Blog Archives

Oktoberfest

8/28/2018

On Saturday, August 25, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois) and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus and Flex (LCC Squad) went to Trinity Lutheran Church in Huntley, Illinois, to help celebrate Oktoberfest at the church and school. The atmosphere certainly had a German flair, with Weiner Schnitzel, Brats and Sauerkraut. Games, live music, a dance demonstration, and raffles were also there to entertain the community. The LCC K-9 Ministry Dogs greeted fest goers with love and compassion

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment

8/28/2018

On Saturday, August 25, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Barnabas (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana), Dinah (Trinity – Auburn, Illinois), and Britta and Butch (LCC Squad) were recently on duty at the Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment event in Springfield, Illinois. The Kare 9s and their veteran handlers met many men and women serving our nation, along with their families. The military personnel were being sent off on a deployment. All were blessed to spend time with the Kare 9 dogs.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

Farmer’s Market

8/28/2018

On Sunday, August 26, Veteran Joe and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Reba went to a local Farmer's Market with his VFW Post and met a lot of really nice people. It was nice being outside and the weather was great. They met some people who had family in the military who were overseas and had a nice long visit.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry

Pastor Paul Garchow’s Visitation & Service

8/28/2018

After 40 years of faithful service to his Lord, Pastor Paul Garchow was carried home to heaven in the arms of Jesus. Pastor Garchow’s Celebration of Life Service was held at Immanuel in Belvidere, Illinois, this past weekend. Pastor and his wife, Christine, along with their children and grandchildren, support the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Julia (King of Glory – Elgin, Illinois), Mary (St. Paul’s – Janesville, Wisconsin), Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), Eunice (LCC Staff), Adeena (St. Joh – Burlington, Illinois), Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois), and Kye and Bekah (Immanuel – Belvidere, Illinois), along with their handlers, were there to greet and bring comfort to the family, friends and students of Pastor Paul. He served as a Pastor at St. Paul – Janesville, Wisconsin; St. John’s – Mattoon, Illinois; Christ the Rock – Rockford, Illinois; and Immanuel - Belvidere, Illinois. In his retirement, Pastor Paul taught religion classes to freshmen and sophomore students at Rockford Lutheran High School. Over 400 people attended the services and were blessed with the unconditional love and comfort from the K-9’s.

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

Ray Graham Association

8/28/2018

On Thursday, August 23, the Ray Graham Association honored LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Eve (St. John’s – Lombard, Illinois) and her handlers for their partnership at an event in Lisle, Illinois. Due to prior commitment at Ronald McDonald House, Eve Comfort Dog was unable to attend but Patience (Comfort Dog-in-Training) filled in to represent the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry.

The Ray Graham Association provides residential, life skills services and employment opportunities to those with disabilities. Eve Comfort Dog and her handlers have been providing regular visits to the residential portion in Addison, Illinois, for the past three years. It has truly evolved from a “dog” visit to a “people” ministry over time. The handlers even provide visit time to residents without Eve Comfort Dog due to her busy schedule.

Congratulations to the St. John’s – Lombard LCC K-9 Ministry team for sharing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to clients of the Ray Graham Association.

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

Chamberlain College of Nursing

8/28/2018

On Wednesday, August 22, LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brutus and Flex (LCC Squad) were invited to the Chamberlain College of Nursing in Addison, Illinois, to bring comfort and relieve the stress of students preparing for final exams. Additionally, the Kare 9s joined a group of 100-plus new students going through orientation. Kare 9s Brutus and Flex also met Nursing College President, Jan Snow. They enjoyed a wonderful day with wonderful people!

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

Thank You from LCC

8/28/2018

Thank you to our wonderful LCC volunteers, Bob Schwermer and Jim Beckley, who picked up donations for the LCC studio and the LCC annex. LCC appreciates your time and dedication to our ministry.

LCC and Your Donations Help Families Displaced by Fire Move to New Housing

8/21/2018

Lutheran Church Charities is continuing to partner with the Prospect Heights Police Department’s victim advocates to provide assistance to residents affected by the fire. LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O'Day has been able to assist 5 more families in need this week with rental assistance. Each family also receives a handmade quilt from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palatine. Each of these families are so appreciative and amazed at our willingness to assist them as we work collaboratively with the town of Prospect Heights. Many families are still trying to find housing and LCC is ready and willing to assist as needed.

Donate - Prospect Heights Fire Fund

St. Matthew, Hawthorn Woods and Concordia University Wisconsin Welcome Second LCC K-9 Comfort Dog

8/21/2018

Last week, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Hawthorn Woods and Concordia University Wisconsin joined LCC staff members for handler training. Each team was very excited to meet their new LCC K-9 Comfort Dog. These are the second Comfort Dogs to be placed with both of these LCC affiliates. The handlers and caregivers spent many hours training in ministry and in handler skills.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Malachi will serve as St. Matthew Lutheran Church’s bridge to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence, and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. Malachi Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is Exodus 15:2 (NIV):

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him"

Concordia University Wisconsin welcomed LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Sage. Sage will serve as their handlers’ bridge so they can be the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need. Sage Comfort Dog’s Bible verse is Jeremiah 18:3-4 (NIV):

“So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is one of presence. When the Lord calls, we must go and serve Him. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8

The following new handlers to the K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry have heard that call

K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers St. Matthew Lutheran Church:
Donald Brusa
Luann Brusa
Jennifer Fosness
Rob Fosness
Sally Henning
Lea Kelly
Angela Ketcham
Debra Kinne
Lauraine Morajda
Dennis Rusch
Mary Kaye Rusch
Paula Furst
Michael Furst, Kare 9 Handler, Army 1966-196

K-9 Comfort Dog Handlers Concordia University Wisconsin
Nicole Behnke
Chelsea Coon
Abby Foster
Lois Harrison
Allie Kitching
Billy Matt
Caroline Meier
Tessa Pfortmiller
Linda Samuel
Briana Schoenke
Nicole Williams
Morgan Withey
Allison Wolf
Matthew Wolf

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

LCC Welcomes Three New LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Trainers

8/21/2018

We are pleased to announce the addition of three highly qualified K-9 trainers to help and assist in the training of our future Comfort Dogs, as well as provide ongoing training for all of our affiliates and their LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs.

Becky Kolzow
Becky received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois in 2013. Prior to joining LCC, she worked for 5 years for the Humane Society as both an Animal Care Technician and Enrichment Coordinator. At the Humane Society, she evaluated and worked with dogs with a variety of temperaments and behavioral issues. Prior to working at the Humane Society, she was a founding member of the Illini Service Dog Program. She trained multiple service dogs to work with people who have mobility disabilities.

Marcus Farris
Marcus received his certification in Dog Training from Animal Behavior College in 2016. For the past 6 years, he has worked at and managed two Doggie Day Care Centers. He has extensive experience in evaluating dog temperaments, maintaining a safe environment, and training dogs and handlers

Megan Glowacz
Megan did both her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Illinois. She has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences, Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Science in Immunophysiology and Animal Behavior. Her course work included: contemporary animal issues, animal nutrition, animal reproduction and growth, companion animal community outreach, shelter management, animal behavior, applied animal ecology, and animal stress physiology. Prior to joining LCC, she worked as an Animal Care Specialist for the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society. While attending school, she fostered and trained service dogs for people with physical disabilities through the Illini Service Dogs Program.