Donate a Car

Cars/Vans Needed for Families
Do you have a car or van that still has some life left in it? Consider donating it to LCC. There is a constant need for reliable transportation. Your donation of a car or van can help families to get back on the road to financial stability. Your donation can Make A Difference in someone's life. If you have a running vehicle to donate contact LCC at (866) 455-6466.

Tax Laws governing Car Donations: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=131660,00.html

These laws DO NOT affect donations made to Lutheran Church Charities. They only affect donations of cars made to organizations which sell the vehicles. All vehicles that are donated to LCC go directly out to families or individuals through our congregations. NO vehicles are sold.

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Uptown Ministry in Need of Van

12 Passenger Van Needed for Chicago Uptown Ministry 
Chicago Uptown Ministry, a Lutheran inner-city mission of the English District, is in need of a 12 passenger van.  We are experiencing mechanical problems with our present van at a critical time when the van is used extensively to transport children and adults for summer programs, food donation pick-ups, etc.  Contact the Ministry at 773-271-3760 to arrange a donation.  All donations to the Ministry are tax deductible.

VOLUNTEER VAN DRIVERS NEEDED at Chicago Uptown Ministry from late June through mid-August to transport children and adults for special summer programs.  Must be over 26 for insurance purposes.  Contact the Ministry at 773-271-3760 for further information.

Car Needed
Request from Pastor Stephane Kalonji, Zion Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois
I would like to ask for LCC's help in providing a reliable vehicle to a member of the French Ministry at Zion Lutheran Church.  This member is dedicated and is also our musician.  He lives far south from the church and is in need of a reliable vehicle so he can travel to the church for choir rehearsals, worship and other activities and programs of the congregation.  The vehicle will also be a great help to him as he looks for employment.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Family from St. John's Lutheran Church - Hispanic Mission in Need of a Car
Request from Rev. Carlos Catalan, Iglesia Evangelica Luterana "San Juan"
 
We have a member of St. John's Lutheran Church-Hispanic Mission since 2005 who is in need of a vehicle.  Both he and his three brothers were baptized in the church on the same year, he is the eldest.  He is currently unemployed along with his father; they are both searching for a new job.  His mother is currently working a temporary job, while his brothers are in school.  He will be attending Elgin Community College in the fall.  This vehicle can help him and his family for transportation to their jobs, schools, and any other locations vital to the family.

Liberian Immigrant Family of Six Needs Transportation

Request from Pastor Dan Hawkins (pictured at right), New Song Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illinois

We are currently in need of a van for one of our attendees who is in desperate need of transportation. He is an African immigrant from Liberia who has a heart for the Lord and greatly desires transportation for his family of six to worship with us on a regular basis (every Sunday). He has also expressed a desire to host a small group Bible study in his apartment. The biggest challenge right now is finding his family reliable transportation to our worship facility. A vehicle would not only enable his family to worship with us on a regular basis but also greatly impact his ability to find employment.

Lutheran Church Charities has been a valuable resource to us in the past with this kind of help. We would greatly appreciate any help you can provide with this special request. If you have a vehicle to donate please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org

Homeless Single Mother of Six in Need of a Van

Request from Pastor Seth Moland-Kovash, All Saints Lutheran Church, Palatine, Illinois
Melissa is a homeless single mother of six who is in need of a van. A survivor of domestic violence, Melissa moved her family to Illinois in hopes of building a better life. Melissa and her children were residing with family but due to an unexpected death in the family, Melissa and her children are facing homelessness. Melissa needs a van to transport her family to and from emergency shelter sites. Also, all six children are enrolled in school and Melissa is their transportation. Melissa is actively seeking employment and a reliable vehicle is a necessity. The vehicle Melissa currently uses is unsafe, unreliable, and too small.

On the upside, Melissa and her family were recently approved for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This program provides low income families with affordable housing. Melissa is in the process of locating housing in the school district in which her children attend.

Melissa and her children would greatly benefit from a van donation.
Here we have a family in need, a family who has survived domestic violence and a single mother of six who refuses to give up. This will be a life changing opportunity for Melissa and her children.

If you have a vehicle to donate please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org.

LBT Missionaries Need Reliable Van This Summer

Ed and Wilma Rupprecht, Scripture Use Missionaries for Lutheran Bible Translators in Nigeria, will be returning to the States on furlough in June. They are in need of a reliable van from the end of June until February '09. They will be doing a lot of traveling during their partnership development and relationship development time schedule. It is important time that they look forward to because it allows them to meet so many people and tell their mission story.
Click here for more information on Ed and Wilma | March Update

If you have a van that they could use while on furlough please e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org

Mini Van Needed for Single Mother of Three 

Request from Linda Arnold, Director of Care Ministries, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, IL

We have been working with a young, single mother of 3 children since November.  She came to us through a Touched Twice Clinic and has been attending Trinity with her kids.  We have repaired her vehicle once but now it seems to be beyond repair.  Besides her 3 children, she also cares for her mother who has been battling cancer.  She is currently working. A minivan would be ideal for her. If anyone has a vehicle to donate it would be such a blessing to this family.

Please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org if you have a vehicle to donate

St. Matthew Congregation President Needs Minivan

Request from Rev. Julio Loza, St. Matthew, Chicago

Tom Lopez (photo below) is the congregation President of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Tom has served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for three years, Tom was born in Chicago and as member at St. Matthew he has provided transportation on Sunday to several members to attend worship services, he picked up Isabelle Arroyo who is 84 years old, Monica Medellin who is 20 years old to help with Catechism classes and other persons. Unfortunately Tom's old car no longer works and he has been unable to have it fixed. Besides which, Tom is on disability and cannot afford to buy another car.
 
He would like to continue to help St. Matthew's mission of love and compassion by giving rides to several persons to attend church events and also pick up food and other items for St. Matthews El Comedor Popular soup kitchen.
 
If Lutheran Church Charities would find a minivan for Tom, it would help our ministry in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood and would be deeply appreciated by St. Matthew members.
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Contact Us if you Have a Vehicle to Donate

If you have a vehicle to donate please contact LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org

Please consider making a vehicle donation to LCC. The vehicles are NOT resold - they are passed on directly to those in need. If you have a vehicle to donate please contact LCC at 866-455- 6466

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Needs Met

Listed below are just SOME of the needs that have been met with YOUR generous donations.

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Need Met - Car for Extra Mile Ministries
Rev. Ron Moritz from St. Matthew, Hawthorn Woods (right in picture) donated a car for Rev. Ralph Buchhorn, Extra Mile Ministries.  Rev. Buchhorn and his Comfort Dog Georgie are pictured here receiving the keys from Pastor Moritz.
 

Need Met: 

 

Thank you Jim and Heather for Making a Difference!

Woman Working Two Jobs in Need of Reliable Transportation 

Request from Pastor Erik Gauss, Cross Lutheran Church, Yorkville

Cross participates in the Angel Food Ministry, which distributes food, at below retail store pricing, on a monthly basis to individuals and families who need to stretch their food dollars Our monthly distribution day was this past Saturday.

Car Donation Helps Young Couple Rebuild Their Life

Once Again Your Car Donations Have Made A Difference!

God Provides for His People Through His People

Pastor in Akron Ohio reaches out to family in Findlay, Ohio

Photo: Pastor Landsmann towards the front of the vehicle, with the recipient couple in Findlay, Ohio

On Tuesday, October 30th Pastor Lon Landsmann from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Akron, Ohio contacted the LCC offices with a car donation. Pastor Landsmann served at Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, Illinois before accepting the call to Good Shepherd. He receives our newsletter and wanted to donate the car to a family affected by the flooding in Finley, Ohio. Dianna Bonfield contacted Pastor Gerry Mohr at Concordia Lutheran Church in Findlay, Ohio. Pastor Mohr had a member family that was struggling financially. The family was just making ends meet and then the husband lost weeks of work due to the flooding. That created a financial crisis and they were in desperate need of a car. That same day, Pastor Landsmann and his wife drove the 140 miles to Finlday to deliver the car! 

Once again God provides for His people through His people!
Thank you Pastor Lanndsmann and Pastor Mohr for serving those in need!

Need Met - God Provides!
LCC received the following request for a car. The same day we received a call from Richard Wren, member of St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton that they had a car to donate!
Single Mother in need of a Car
Request from Pastor James Zimmerman, St Paul Lutheran Church, Addison Illinois
There is a member of our congregation in need of a car. She is a single mother and a reliable car will allow her to work.
Thank you for considering this request and God's Blessing on your ministry.

UPDATE - Pastor in need of a Vehicle (from April 25, 2007)

Request from Rev. Michael Liese - St. Paul Lutheran Brimfield for another LCMS Pastor from Central IL desperately in need of a vehicle

An LCMS pastor serving in the Central Illinois District is in need of a vehicle. Family finances are all but depleted. He incurred significant medical costs last winter due to his own hospitalization, and his wife is expecting a child in late April/early May.  

 

 Need Met - Car Delivered to Pastor in Central Illinois
Thanks to a generous donation on April 27, the vehicle was made available.  LCC Coordinated efforts for delivery: Mr. Lloyd Liese drove the car (donated to LCC for Pastor Kevin  Wyckoff) from Addison to Pontiac and presented it to Pastor Michael Liese, who then transported the car to Pastor Wyckoff in Robinson, IL.

(Photos here)

 

The following is the THANK YOU received:

 

Dear Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities,

I, my family and the two parishes, that I have the honor and privilege of serving, offer our deepest and heartfelt thanks to Lutheran Church Charities and to ALL who by their generosity and efforts made this gift of a new car possible.

With my hospitalization last September, this month's maternity expenses for the birth of our newest son Timothy James (a joy and a blessing from the LORD), the increasing financial difficulties in the parishes, and my car accident last month which totaled the car I was driving; it has indeed been a trying past few months for us.

Thus your gift of the Saturn S2 was an answer to our prayers. It replaces the car that I lost with another that gets even better gas mileage so that I can continue to serve the people of these two parishes. A membership that is spread out over several counties in two states. 

I cannot fully express the surprise and joy in receiving such an unexpected and lavish gift. It is truly one of the nicest vehicles I have ever owned and will be appreciated for many years to come in service to God's people. Your gift recalls the inspired Words of St. Paul: This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!                                                                            
-2 Corinthians 9:12-15
 
Again, we thank you for your generous gift and all the work that you do!

 

 Need Met - Donated Vehicle Given out on March 27
 

LCC received this request on March 23rd...  three days later a van was donated to meet the need.

Thank You Ewa for Making a Difference!
 

 

Request from Pastor Ted Groth, Zion Lutheran Church, Summit Illinois

Single Mother of Five Needs Car:

Maria Lopez (name changed), a resident of Summit, has been receiving assistance from Zion Lutheran Church through our Food Pantry.  Maria is separated from her husband and is caring for their five children, including a six-month old.  She needs a car to get to work.

If you have a car that you can donate please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 (Toll Free) or e-mail LCC@LutheranChurchCharities.org

Car needed for Single Mom

Grace LCMS Teacher receives car donation

Need Met - Vehicle Donation for LCMS Teacher

Vehicle Donated on March 13, 2007 by Don & Joyce Lohrentz, members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville

Recipient picked up the vehicle from LCC on March 16, 2007

Car Needed for LCMS Teacher

Request from Rev. James Kellerman, First Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Chicago

A called teacher at Grace Lutheran School in Chicago is in need of a car. His current car is past the point where it can be repaired and he needs transportation to get to work. He attended school at Grace and after he graduated from Concordia, River Forest he returned to Grace where he teaches 7th and 8th grade. He has been teaching for three years.

Your Car Donations being put to work in Building God's Kingdom

Need Met - Car Donation being used for Community Outreach

Vehicle Donated by Gary Casperson on Feb 28, 2007 and delivered by LCC Volunteers Nick and Dave Baumann, members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine

Recipient picked up the vehicle from LCC on March 16, 2007

Car Needed for Concordia Grad Working in Community Outreach

Request from Pastor Julio Loza, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Chicago

We have a young woman who has been working with St. Matthews in our Community Evangelism program for the past 18 months. She majored in Spanish at Concordia University and lives in River Forest. Twice a week she comes to St. Matthews and does visitation and evangelism outreach in the community. Because she does not own a car she has to rely on public transportation to get to St. Matthews. This limits how often she can come and where she is able to visit.