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LCC Thanks EMS and First Responders As We Celebrate National EMS Week 2013 |
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Lutheran Church Charities and all the K-9 Comfort Dogs would like to say thank you to all the Emergency Medical Service members and First Responders around the country and world. This week is National EMS Week, make sure to say thank you to your local EMS!
To learn more about National EMS Week 2013 click here.
Click here to see the photos of the K-9 Comfort Dogs with EMS and First Responders
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K-9 Comfort Dog "Butter Report" |
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K-9 Comfort Dog, Butter, report: I attended Ascension Day services last Thursday. Then we went to the Ladies of St. John's cookie exchange. I expected crumbs! On Sunday I greeted at church. Then on Monday I spent time with Mary Jane. After T'ai Chi on Tuesday, I stayed in the church office with Lynne. The mail lady came with her pocket full of dog treats. It was fun to see Mary Ann and Rick too. |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Attend Sandy Hook 5-K Run |
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On Saturday, May 18, K-9 Comfort Dogs Addie and Maggie attended the Spring Forward for Sandy Hook 5K in support of Immanuel Danbury handler, Jen Marr, who ran the race to support the families who lost loved ones at Sandy Hook Elementary School. |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Attend Community Fundraiser |
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On Saturday, May 18, K-9 Comfort Dogs Darlin, Prince and Barnabas were at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crown Point, IN for their community fundraiser. They met and greeted many of the people that attended the event. |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Mount St. Joseph |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Ladel, from St. Matthews in Hawthornwoods, IL and JoJo, from Living Christ in Arlington Heights, IL visited with developmentally handicapped women at Mount St. Joseph's in Lake Zurich, IL.
The Mount St. Joseph facility is a sprawling complex on 160 acres north of Lake Zurich. The buildings and grounds are beautifully maintained creating a wonderful home for about 130 women. K-9 Comfort Dogs Ladel and JoJo were able to visit with women in three of the "cottages" in the facility. They spent about two hours letting Ladel and JoJo work their "magic" while the handlers Scott, Kathy and Deb were able to talk to the women about their favorite activities, their home, their families, and Jesus! They were all taken by their sweet and simple hearts and the wonderful and loving care the sisters offer these women. We all look forward to going back to visit again! |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 23 May 2013 07:14 |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Sunday School |
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On Sunday, May 19, K-9 Comfort Dogs Luther and Olympia along with LCC staff Bruce Knosher and Dianna Bonfield visited the Sunday-School students and teachers and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elmhurst. The students learned about the Comfort Dog ministry and were able to visit with Luther and Olympia. LCC was presented a check from the Immanuel Sunday School to help support the Comfort Dog program. |
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Our Savior Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky Welcomes Newest K-9 Comfort Dog, Rachel! |
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It was a busy weekend as LCC Co-Directors of the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, Rich and Dona Martin, along with trainer Jeanne Moore arrived in Louisville this past weekend. They were there to conduct two handler training sessions and then attend the Passing of the Leash Ceremony at both Sunday services. Rachel and her LCC Comfort Dog friend Ruthie were on hand to help in the training of 14 handlers and helpers. LCC looks forward to our newest K-9 Comfort Dog affiliate, Our Savior Lutheran Church, and the lives they will touch with the help of Rachel.
Click here to donate to the K-9 Comfort Dog Fund
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Response to Tornado Devastation in Moore, Oklahoma |
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Lutheran Church Charities and the Northern Illinois District and Beyond Respond to Tornado Devastation in Moore, Oklahoma
 Early reports of many fatalities, injuries, and severe damage are coming in from Moore, Oklahoma where a massive tornado cut a two-mile wide path through this town of 56,000 people.
The best ways to assist with devastation on this scale always takes time to sort out. At this time only approved emergency responders are permitted to enter Moore. No specifics have yet been shared on what needs to be done and the process through which help will be received. However, the most immediate need is cash assistance.
Lutheran Church Charities - working through the District President of the Northern Illinois District - will be collecting money to help Pastor Mark Muenchow from Messiah Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City minister to the families in the community who have suffered loss. All donations for this disaster...dollar for dollar...will be directed to the most pressing needs as determined by Messiah Lutheran.
 We will continue to monitor the situation for additional help that they may need, stay in contact with our churches in Oklahoma, and share updates as they become available.
The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs have received an invitation from Pastor Muenchow and Messiah Lutheran Church, and are on standby and will deploy to Oklahoma as early as tomorrow. We are waiting for word when it is safe to enter the area. Please keep all in your prayers.
LCC never charges those we serve and we rely on donors to help cover our expenses. Click here if you would like to help cover travel expenses for our K-9 Comfort Dog team.
How to Help
1. Pray - for those who have lost loved ones, for those who lost property and belongings, for the Pastors, relief workers, volunteers, and all others serving those who have been displaced by the tornadoes.
2. Pray - Pray for Messiah Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
3. Contribute to Moore, Oklahoma Tornado Relief.
Thank you for Making A Difference in the name of Christ to those suffering loss.
Tim Hetzner
Lutheran Church Charities
Rev Dan Gilbert
President
Northern Illinois District
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K-9 Comfort Dog Visits Nursing Home |
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On Saturday, May 11, K-9 Comfort Dog in Training, Zoey, along with LCC staff members, Marshal and Kolyssa Frisque, visited the members of Fair Oaks Nursing Home in South Beloit, IL. While there they attended a Mother's Day tea and met with many people and brought all of them lots of smiles and comfort! |
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LCC Receives Support for the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Burbank, Illinois |
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On Tuesday, May 14, Pastor Steve Lee, his wife and daughter, and Ladies Aid members from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Burbank, Illinois presented the LCC staff with a check. They raised money with their annual church rummage sale, and donated all of the funds to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.
In recent years, the money raised at the annual rummage sale was used for internal ministries, but this year they all agreed to send it to the K-9 Comfort Dogs to further the ministry that God is doing with them.
LCC would like to thank Pastor Steve Lee, his family, the Ladies Aid and members of Holy Trinity for their support of the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 07:17 |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Visit Good Shepherd, Elgin |
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On Sunday, May 12, K-9 Comfort Dogs Chloe and JoJo, along with LCC staff member Roger Pollock and LCC volunteers, visited the members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin, IL where they received a check from the Sunday School children to go towards the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. |
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K-9 Comfort Dogs Return Home from Manhattan, Boston |
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Ten LCC Comfort Dogs from three states returned home last weekend from an amazing trip to New York City and Boston. K-9 Comfort Dog Moses traveled the furthest, traveling over 3,000 miles on the trip, and our youngest on the trip was Isaiah, at six months old. The trip started with an amazing experience on the set of Good Morning America where the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry was recognized for its work with people from the southwest (West, TX and Joplin, MO) to New York and New England (Superstorm Sandy, Sandy Hook Elementary School and Boston Marathon Bombings). LCC would like to thank GMA and their generous sponsors, especially Hertz, for providing the use of a passenger van for one year.
In Boston the K9's and their handlers worked with Pastor Jeremy Pekari of Messiah Lutheran, Lynnfield MA, and Pastors Ingo Dutzmann and Paul Lentz of First Lutheran Church of Boston in accomplishing many visits throughout the area. They visited Windrush Farm, which houses an equestrian program for developmentally disabled, an Alzheimer facility, a confirmation class, and a Ascension Thursday service. The group continued on Friday with two visits to the Back Bay Boston Police Station and also visiting patients on four floors of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Finally, they attended the Memorial Service at FLC, and had a visit with children at Francis Wyman elementary school in Burlington, MA. Truly with God all things are possible!
Click here to donate to the K-9 Comfort Dog Fund
Click here to view the Good Morning America segment
Click here to view the GMA Online Only segment
Click here to view the footage from NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams
Click here to view pictures of the trip to NY and Boston
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 11:27 |
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Welcome to the New K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers! |
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After the training session the group was introduced to the newest members of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs in Training. Arriving late last week was Eddie, a European Cream Golden Retriever, and arriving this week was Martin, an American Golden Retriever.
Attending the K-9 Handler training, from left to right are: Sue Piske, Doug Piske with K-9 Comfort Dog Bekah, Dylan Teut, Colton Gritzmacher, Toni Higgens-Thrash, and Charmaine Cornwell.
Also in attendance was LCC staff member Karla Albrecht. |
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The public is invited to come and visit with the K-9 Comfort Dogs at St. John's Lutheran Church at 1032 NW 12th St., Moore, OK TODAY until 6:00 pm. The team is there to share the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ. Stop by and say hello and enjoy spending some time with the K-9 Comfort Dogs!
Martin Comfort Dog in Training
Edward (Eddie) Comfort Dog in Training