Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Disaster Response (DR) wishes to trade in and purchase a new Aluma Tiltbed Trailer for $6400 (with trade-in). The new trailer will be used to transport the boom lift long distances to disasters when needed for LCC DR Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) chainsaw volunteers to remove downed trees from roofs and dangerous hanging trees and limbs.

Currently, LCC DR owns a 2,200-pound wood and aluminum trailer that does not tilt, resulting in several men having to tilt and then push with difficulty the 5,000-pound boom lift onto the trailer over the dovetail ramp. The total weight load can then be transported by only a few people with the required truck horsepower.

LCC can trade the current trailer in for an aluminum tilt trailer that makes loading much safer and easier. The aluminum tilt trailer is much lighter weighing 1500 pounds, 700 pounds less than the current one owned by LCC DR. As a result, the total load weight will allow more people with a less horsepower truck to transport it to a disaster location.

Retired law enforcement, firefighters, business owners, and friends recently gathered to honor and remember Andy Whowell, retired Deputy Chief of Police, Arlington Heights Police Department, after 30 years of service to his community. Following his retirement in 2017, Andy continued to serve his community in many volunteer activities. Andy passed peacefully at his home on December 1, 2019.

On July 8, 2020, over 30 participants attended the first Annual Andy Whowell Memorial Golf Outing at Villa Olivia Golf Course in Bartlett, Illinois, in fellowship and to raise funds for charities he loved and supported. One near to his heart was volunteering at Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) and serving as a law enforcement handler with LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Susie from St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he was a member, and LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Jacob (LCC Staff).

Andy was a person of great faith and is remembered for the well-being and compassion he showed to everyone he met. The first Annual Andy Whowell Memorial Golf Outing raised $1,725 for the LCC K-9 Police Ministry.

On Saturday, August 1, donations were presented by Ray Cowin, Retired Chicago Police Lieutenant, to Tim Hetzner, Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO. Also present were Andy’s wife Ingrid, his son Matthew, Stephanie Keller with LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Susie (St. Peter Lutheran Church - Arlington Heights, Illinois), and Corporal Terri Albright, Community Resource Unit for the DuPage County Sheriff Department and law enforcement handler for LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Julia (King of Glory - Elgin, Illinois).

Several golf event participants and friends of Andy also attended: John Lawlor, Arlington Heights Public Works, Ken Galinski, Retired Arlington Heights Police Officer, and Tim Barrett, Retired Arlington Heights Police Officer.

Lutheran Church Charities was blessed by Andy’s servant heart and thanks his friends and family for their generous donation to the LCC K-9 Police Ministry in his honor. We continue to pray for his family, friends, law enforcement peers, and the many lives he touched.

Dean and Carol Ulrich from St. Paul in Rockford, Illinois and Carl Jurgens from Immanuel in Belvidere, Illinois helped a congregation member in Rockford, Illinois cut a large tree that had been damaged during recent storms.

The homeowners were very appreciative of the team's hard work to make their yard safe again and the Christian care shown to them.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Apprentice Trainers were greeted by an encouraging chalk message when they arrived at the East Dundee Training facility to get ready for a training class.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Cubby (Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado) and her handlers started working with Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) a few years ago with their Foster Care and Family Services Program. Cubby Comfort Dog meets with foster kids and parents in their separate groups about four times a year. Recently Cubby was requested for a different reason.
 
On Monday, July 27, Cubby was invited to meet with two children and their therapist. Prior to the children arriving, Cubby was introduced to two of the LFSRM therapists. They thoroughly enjoyed their time with Cubby and they talked about how stressful it has been to be doing all virtual visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We informed them what Cubby usually does and what she has been doing during the pandemic. 
 
Cubby then went to meet with a 5-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl and their therapist. They laid on the floor with Cubby as they pet her. The girl was especially attentive to Cubby and could not believe how good and calm she was.  We demonstrated several of Cubby’s commands. The overwhelming favorite was "lap"! The therapist and the kids loved giving Cubby hugs while Cubby did the lap command.  The girl made an origami heart for Cubby and wrote a message that said "I LOVE YOU Cubby! on it. We gave them each a stuffie, coloring book, and dog tag. Later, we all went outside and met with the (foster mother) as the therapist demonstrated some calming techniques to use before bedtime. 

Cubby showed the kids how she remains calm by lying on her blanket as the kids took turns petting her. We hope to be invited back soon to help the therapists as they work with foster children and their parents.