Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response (DR) was invited by Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan, to provide chainsaw assistance and debris removal with heavy equipment following devastating tornadoes that swept through. Portage and Kalamazoo on May 7 causing widespread destruction.
 
On Sunday, May 19, LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’Day and DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with 18 LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, began a two-week deployment to assist residents affected by this tornado.
 
Town officials from Portage and Kalamazoo expressed their appreciation to the LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers for serving in their communities and continue to refer homeowners to the LERT team for assistance daily.

During the first week of deployment, LCC LERT volunteers completed 14 work sites, with three of these being two- and three-day jobs, due to the extent of the tree damage on their property.
 
One of these homeowners with so much damage was a widow, Mrs. R., who had multiple trees down around her home, with several leaning on her roof. When we met her, she was distraught, in tears, and frustrated with her insurance company who was not returning her calls after assessing the damage.
 
After the team arrived and began clearing her many trees, she had tears of joy and sincere gratitude for the hard work and Christ-like care shown to her. She told us she felt it was the “first time she could truly smile and have hope for recovery since the tornado.” She was also very touched by the cross and homemade quilt given to her and told us she would treasure them.

The destruction and trauma experienced by many residents is widespread, but the spirit of community and faith has provided much-needed hope, encouragement, and help in beginning the long recovery process. It has been a blessing to listen to the survivors' stories and offer a word of encouragement and prayer as we served those in need.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks our generous donors and volunteers for their willingness to serve. We appreciate your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response (DR) has been invited by Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan to provide chainsaw assistance and debris removal with heavy equipment. The towns of Portage and Kalamazoo experienced an EF-2 tornado with 135 mph winds on May 7 causing widespread destruction. It was on the ground for 11 miles and 300 yards wide, beginning one block south of the church.
 
On Sunday, May 19, LCC Director of Disaster Response Kathy O’Day and DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, began a two-week deployment to assist residents affected by this tornado. This deployment is occurring only six days after LCC LERT volunteers returned from a two-week deployment to Nebraska, also for tornado response work.

LCC LERT draggers, chainsaw, and heavy equipment operators spent the last two days working at the home of a St. Michael’s congregation member who had approximately 30 trees downed and several more damaged on his property surrounding his home, as well as debris from his neighbors home which took a direct hit and was destroyed. He did not know how he would even begin to take care of the damage but is now feeling blessed to have a “church family” so willing to help him until it is cleared. 

Mr. R. had several of his and three of his neighbor's trees all leaning and hung up in one of his trees. He and his neighbors had no idea how all of these could be taken down safely and at what cost. They were pleased with the work this LCC lift team has been doing for the past two days and the professionalism shown with their rigging techniques and lift placement to safely and efficiently remove so many of these dangerous leaning and hung trees and limbs.

St. Michael has been very welcoming to the LCC disaster response team and is willing to serve their neighbors. Please pray for all those affected and the team deployed to bring the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need!

On April 26, nineteen EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes tore through Nebraska leaving a trail of destruction in many communities. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response had been asked by Rev. Ross Johnson, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Director of Disaster Response, to provide chainsaw and debris removal assistance with heavy equipment in communities around Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, with Mick Onnen, Nebraska District Disaster Response Coordinator.
 
The Northern Illinois District volunteer deployment to Nebraska has ended. We were able to serve 32 homeowners with chainsaws, lifts, and heavy equipment, as well as give some blessing buckets and gift cards from local churches. Deaconess Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response (DR), and LCC DR Equipment Manager Jamie Miller, along with 27 Northern Illinois District Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) chainsaw volunteers, served from April 29 through May 10 with volunteers from several other districts.

Mr. and Mrs. H. rode out the storm in their home and found themselves facing significant damage to their property. The sound of their roof being torn off and trees snapping filled their home with fear and uncertainty. Their barn, crucial for their livelihood as they raised pigs and chickens, was completely destroyed in a matter of seconds.
 
Feeling overwhelmed by the devastation and unsure of how to begin the cleanup process, they were grateful for the support of their fellow Lutherans who came to their aid. They not only received practical help in cleaning up the debris but also experienced the comforting presence of Christ's love within their community.

One of LCC's final work sites was at the home and ranch of Mr. and Mrs. McG. Despite minimal damage to their home, the devastation to their horse stables and barn, along with the multiple downed trees on their property, left them feeling overwhelmed.
 
However, the team's swift and efficient work in making their property safe brought them a newfound sense of hope and relief.
 
Mrs. McG. stated, “All week we have felt overwhelmed and at a loss, but in one day, you have given us hope and lifted our burden.” She gave the team several hugs and thanks for assisting and caring for them during their time of need.

Mr. and Mrs. G. lost their home and had their wooded property severely damaged by the tornado.
 
Despite the loss and damage they faced, Mrs. G. took the time to express her sincere gratitude in a thank you note sent to us for the assistance they received, and the mercy and compassion shown to them.
 
“Thank you so much for coming and serving! We could not feel more uplifted and cared for during this whole ordeal. It was truly an honor to meet you and your team. We came home last night and we will head back for Mother’s Day weekend to get more things arranged. Take care! We are truly thankful for people like you!”

Mick Onnen, the Nebraska District Disaster Response Coordinator, sent a message of gratitude expressing his thanks to all those who served and supported the disaster response efforts in the district.

Lutheran Church Charities thanks the following LERT volunteers for their willingness to serve:

Illinois
Alleluia, Naperville - Ann Quigley, Rachel Rogers
Good Shepherd, Elgin - David Vollrath
Immanuel, DeKalb - Pete Springmire
Immanuel, Dundee - Carl Fischer, Matt Flynn, Terry and Denise Fuelling, Doug and Kelley Hoyt,
Al Navarro
Immanuel, Shobonier - Fran Collier
Lord of Life, Elburn - Mark Holstein, Kevin Krage, Terry and Mary Kramer, Vince Miller, Larry Zagorski
Prince of Peace, Palatine - Jim Beckley
St. John, Wheaton - Marty Johnson

Wisconsin
 St. Paul's, Janesville - Lark Sanders
 Prince of Peace, Menomonee Falls - Roger Kautz
 St. Paul, Grafton - Mark and Beverly Brueggemann

The destruction and trauma experienced by many residents is widespread, but the spirit of community and faith has provided much-needed hope, encouragement, and help in beginning the long recovery process.

It has been a blessing to listen to the survivors' stories and offer a word of encouragement and prayer as we served those in need.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks our generous donors and volunteers for their willingness to serve. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist.

he destruction and trauma experienced by many residents are widespread, but the spirit of community and faith is providing much-needed hope, encouragement, and help in beginning the long recovery process. It is a blessing to listen to their stories and offer a word of encouragement and prayer as we serve those in need.

Lutheran Church Charities thanks our generous donors and volunteers for their willingness to serve. Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for all of the communities affected by the catastrophic tornadoes and those responding to assist.

Lutheran Church Charities held a Basic LCMS LERT chainsaw operation and safety classroom instruction at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, on May 3. This class was co-led by LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors and LCC advanced team leaders Marty Johnson and Ed Boerman.

On Saturday, May 4, thirty basic and advanced chainsaw-certified LCC staff and LERT team members worked as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear downed and dead trees, limbs, and brush from the camp. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director, expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to prepare the property for campers.

The eighteen first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling and bucking trees and limbs, as well as serving with chainsaw team members.

LERT chainsaw volunteers from the following Illinois, Indiana, and North Carolina churches were in attendance:

Illinois
Christ the Rock, Rockford
Good Shepherd, Frankfurt
Heartland, Normal
Immanuel, Batavia
Immanuel, Belvidere
Lord of Life, Elburn
Prince of Peace, Palatine
St. John's, Union
St. John, Wheaton
St. Paul, Rockford
Trinity, Lisle
Trinity, Roselle

Indiana
Christ Lutheran, Valparaiso

North Carolina
Eternal Shepherd, Seneca

The President/CEO of LCC, Rev. Chris Singer, and the Director of Disaster Response, Deaconess Kathy O’Day, recently shared their expertise at the Ready Response Conference in Houston, Texas.

Invited by Pastor Dan Schepmann and Stephanie Knea, Director of Serving Beyond at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, they engaged with the congregation through insightful presentations during worship and Bible Study sessions. Rev. Singer and Deaconess O'Day led a roundtable discussion with the church's leadership team, exploring the benefits of becoming an LCC affiliate for enhanced ministry partnership and support.
 
Seventy-five participants attended a variety of training opportunities. Rev. Singer presented Spiritual First Aid, and Deaconess O’Day led Basic Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) and Assessment training. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Texas District Disaster Response Coordinator David Ricks led a Basic Chainsaw training. Gloria Dei’s Holy Smoker’s food ministry team prepared delicious meals each day as they have done in previous disasters.

We welcome 55 new LCMS LERT volunteers and a new Texas District LERT team! Gloria Dei Lutheran Church looks forward to serving its community as a new LCC affiliate. It is good to see how the disaster and crisis response ministry continues to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need.

In South Barrington, LERT volunteers worked at seven homes in one circle block. The homeowners were so thankful for the assistance. One posted on the LCC Disaster Response Facebook page, “My husband and I are eternally grateful to the men and women that came out to assist us. They were all so kind and compassionate. Thank you all for the amazing work you are doing!”

In Hoffman Estates, LERT volunteers worked at the home of a recent widow and stroke survivor who had an uprooted pine tree in her front yard and a very large topped oak tree in her back yard. The team had to fell the remaining 15-foot trunk and remove numerous fallen limbs. She couldn’t believe that we would so willingly do all of this and at no cost. She was in tears when presented with a cross from her tree and thanked everyone present for their care and hard work. 

A very large and diseased pine tree was topped and needed to be felled for safety reasons at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine. The church's LERT team took care of this to make the grounds safe and received thanks for their willing service.

Lutheran Church Charities LERT volunteers will continue to be available to assist homeowners who have damage from these storms. Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating storms, including the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the recovery process.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that we can BE THERE to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

Each of the children was very excited to have a bedroom personalized with their wishes. They feel truly blessed by the physical, spiritual, and emotional assistance and care given to them and know they can now move forward in dealing with the aftermath of this tragic fire.

The Makai Foundation and Lutheran Church Charities have covered the construction rebuilding costs of approximately $9,000. Maui Rapid Response and other trades helped rebuild the damaged house so this family could have a safe and permanent home for some time. Emmanuel Lutheran Church also purchased and delivered some of the supplies needed for this build.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help provide affordable housing options for families that lost everything. Your support can make a huge difference in the lives of those affected by these devastating fires. By providing affordable housing, we can help families get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.

Join us in this mission to support the Maui community and provide hope for those who have lost everything. Together, we can make a difference!

Posted: January 23, 2024

The recent wildfires in Maui have caused widespread devastation, displacing approximately 12,000 people and leading to the loss of over 3,000 homes, businesses, and land. The impact of these fires goes beyond just physical damage, as they have also caused a loss of identity and heritage, and a loss of ohana (family) for the affected communities.
 
With over 15,000 applications for assistance filed with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SBA (Small Business Administration), it is clear that the people of Maui are in dire need of support. The fires have also worsened the existing housing crisis on the island, which was already a major issue before the disaster struck. This crisis has been exacerbated by the loss of affordable housing and jobs due to the fires, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet. It is clear that the people of Maui need our help and support during these difficult times.

A Multi-Generation Family Struggles to Find Affordable Housing

Lutheran Church Charities and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Kahului are beginning to work with Rebekah Uccellini from the Makai Foundation to help meet the unmet needs of survivors.
 
Rebekah stated, "In the wake of the disaster, everyone and their brother wanted to help Maui. We knew that it was important for us to pause and listen for the invitation (kahea) of trust. We understood that there would likely be gaps in the system. We chose to observe and identify those gaps in order to ensure that we weren't going in with just best of intentions. We wanted to ensure we had a process in place to effectively catch those who were falling through the cracks in the system."

Exploring "Outside the Box" Options to Provide Affordable Housing for Families in Need

The Makai Foundation is looking into other “outside the box” options to provide affordable housing for families in need. Many properties on the island are in disrepair that, if fixed up, could house families. There is an opportunity for this family to create stability for themselves and return to nature and their cultural traditions on the magical western shores of Maui in Kahakuloa Valley.
 
Rebekah was introduced to another local family who has sixteen acres of land that’s been in their family for generations. They have watched as many of the homes on their homestead have fallen into disrepair but they haven’t had the resources to do the proper upgrades. It has been painful for them to watch these homes fall into disrepair.
 
Their hearts have been wanting to help Lahaina families and to share what they have, so they have been providing spaces on the land since the fires - free of charge. Last week they showed Rebekah two homes on their land that they would be willing to provide, rent-free for a year, if the Makai Foundation could help them fix them up. The land is quite literally a little slice of heaven on earth.
 
Rebekah brought these families together to see if it would be a good match. The families found out they knew the same people from Lahainaluna, shared stories about the pastor of the church they had gone to, and many tears were shed between them. Since the father of the displaced family is also a landscaper, he offered to help tend to the land, which was music to the owner’s ears. Rebekah states, "I️ watched as the children played on the land, and everyone came to life."

A Dream Land for Displaced Families

The land is an absolute dream and a prayer come true, knowing that by helping local families fix up their homes, they, in exchange, will be providing refuge for fire-affected families in need. Rebekah states, "There is much potential to provide more opportunities and affordable housing on the island for these families for the long haul with the help of willing partners, like Lutheran Church Charities and Emmanuel Lutheran Church."

Please prayerfully consider donating to help provide affordable housing options for this family in need. Your support can make a huge difference in the lives of those affected by these devastating fires. By providing affordable housing, we can help families get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. Join us in this mission to support the Maui community and provide hope for those who have lost everything. Together, we can make a difference!

Spiritual and Emotional Care Needs for Survivors

Emmanuel leadership is also exploring options to provide a dinner for survivors followed by a meeting place for adults to receive support and children to play and explore art therapy, which has been well-received in the community recovery centers that will be closing at the end of the month.
 
Lutheran Church Charities continues to support and encourage Emmanuel Lutheran Church leaders as they navigate the next phase of this long-term recovery process and minister to those affected by the devastating fire. Emmanuel Lutheran School has also continued to provide requested items needed to the community distribution points for survivors in Lahaina and Kula. The congregation of Emmanuel and the people they have met and minister to extend heartfelt "Mahalo nui" for prayers and financial support sent on their behalf.

About the Makai Foundation

The Makai Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity focused on rebuilding Maui after the deadly wildfires of 2023. Their goal is to:
 

• Help with immediate needs like water, food, and shelter
• Bridge the gap where insurance falls short
• Coordinate and collaborate with local charities on the ground
• Search for affordable housing
• Get local businesses back up and running
• Keep generational lands in generational hands
• Move quickly around red tape to get things done
  

They do this by partnering with local businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals who can provide assistance for survivors, especially those who fall between the cracks, and without the red tape many government and other agencies may have.

They do this by publishing brief stories about the survivor with unmet needs and the amount requested to meet these needs for the donors/partners to see if they could help. This is where Emmanuel Lutheran Church and LCC will assist in meeting these identified and vetted unmet needs of families and individuals.

Unity Walk Rallies Lahaina Community

We invite you to watch the broadcast from The Unity Walk that took place along LCC's Hearts of Mercy & Compassion and crosses at the memorial site.

Anna Piro shared the team's sentiment, "We all worked well together, falling into the tasks at hand. As you can imagine, there has been much joy and laughter throughout our trip with each other and those we worked with. Belize was good to us, and we have loved the people we met at Camp Concordia and Good Shepherd."
 
The Northern Illinois District and Lutheran Church Charities thanks each of these volunteers for their willing service in Belize. The Lutheran Mission Belize posted the following thanks on their Facebook page: "We are so grateful for the hard work of these Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers this past week! They took down damaged and diseased trees in several locations throughout Belize, including at Camp Concordia. They have been a blessing!"