LCC Human Care received a request from Pastor Eric Hollar of Bethel Lutheran Church in Claremont, North Carolina (pictured), to assist a young family in need.
 
Dear Lutheran Church Charities,
 
A young family with two children in our community is in need of financial support. Josh and Brittney are active in the community as Optimist Coaches while Brittney is a PE teacher and current volleyball coach for the local middle school.
 
On Tuesday of last week, while at his office job with a local trucking company, Josh started showing signs of a medical emergency. Before too long, he was first taken to the local hospital, then transported by helicopter to a larger Trauma Hospital with a major brain bleed. Nearly a week later he is still in ICU and on a ventilator, non-responsive. Doctors are not sure of the prognosis, but one thing is certain, the family faces a long road to recovery.
 
Already saddled with unexpected expenses due to house flood, they are facing many financial struggles ahead.
 
I am truly humbled to approach you with this request but know this family would be blessed by your generosity. Thank you for your prayers for this family and your consideration of financially supporting them.
 
Living Out His Love,
 
Pastor Eric Hollar
Bethel Lutheran Church
Claremont, North Carolina

A moment that resonated with many of the teams was when they were at Apalachee High School and a high school volleyball team from another high school came to the memorial site in support of Apalachee. 
 
The players gathered in a circle that continued to grow as others joined, along with the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog handlers.
 
The prayer was beautifully led by one of the young volleyball players. It was a moment of people coming together in love, support, and faith for Apalachee High School and the Winder community.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Faith, Hope, Peace, Phinehas, Seth, Job, Moriah, Jemimah, and Zoara visited many of the Barrow County District schools last week as a calming, welcoming, and safe presence for the students and staff as they returned to school.
 
There were many God moments that happened throughout their time there:

On Lutheran Church Charities’ social channels, teachers, parents, and community members had these kind words to share about the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry’s presence in Winder:

These nine LCC K-9 Comfort Dog teams came together from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Nebraska to be there for Winder. Each of the handlers, with their Comfort Dogs, engaged and connected with people throughout the community.
 
Sometimes the connection was through just being there, sometimes listening, sometimes sharing words or a hug, always sharing God’s love. They were another reminder that “Love will prevail,” and God’s light and goodness will overcome the darkness of this tragedy.

We are incredibly thankful for your support, which makes it possible for us to BE THERE where we are needed most. Your donations are making a tangible difference in the lives of the people our dedicated teams of volunteers are able to help. The love, healing, and comfort we are able to provide are a direct result of your generosity.

Following the sudden death of Kara Welsh, a gymnast at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, LCC reached out to Aspire Gymnastics in Joliet, Illinois, offering a heart and a cross as symbols of support. Aspire Gymnastics was Kara’s childhood gymnastics club, where she spent 9 years training before competing in collegiate gymnastics.
 
The coaches at Aspire Gymnastics welcomed this gesture with open arms. The grief was very real for them since Kara had trained each summer at their gym, while home from university. She had just left Joliet to move back to the university when she died. 
 
For the past week, the heart and cross have been displayed inside the gym. The picture of the cross is adorned with heartfelt messages from the gymnasts. The young athletes have had the opportunity to remember Kara, grieve for her, and write messages to her family. Initially, those closest to Kara signed the heart and cross, and then all the gymnasts were encouraged to add their own messages.
 
As the girls trained and grieved together, the heart and cross became a central part of their time in the gym, allowing them to offer their support and love to Kara’s family. Kara was a bright spirit and a dedicated worker, and she will be deeply missed by everyone.

Helping a Church Secretary with Storm Damage Cleanup
 
Lutheran Church Charities was contacted by Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, Indiana, to help assist their church secretary, Mrs. B., in removing a storm-damaged tree from her front yard in Griffith, Indiana. Half of the tree had fallen onto a neighbor’s garage during the storm and there was fear of more damage if the remaining damaged tree fell.
 
This past week, the following LERT volunteers, along with Mrs. B's husband, felled and cut up the tree into firewood and placed the limbs on the street for pickup. Mr. and Mrs. B. were grateful to have the assistance and that their property was made safe again.
 
They extend their sincere thanks to the following LERT volunteers:
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire
Christ Lutheran, Valparaiso – Milan Coburn

A Beacon of Hope after a Derecho
 
Mrs. Z. faced an overwhelming challenge when a large tree limb fell on her car during the Northern Illinois derecho in July. While visiting BC Auto Body for repairs, she told Steve Chester, the owner and a member of the St. John Wheaton LERT, about other tree damage that she could not afford to take care of on her property.
 
He referred her to Lutheran Church Charities for an assessment, and this past week the St. John Wheaton LERT volunteers and garden club members spent two days removing damaged tree limbs, trimming, cutting brush, and doing general maintenance on Mrs. Z's overgrown property.
 
Mrs. Z. and Lutheran Church Charities extend their thanks to the following volunteers for being the hands and feet of Christ to a local neighbor in need.
 
Immanuel, Dundee LERT – Matt Flynn
St. John, Wheaton LERT – Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Julie Madden, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro
St. John Wheaton Garden Club – Bill Cooper

Thanks to the unwavering support from LCC volunteers, she found not only practical help in clearing the debris but also a sense of belonging and emotional reassurance. This experience underscores the vital role of community in times of crisis, reminding us that together, we can rebuild and heal.

Thank you for joining LCC in supporting our mission to aid the vulnerable in Haiti during these challenging times. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can make a difference and help alleviate the suffering of those affected. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and help save lives in Haiti.

On Saturday, September 14, Habitat Care Center held a mobile health clinic, where we served more than 200 people. They came to consult for different diseases and we had several specialists serving the people: An eye doctor, gynecologist, internist, orthopedic, and pediatrician. We started the day at 6 a.m. and people were already lined up to meet us. We finished around 5 p.m.
 
People were really happy because the area needed these different services. Many people are suffering in the community. There is indeed a large hospital in the Nan community, but access to it is not easy because people cannot afford to pay for the services.
 
Thanks to the Habitat Care Center, the service came to the people, and the people felt restored like dry land that was waiting for rain.
 
When it comes to buying medicine, many just can't afford it. People are asking Habitat to find sponsors to subsidize their medicine so they can pay at a lower price.
 
Meschac St Amour
President
Habitat For Children Ministries, Inc.

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Illinois, has started offering piano lessons at the church in hopes of building a Parish Music Conservatory that brings together people of all ages to share in the joy of music. Pastor Bob Etheridge (pictured) contacted LCC for support in sustaining this wonderful initiative.
 
Our dedicated piano teacher, passionate about sharing her love for music, needs a reliable vehicle to facilitate her travel to and from lessons. A small, safe, and drivable passenger vehicle, preferably a hatchback, would greatly enhance her ability to serve our community effectively. With a valid driver's license and the ability to obtain insurance, she is eager to get started!
 
If anyone has a vehicle they would like to donate or want to financially contribute to help her afford a vehicle, it would greatly benefit our ministry.
 
Peace,
Pastor Bob Etheridge
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Schaumburg, Illinois
 
By donating a vehicle or contributing financially towards this cause, you can play a crucial role in supporting St. John's ministry. Your generosity will not only assist their teacher but will also have a ripple effect, allowing them to reach more families and individuals eager to experience the joy of music.
 
Click on the button below to contribute financially or contact LCC at (866) 455-6466 if you have a running car to donate.

The HMC and K-9 visits created moments of connection and joy, as hurting individuals found comfort in the gentle presence of a heart bearer, and our loving Comfort Dogs and their dedicated handlers. Each interaction was a testament to the healing power of companionship, as students lit up with smiles or found a moment of respite.

Through these ministries, LCC remains committed to providing emotional and spiritual support in times of distress, reminding us all that we are never alone in our struggles.

Hundreds visited the memorial site at Apalachee High School where four LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion were set up in memory of each victim. People formed prayer circles and filled the hearts and crosses to the brim with messages of love and support

With uplifting sentiments like “God has you,” “Never forgotten,” and the comforting words of Isaiah 41:10, individuals found solace in each other’s presence, reinforcing the importance of emotional and spiritual support during difficult times.

The messages of “3 hours away we are praying for you” and “prayers and may God hold you in His loving hands” resonated deeply, reminding us all of the power of community in healing and hope. Through such acts of compassion and mercy, we are reminded that together, we can navigate even the most challenging moments.

On Sunday evening the Comfort Dogs and their handlers attended a vigil at Apalachee High School’s football field. The handlers were able to support those who attended, providing a safe and comforting place. The fear of going back to school for both students and parents was there and shared in conversations both spoken and unspoken as well as a deep sadness and pain for those precious lives taken.

It was evident to the team that the Winder community is a large family, one of strong faith and hope in God. So many people welcomed prayer from the Comfort Dog Ministry team and were thankful for the prayers shared with them.

The Comfort Dog Ministry teams for Faith (St. Stephens - Hickory, North Carolina​), Hope (Faith Lutheran - Marietta, Georgia), Jemimah (St. Paul - Boca Raton, Florida), Job (​Christ the King - Memphis, Tennesse), Moriah (St. Luke's - Oviedo, Florida), Peace (Trinity - Orlando, Florida), Phinehas (Trinity - Fremont, Nebraska), Seth (Eternal Shepherd - Seneca, South Carolina) and Zoara (Island Lutheran - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) spent time on Monday with some of the teachers in the Barrow County School System, just being there with them and for them, as they talked, and cuddled with the Comfort Dogs, sharing God’s light in this dark time.  It was a time to be together to help them carry the load of their grief and to share smiles and tears.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry teams will be in Winder, Georgia until Saturday, September 14.

We are incredibly thankful for your support, which makes it possible for us to BE THERE where we are needed most. Your donations are making a tangible difference in the lives of the people our dedicated teams of volunteers are able to help. The love, healing, and comfort we are able to provide are a direct result of your generosity.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Human Care team delivered financial donations to Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Illinois, to assist a teacher in need, and to Faith Lutheran Church in Carpentersville, Illinois, to support the Hospitality House Ministry. 

Your generosity has made a meaningful impact on their community. Thank you for supporting and encouraging the churches as they offer the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

We are filled with gratitude as we share the incredible impact of a recent generous donation that has brought hope and transformation to someone in need within our community. A mobility scooter, valued at $3,500, was graciously contributed by a compassionate donor, and it is making a profound difference in the life of an individual facing significant mobility challenges.
 
Our dedicated Human Care forwarded it to Pastor Hesham Shehab at Salam Christian Fellowship in Lombard, Illinois, where it is now serving as a vital tool for independence. For many, the ability to move freely is not just about convenience; it's about reclaiming a sense of autonomy and the joy of participating in life outside the confines of their home. This donation is more than just a piece of equipment; it symbolizes the love and support of our community, working together to uplift those who need it most.
 
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our donors whose ongoing generosity allows us to continue our mission of compassion and service. Your contributions enable us to support churches and their efforts to spread the love of Christ within their communities.