Designate Your Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31st

Grant funding from Thrivent Financial through its Thrivent Choice® program can help support organizations you care about - like Lutheran Church Charities. Don't let Choice Dollars expire. Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have available Choice Dollars® have until March 31, 2021, to direct them. Don't miss this opportunity to recommend that Thrivent Financial provide outreach funding to Lutheran Church Charities.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more or call 800-847-4836 and say "Thrivent Choice" after the prompt.

Thrivent Action Team Cards

Through the Thrivent programs, you are eligible to receive grant dollars, fee-free donations, and support from Thrivent Action Team service projects.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more about Thrivent Action Teams.

As always, thank you for all of your generous support - it makes a difference! If you would like to hear more about LCC ministry opportunities, which would benefit from an Action Team Card, please contact Tim Laabs at tlaabs@LutheranChurchCharities.org or (224) 443-4223, or Nikki Deacon at ndeacon@lutheranchurchcharities.org or (224) 500-3248.
 
Help us share the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Haiti
 
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Lutheran Church Charities sends your donations to Haiti through our Haiti Mission Partners, who use them towards critical items needed to help save and improve the lives of the people of Haiti.
 
Here are the most critical needs:

• Haiti Shelter
• Haiti – School Tuition
• Food For Haitian School Children
• Haiti – Goats
• Haiti – Beds For The Elderly
• Haiti – Hygiene Supplies
• Haiti – Water Filters
• Haiti – Shoes
• Haiti Motorcycle Fund

 
Please prayerfully consider making a monetary donation to enable Lutheran Church Charities to continue to send funds to Haiti.

Israel

Four Homes of Mercy is a Christian run home for the emotionally and physically disabled children (many of whom are orphans) and adults in the poor area of Bethany, Israel - the very location where Jesus always stayed when he came to Jerusalem (home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and Simon the Leper).
 
Most of the employees receive no income but volunteer their services and time. They are always in desperate need of resources to care for those who cannot care for themselves.

Here are the most critical needs:

• Cold medications
• Desitin
• Digital thermometers
• Glucose check machines and strips
• Aspirin
  
  

If you are moved to help those who cannot help themselves, please consider donating. Dollar per dollar will go to getting these supplies and other needs to the residents of Four Homes of Mercy.

LAST YEAR alone in the United States, there were 22 major disasters from flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires
 
To respond and help people – you need to be certified/credentialed – all of which LCC does
 
Consider taking LCC’s Online Disaster Response Training (L.E.R.T.)

To better manage volunteers and resources, FEMA has developed a guideline on credentialing volunteers for large-scale disasters. The federal guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified. LCC is providing LCMS disaster response training for Lutheran Early Response Teams (L.E.R.T.). Should a disaster strike, these teams would be put on call and may be asked to deploy in 72 hours or less to the disaster site. This training will prepare a team member for credentialing and will focus on the safety, work, and ministry of Lutherans as Early Responders.

The registration cost for new L.E.R.T. volunteers is $35.00. As a refresher to update your ID, the cost is only $15.00.

NEW: Online Basic L.E.R.T. Training
 
This online LCMS Basic L.E.R.T. training is geared towards responding to a disaster with Lutheran Church Charities in the Northern Illinois District or wherever we are invited to serve nationwide.
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
 
For the online training, you will receive a letter with instructions to access the portal to view the Basic L.E.R.T. training sessions.
 
Upon verification of watching and completing all Basic L.E.R.T. training sessions and quizzes, LCC will then send your DR manual, badge, your personal certificate, and vest.
 
If your church is interested in hosting a Basic L.E.R.T. Training or if you have any questions, contact the LCC Disaster Response team at DRAdmin@LutheranChurchCharities.org or 866-455-6466.

Pastor Don Love from Faith, Merrill & St. John Lutheran Church, Hamburg, Wisconsin, extends his gratitude for the financial assistance from LCC donors for the family in need request last November. With your generosity, they were able to pay off the outstanding loan on their car. They have been truly blessed by your love and support.

However, this family's financial need is immense, and donations are still needed for this young widow with two small children (ages 2 & 4). The widow suffers from a severe autoimmune disorder that currently prevents her from working due to her frail health. Since her husband's not COVID-19-related death last November, they no longer are covered under his medical insurance. They are currently trying to get medical coverage for her and the two children, which is estimated to be approximately $25,000/year.
 
In addition, she has tremendous medical bills from her husband's hospitalization and her on-going medical care, as well as other financial burdens. This 33-year-old mother has moved back home with her parents, who help her care for her young children.
 
If you are so moved, please prayerfully consider supporting this family as they cope with the loss of their husband/father while trying to manage the many financial burdens they face. Their strong faith rests in the promises and hope of Jesus Christ.