Pastor Gerber stated, “Every person who entered the church, whether it was an evacuee or volunteer, will feel the love of Christ and know they were family.” Dawn Gilfry, Top Dog for Katie Comfort Dog, and her team provided comfort and care to those who stayed in their church and are continuing to reach out to them as they were moved to another shelter. They are committed to following and helping these families through this long recovery process that is just beginning.
 
Pastor Gerber and Dawn Gilfry state they are currently assessing how many church and school families are affected. They know 1 staff member, 1 congregation member, and 5 school families have lost their homes completely. They anticipate many more families with losses will be identified in the coming days as the water begins to recede both within their congregation and in their community. They will be helping people with basic needs and housing expenses. 
 
Your donations are greatly needed to help LCC and Trinity Lutheran Church serve their members and their community. If you are so moved, please donate now, and please keep Trinity and their surrounding communities in your prayers during their long recovery.

LCC is also watching the river levels in surrounding areas of our district that may also experience flooding in the days and weeks ahead with snow melt and warmer temperatures occurring. If you know someone that is in need of assistance in the Northern Illinois District (NID), please contact Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response at 866-455-6466 or dradmin@lutheranchurchcharities.org. Our LCC LERT teams are willing to respond with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Please keep all those affected by flooding in the Northern Illinois District and surrounding states in your prayers as they face many losses and a long recovery.

Pastor Gerber stated, “Every person who entered the church, whether it was an evacuee or volunteer, will feel the love of Christ and know they were family.” Dawn Gilfry, Top Dog for Katie Comfort Dog, and her team provided comfort and care to those who stayed in their church and are continuing to reach out to them as they were moved to another shelter. They are committed to following and helping these families through this long recovery process that is just beginning.
 
Pastor Gerber and Dawn Gilfry state they are currently assessing how many church and school families are affected. They know 1 staff member, 1 congregation member, and 5 school families have lost their homes completely. They anticipate many more families with losses will be identified in the coming days as the water begins to recede both within their congregation and in their community. They will be helping people with basic needs and housing expenses. 
 
Your donations are greatly needed to help LCC and Trinity Lutheran Church serve their members and their community. If you are so moved, please donate now, and please keep Trinity and their surrounding communities in your prayers during their long recovery.

LCC is also watching the river levels in surrounding areas of our district that may also experience flooding in the days and weeks ahead with snow melt and warmer temperatures occurring. If you know someone that is in need of assistance in the Northern Illinois District (NID), please contact Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response at 866-455-6466 or dradmin@lutheranchurchcharities.org. Our LCC LERT teams are willing to respond with the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Please keep all those affected by flooding in the Northern Illinois District and surrounding states in your prayers as they face many losses and a long recovery.

Indiana

• St. John's - Dillsboro: Steve Black

Florida

• Port Orange: Ken Cupples

This team was able to return to a homeowner’s property that they had started on our team’s last trip a few weeks ago. They were very happy to be able to return and finish.

Almost every home and business has been affected in some way in Panama City and surrounding towns. The destruction is widespread, especially the tree damage. According to Pastor Ed Brashier, this has been the worst tree damage he has seen in 13 years of disaster response. He is very appreciative that we are willing to travel to assist in this area again for the third time since the hurricane hit. Our LERT teams are very willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need wherever we are invited to serve.

Please pray for the safety of the LERT volunteers deploying and keep the residents affected by Hurricane Michael in your prayers as they will continue to face a long recovery. 

LCC NID LERT teams have been invited by Pastor Ed Brashier, Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, to return for the third time to Panama City, Florida, to provide continued chainsaw assistance to those affected by Hurricane Michael. Eleven LERT certified chainsaw team members with heavy equipment will be deploying March 2 - 10 to Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City.    

The school itself sustained much damage. They are a K – 12 charter school. They had to demolish their gym and one of the wings that had 18 classrooms. The remaining building still needs much repair. She said most of the students are behind where they should be academically, with most still showing signs of trauma and uncertainty.

The school district of Panama City has lost 5,000 students and have had to close 3 schools, laying off 320 teachers and staff. Palm Bay Academy has lost 55 students and will be facing possible layoffs next school year as well because of the loss of housing and jobs in their community.

Dr. Fontaine wishes to express her deepest appreciation for helping her students as they continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Michael.

LCC thanks the LERT team members who traveled to Florida to bring the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. Your dedicated service brought hope to those still recovering from Hurricane Michael.

Please join LCC and our LERT teams as we continue to pray for those impacted by the storm.