facilities are heated. We are awaiting another shower unit and another 20 bed sleeping unit
There are no volunteers scheduled until March 29. There is space to stay in the Volunteer Camp. There will be a blitz build during the spring break weeks. Blitz Build is the construction of a house or houses in a very short time with many volunteers. The volunteers do need to have one skilled person to lead the group if possible. We have limited tools. Therefore talk to me just prior to coming to determine needed tools and probable work assignments.
RV'ERS
We can provide electrical hookups during the winter months for a large number.
Water and sewer spaces are limited.
If you as an individual or a group from your church would like to volunteer at the Greensburg Volunteer Village Click here to volunteer to travel to Kansas
Southern California Wild Fires
Financial Assistance
You can read below or click on the links below to find out more specific information, but here are some options:
- Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Relief and Recovery
Fund:
Donate to the Fund here... - Rev. Ralph Buchhorn - Extra Mile Ministries:
Donate to Extra Mile Ministries... - Lutheran Church Charities Recovery Fund for LCMS Schools
and Families:
Donate to this fund here... - LCMS World Relief and Human Care:
Click here for updates or to donate directly... - Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS - Fire Fund:
Click here for updates on their web site...
Additional Information
About the Fires...
An update report from Rachel Klitzing - Executive Director
of School Ministries, Pacific Southwest District (Click
to Download PDF File)
An Update report on Rev. Ralph Buchhorn - Extra Mile
Ministries - serving right now the victums from the Fire (Click
to Download PDF File)
An Update report from Rev. Glenn Merritt from LCMS World
Relief and Human Care
(View LCMS web site)
|
As you are aware, the fires in California have
caused tremendous devastation for many individuals and families. As
I am writing this, the fires are still burning - so there are still
many "unknowns" out there, but as one pastor shared with me this
morning,
"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient
in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's People who are
in need. Practice hospitality."
Romans 12:11-13 |
What you can do...
We have received many emails and phone calls asking "What
can we do to help". I appreciate your Christian concern and Christ like
Compassion - it is an inspiration to us and to those on the ground in
California. At this point, this is what can be done:
-
Pray - Pray for those who have lost property
and belongs. Pray for those who are serving those who are displaced from
their homes because of the fires. Pray for all the workers who continue to
battle the fires.
- Financial contributions are needed now and for the days ahead. There are several ways in which you can support the efforts financially. I will list those efforts of LCC (Dollar In/Dollar Out) and of others - and if you are led you can choose how you would like your dollars to go.
- Keep Informed by going to the LCC Web site and the Web site of LCMS World Relief and Human Care for current updates.
On behalf of all the people involved out in California with the fires, LCC thanks you for your prayers and support. As in all disasters that occur - God continues to shine forth and work in and through His People to share the Compassion and Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Serving Together, Serving Christ, so we can serve others IN HIS NAME.
Relief Efforts Across the Nation
|
Updates: Volunteers Needed for Disaster Response
As a result of the storm systems that swept across the
Midwest in August, volunteers for LCC are needed to assist with
clean up efforts in Ohio, Minnesota, and Kansas. LCC has received
the following requests:
Kansas Flooding and
Tornado Cleanup
At the directive of Rev. Glenn Merritt of LCMS World Relief and Human Care and the Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier, President, Kansas District LCMS, they will be accepting volunteers after Labor Day to help in Greensburg and the surrounding area.
Update- First
Volunteer Village Opens in Greensburg, Kansas. Volunteers
Needed.
 This
past week the Volunteer Village opened in Greensburg
Kansas. The Village will be able to house 40 volunteers.
Orphan Grain Train (OGT) brought out two mobile bedroom
units that are heated and air-conditioned. Each bedroom is
outfitted with bunk beds. OGT also provided a Shower/
Laundry Unit and a mobile kitchen. Volunteers constructed a
dining room /fellowship facility.
Skilled volunteers are needed to work in rebuilding homes or
building new construction. If you do not have construction
skills they still need you. You will be assigned to a team
with one or more skilled persons. There is a special need
for volunteers for November and December. The camp director
requests that all skilled worker forms be filled out and
returned to her one month prior to arriving at camp.
Volunteers can come in as teams or as singles. Volunteers in
close driving distance can come for a day or an extended
weekend.
If you, your family, or a team from your church is
interested in volunteering in Greensburg Kansas click here
to fill out the volunteer to travel application.
Click here to volunteer to travel to Kansas
Findlay, Ohio
Southern Minnesota Areas
Flooded
Update - Camp at St. Mark's in Rushford, Minnesota Opened October 28th!
Pastor Merlin Stephan and the congregation of St. Mark Lutheran
Church in Rushford, Minnesota, have opened the Parish Hall of
the church and the basement of the parsonage as housing for
volunteers. The camp has the capacity to house 30 volunteers at
a time. Bunk beds have been added to the sleeping area in the
Parish Hall for women and in the basement of the parsonage for
men.
Skilled volunteers are needed to serve with non-skilled
volunteers to help people rebuild their homes. Camp St. Marks
offers one day volunteer opportunities for those living within a
few hours travel distance. They also offer extended weekend and
week long volunteer opportunities for individuals or teams.
The severe flooding in the southern part of the state has
affected many churches. At the directive of Rev. Glenn Merritt
of LCMS World Relief and Human Care volunteers are being allowed
in...
Thank you for your prayers and support in touching lives that are hurting with the Presence of Jesus Christ and for Making A Difference! |
Help "Welcome Home" our Neighbors in the Gulf States
LCC is asking you, your family, church, or organization to put together
Welcome Home Packs that you
will send to our churches in our
Southern District to be given to returning families.What is a Welcome Home Pack?
It is a box filled with new kitchen items such as: a set of pots and pans, a set of dishes for a family of 4 or 6, glassware, and flatware. The pack would also include a set of kitchen towels, washcloth, potholders & oven mitts or other utensils and kitchen items that a family would need when they move into a FEMA trailer or back into their home. These starter kits will give them something to help them feed their families. Each box should also contain a personal note or letter from the donor welcoming them home and a Christian message, devotional book etc. Lutheran Church Charities will also supply you with a letter to include in the box for the family, as well as an address label.
Click
here for a complete list of suggested items to be assembled into the packs
Click
here to
Sign Up for this project with LCC
Kansas Flooding Relief Efforts
Kansas Flooding and LCC Cooperative Relief Coordination Response with LCMS and Kansas District
In recent weeks there has been extensive flooding in Southeast Kansas. In collaboration with Rev. Glenn Merritt of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, and also with the Kansas District, LCC is sending our Disaster Relief RV to Coffeyville Kansas to serve as an on-site office.
LCC is working with LCMS who is working through Pastor Richard Peckman (pictured, right), of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Coffeyville. Pending city permits, the Disaster Relief RV will be parked on the property of St. Paul.
LCC Volunteers get CONNECTED because they served together
Pictured: Rev. Marc Schwichtenberg, Kathie and James
This past Saturday, LCC staff member James Kirschenmann and LCC Volunteer Kathie Nally were united in marriage at St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Mt. Prospect. Although LCC is not OFFICIALLY involved in being a
"Match Making Service" - we are involved in "CONNECTING" people and
needs! So here is their story:
Kathie was involved in a Bible Study called Word Among Us that the
President of LCC, Tim Hetzner teaches. James was also involved in a
Word Among Us Bible class. As they studied the Bible they came to
realize that Jesus calls all of us to serve others in need in the
name of Christ. When the opportunity came to serve those affected by
the Tornado that hit Utica, Illinois, both Kathie and James
volunteered for the weekend service project. Up until that time,
even though they were taking the same Bible Class, they did not know
each other. All that changed as they served in Utica, they met,
started dating and volunteered for more LCC service projects. Well -
to make a long story short, James ended up joining our staff at LCC
in technology and Ethnic Ministry; 
Kathy continued to be one of our
main volunteers at LCC. Saturday they not only got married, they
also served together. At 4:30AM on Saturday Tim Hetzner picked up
both Kathie and James, along with Vicky Pientok, another volunteer at LCC,
and they drove into Chicago to Christ the King to unload and deliver
a truck-load of frozen meat to the Ethnic Ministries. When Tim got
the call from James indicating that he and Kathy wanted to go
down Saturday Tim's response was "Aren't you guys busy Saturday
getting married?" Their response, "We met while serving our Lord,
what better way to start out our marriage day than continuing to
serve." The staff at LCC wishes Kathie and James the best - as they
honeymoon, guess where? Utica, Illinois where they met!
So, who knows, maybe "Connecting People for Life" will be another
function of LCC. If not a function, it certainly is a by-product.
So, do you feel connected to God? If not, why not join one of LCC's
Word Among Us Bible studies. If you want to get more connected
to others why not consider volunteering for LCC!
LCC, Making A Difference in People's Lives and in God's
Kingdom!