Serving Their Community During COVID-19 Family in Faith Neighborhood Food Pantry in Glendale Heights, Illinois is a local food pantry that continues to operate following the necessary guidelines due to COVID-19. The pantry serves anyone living in DuPage County and is open one day a week providing essentials, non-perishable food items, and pet food. The pantry is open on the following days in May: Saturday, May 23; 9:00 am – 12:00 noon Wednesday, May 27; 3:00 – 6:00 pm The coronavirus has brought a greater need for food because of the loss of income for families. Family in Faith asks and is grateful for food donations or financial support to continue to serve the community in the current times of greater need. If you wish to donate food, there are some specific instructions to follow. Please contact the pantry at 630-903-8173 for instructions and to arrange delivery times. CLICK HERE for a list of needed items. Donations Requested to Share the Hope of Jesus Christ Lutheran Church Charities does not charge those we serve for the Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses (HMC) Ministry. We provide hearts and crosses to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness of a loved one. We rely solely on donations to cover the cost of materials and mailing to get them where they are needed the most. The Living Visitation of Greg Zanis Lutheran Church Charities President & CEO Tim Hetzner was joined by LCC Staff Rich Martin and Tim Laabs as they attended the living visitation of Greg Zanis on Friday, May 1. Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses lined the long driveway as 400 vehicles proceeded in front of the Zanis home in Aurora, Illinois. As visitors passed by his porch, they saw Greg in a wheelchair with his wife Susan and children nearby. People came from near and far to pay tribute and lift up their prayers for Greg. Families from as far as Las Vegas, Nevada, came as well as other Chicago area families who lost loved ones. Greg made a tremendous impact on thousands of people, each sharing the story of the day he came into their lives. Greg was called home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, May 4. He will forever be remembered as “the cross man.” He felt it was his calling to be there in times of tragedy, making and delivering over 27,000 crosses in 23 years. Since January 1, 2020, when Greg turned over Crosses for Losses to LCC – the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry continues to serve others every day. Here are some of the ways we are present when people need us the most: A Heart for Hospice On Friday morning, May 1, a mercy heart was delivered to Fran and Dick Tatina in Countryside, Illinois. Fran provided the heart to her sister’s family in Chicago, Illinois, where her sister Geri was in home hospice. Fran tells us that her husband Dick has been of great spiritual support to her sister with daily calls and prayers. Geri passed away the morning of Tuesday, May 2, and that the family was greatly moved when they received the mercy heart. We lift up in prayer Geri and the Wasik family in their time of need. Remembering Officer Katie Thyne Killed in the Line of Duty Earlier this year, Officer Katie Thyne, Newport News Police Department in Newport News, Virginia, was killed in the line of duty in the process of conducting a traffic stop in January. Sgt. Alison Funaiock requested a heart and cross in her honor for her family and friend Brittany Cummings, who is currently training a K-9 for the Newport News Police Department. On Saturday, May 2, LCC K-9 Police Ministry law enforcement handlers, Officers Gary and Beth Cummings, with Police Ministry Dog Amos of Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, Virginia, presented a Thin Blue Line mercy heart and cross to Sgt. Funaiock and Brittany. Brittany will be bringing the heart and cross to Officer Thyne’s family who lives out-of-state. Melrose Park Police Officer Joseph Capello LCC volunteer Alan Stoeckel, retired Palatine Police Chief, presented a Thin Blue Line mercy heart to the teammates of Officer Joseph Capello of the Melrose Park Police Department who passed from COVID-19. Over 100 squad cars from all over lined the street for Officer Capello’s procession. LCC lifts up Officer Capello’s family and teammates in this most difficult time, and all of our first responders who serve and protect their community every day. CLICK HERE to read all the ways the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry has served this year. Your Donations Make a Difference in Sharing the Hope of Jesus Christ Our hearts are made of the highest quality wood and produced with caring Christian hands. Material production and shipping costs for hearts are approximately $30 each. We need your help in sharing the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. Help Us Reach Out with Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Are you interested in having LCC provide a Heart of Mercy & Compassion for a loved one? There is no charge for the hearts. The hearts are made by caring Christian hands and provided with presence and prayer. Is your church interested in becoming a mission partner? CLICK HERE to request information.
Click HERE to learn more about the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry. Help LCC Expand Our Disaster Response Services Lutheran Church Charities has graciously accepted a donation of four Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response units used by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot, North Dakota in the Hope Village Camp. They operated the units for families to live at during the several year rebuilds after their town was totally destroyed by massive flooding. These units include a professional Mobile Kitchen valued at $52,000, a Bunk House trailer valued at $36,000 that can sleep 12 and two 18’ refrigeration trailers valued at $21,000 each. It will cost $6,700 to make repairs and purchase tires for each of these units to make them safe for long distance hauling and cover travel expenses of four Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers. Please prayerfully consider a donation to LCC Disaster Response Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Lutheran Church Charities thanks Ed Boerman, Steve Chester, Marty Johnson and Mike Kostecki for volunteering to make the long trek to North Dakota to haul these units to LCC next week. Each of these units will expand the disaster response services LCC Disaster Response will be able to offer when responding to a disaster in the Northern Illinois District or nationally as we are invited to serve in other states. Our L.E.R.T. teams are especially excited to be able to have a professional mobile kitchen to utilize to serve meals to volunteers and disaster-affected communities.
LCC K-9 Ministry teams continue to connect with people nationally during stay-at-home orders with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry® Virtual Visits. Since its launch on April 1, LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs across the states and their handlers visited virtually with countless healthcare workers, first responders, assisted living communities, and school children, to name a few. The dogs' friendly faces and their handler’s warm smile through the screen brings a calming presence and comforts those who need it. When not doing virtual visits, LCC K-9 Ministry teams look for ways to serve in their communities. Whether sending a meal for the healthcare workers on the front lines, doing a window visit with isolated residents from assisted living communities or delivering items to local food pantries, they are present and sharing the hope and love that can be found in Jesus Christ! We would like to share a few wonderful notes of thanks that LCC received from those benefiting from virtual visits with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and handlers: “Thank you SO much for the time you spent today with our nurses in Joliet, IL. It has been an absolute joy each time the nurses at the hospital have been able to experience a virtual visit. God Bless you all and thank you. Stay healthy and safe – hope to see all the puppy and human faces again!" Virtual Visit with Amita Health COVID-19 Unit Nurses "THANK YOU! These oncology night shift nurses were so appreciative of the love they got this morning. I cannot thank you enough for waking up just to spend a little time with us. You are extraordinary humans and pups!” Virtual Visit with Amita Health Oncology Unit "American Heritage Girls Troop loved the visit with Esther Comfort Dog and Miss Kathy! They were a blessing to our girls & leaders on the Zoom! Hearing Miss Kathy say that Esther's job was to be the hands & feet of Jesus sharing His love and comfort made quite an impression on us. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ministry with us!" Virtual Visit with American Heritage Girls Troop IL6122 Need comfort? Schedule an LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry® Virtual Visit with one of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs. We are available 24/7! Click the captions below to read about the many ways our LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers are reaching out to stay connected! Providing Comfort Through Virtual Visits Serving in Their Communities Making A Difference by Staying Connected!
LCC never goes where we are not invited and LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry NEVER charges those we serve.
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