Blog Archives

LCC Deploys Disaster Response LERT Teams and K-9 Comfort Dogs to Taylorville, Illinois

12/11/2018

Helping Thirty-Seven Homeowners Begin Recovery from Extensive Tornado Damage

On Saturday, December 1, Central Illinois had 27 confirmed tornadoes touch down in many communities causing damage and destruction of homes and businesses. The hardest hit community was Taylorville, Illinois, in which 2 tornadoes went through different parts of the town. Extensive damage occurred including 406 homes that were affected by these tornadoes that left 11 miles of destruction in its path.

Pastor Rodney Blomquist from Trinity Lutheran Church in Taylorville, Illinois, opened his church to allow residents to take shelter in the church basement. Trinity also served as the host church for the Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) response in their community. After the tornado, Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, deployed to Trinity Lutheran Church at the invitation of Stephen Born, Central Illinois District Disaster Coordinator, to assist affected homeowners by assessing damaged homes, manning a LERT table at the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for residents to request assistance and providing volunteer assistance for disaster response.

CLICK HERE to watch LCC L.E.R.T. Volunteers Making a Difference After Historic Tornadoes in Taylorville, IL

Trinity Lutheran Church hosted a workday on Saturday, December 8, for Central and Northern Illinois District LERT teams as well as Taylorville community members, in which 207 volunteers came and served in the community providing chainsaw assistance for downed and damaged trees and debris removal, completing work at 37 homes.

CLICK HERE to watch broadcast on WCIA 3 News of our teams helping impacted residents

CLICK HERE to read article, Volunteers Offer Relief for Tornado-Ravaged Sections of Taylorville, in The State Journal-Register

The LCC LERT volunteers who traveled to Taylorsville include:

Northern Illinois District
Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek Kowalczyk
Good Shepherd – Elgin: David Vollrath, Mark Handrock
Immanuel – Belvidere: Mike Buhl, Wes Johnson, Christine Kolk, Karen Salgado, Galen & Suzan Sollie
Lord of Life – LaFox: Terry & Mary Kramer, Ken Johnston, Kevin Krage, Matt Byars, Nick Krywaruczenko, Chris Lewis, Dave Smercina, Rick Mathieu
St. John – Wheaton: Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Jan Gerveske, Tom Prickette, Dave Mummah, Rich Wren, Palmer Goodwin
St. Matthew – Hawthorn Woods: Rob & Jen Fosness
St. Peter – Hampshire: Bob Warfel, Mike Hemme, Pete & Christel Springmire
St. Peter – Schaumburg: Ken & Vicki Kiviranta, Tom Amundsen, Sarah Blanchard,
Trinity – Lisle: Don & Cyndi Totter, Robert Ternand
Trinity – Roselle: David Vance
Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless

Indiana District
Trinity Lutheran – Hobart: Karen Fulkerson, Bill Schnabel

Our NID LCC LERT chainsaw team spent two days working at an elderly Trinity member’s home to remove the tree that fell and went into the home. Her daughters were so thankful to be able to access that part of the home and were able to retrieve some of her belongings. With it now exposed, the insurance adjuster was able to assess the damage before it was boarded and tarped up. They could not believe that it was even possible to remove the trees and at no cost to them. Their gratitude and appreciation was evident on the thoughtfulness and caring for the home and belongings as shown by the LERT team members.

LCC K-9 Ministry teams also deployed to Taylorville, Illinois, as the community starts to sort out their belongings from the debris. Recently placed LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Rachel (Immanuel – Charleston, Illinois) and her team, along with Bethany (Trinity – Danville, Illinois), Dinah (Trinity – Auburn, Illinois), Barnabas and Isaiah (Trinity – Hobart, Indiana), and Comfort Dog in Training Darius visited the MARC as well as visiting people throughout the community.

Please pray for the residents in Taylorville and all of the many volunteers who are helping them recover. This community is strong and has seen how the mercy, compassion, and presence of others in their time of need are making a difference.

Donate - LCC Disaster Response Fund

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

Jim Janak Visitation & Funeral

12/11/2018

Six LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited by Pastor Matthew Hoffman and the family of Jim Janak to attend his visitation on Monday, December 10. Jim was an active member of St. Andrews in Park Ridge, Illinois, and a commissioner for the Park Ridge Park District Board. Please keep his wife Stacie, their two children in your prayers.

Attending were LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie and Hannah (LCC Staff), Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), Susie (St. Peter – Arlington Heights, Illinois), Julia (King of Glory – Elgin, Illinois), and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brandy (LCC Squad).

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Attend WINGS Sweet Home Chicago Event

12/11/2018

On Sunday, December 9, hundreds of people gathered at the Four Season’s Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, to show their support for WINGS. Established in 1985, WINGS provides a pathway to independence for people whose lives have been disrupted by domestic violence. They provide emergency safe shelter and transitional housing for victims. They also help families who are in crisis meet basic needs for items such as food and clothing.

The LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to be with guests and some of the families served. On hand were LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Ruthie, Emma, Jacob, and Hannah (LCC Staff) and Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois).

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

Concerns of Police Survivors

12/10/2018

On December 2nd, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Shiloh (Christ Our Savior - Dixon, Illionis) attended the annual appreciation dinner for the Illinois chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors.

Family, friends, and colleagues of officers who were killed in the line of duty gathered in fellowship and support of one another, and Shiloh was there to offer comfort to all.

May those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service and protection of others never be forgotten, and may God bless all who mourn their loss.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." - Romans 12:10

Donate - K-9 Police Ministry Fund

Lucas County Sheriff's Office

12/10/2018

On December 6th, Anna Comfort Dog (Trinity - Toledo, Ohio) visited the Lucas County Sheriff's Office, the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, and the Toledo Police Department to thank the members of each agency for their service. Best wishes for a blessed Christmas were also shared with everyone!

They all enjoyed the visits so much that Anna was awarded with junior badges from each department! God bless all first responders!

Donate - LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Fund

Shop with a Cop

12/10/2018

On December 2nd, LCC K-9 Police Ministry Dog Shiloh (Christ Our Savior - Dixon, IL) participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event in Dixon, IL.

Thanks to generous donations from citizens and businesses, members of the Dixon Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Illinois State Police, and other agencies helped to make Christmas brighter for many children in need.

The officers went shopping with the children so they could have some toys, and Shiloh helped to bring some joy to everyone there.

"...in humility, value others above yourselves." -Philippians 2:3

Donate - K-9 Police Ministry Fund

Veteran Wreath Ceremony

12/10/2018

Kare 9s Britta and Blitz (LCC Squad) attended the Veteran Wreath Ceremony at St Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Illinois on Saturday, December 8th. The ceremony is an annual event at St. Peter to honor veterans whose final resting place is in the church cemetery. The Kare 9s and their veterans handlers laid wreaths at the graves of veterans and offered comfort to those who attended.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

88th Readiness Division Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment Ceremony

12/10/2018

The LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry was front and center at the 88th Readiness Division Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment ceremony in Schaumburg, Illinois this past weekend. The Yellow Ribbon is part of the training and preparedness offered to Army Reservists before they deploy. Among the many vendors and service providers, the Kare 9 area was always the most visited during break times. Kare 9s Brandy, Britta, Blitz, Flex, Brutus (LCC Squad) and Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois) offered the comfort these soldiers needed as they faced separation from family and friends.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

Elgin Community College

12/10/2018

The need for time to de-stress is something the LCC K-9s help others do on a regular basis. On Wednesday, December 5, Elgin Community College invited LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois), Chloe (Lord of Life – Elburn, Illinois), and LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dog Brutus (LCC Squad) to assist students and staff during finals week. The K-9s had many opportunities to bring comfort and stress relief.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

Prospect High School Health Fair

12/10/2018

On Tuesday, December 4, the LCC K-9 Ministry took part in the Prospect High School Health Fair in Prospect, Illinois. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Tobias (Lord of Glory – Grayslake, Illinois), Levi (Immanuel – East Dundee, Illinois), Asher (Faith Lutheran – Lake Forest, Illinois), and Hannah (LCC Staff) joined LCC Kare 9 Military Ministry Dogs Brandy, Brutus, and Flex (LCC Squad) at the health fair. Students spent one class hour visiting the various vendors, including the Comfort and Kare 9 Dogs, and completed an assignment they were given. The K-9s brought mercy, compassion, and love to students and staff alike.

Donate - Kare 9 Military Ministry Fund

<<Previous

Forward>>

LCC Deploys Disaster Response LERT Teams and K-9 Comfort Dogs to Taylorville, Illinois

Jim Janak Visitation & Funeral

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Attend WINGS Sweet Home Chicago Event

Concerns of Police Survivors

Lucas County Sheriff's Office

Shop with a Cop

Veteran Wreath Ceremony

88th Readiness Division Yellow Ribbon Pre-Deployment Ceremony

Elgin Community College

Prospect High School Health Fair

Categories

Archives

Location

Contact Us

Follow Us