Kathy O’Day, Lutheran Church Charities Director of Disaster Response, received an urgent financial assistance request from Tim Richter, Director of Christian Education (DCE) at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, to purchase basic living items needed for very low-income community members in Harlem Heights recovering from the destruction of their homes from Hurricane Ian. Debra Mathinos, Chief Programs Officer of Harlem Heights Community Center, made the initial request for assistance to Zion Lutheran Church, one of their very involved community partners for the past nine years. This area experienced the hurricane-driven flood surge. All had 4’-8’ of water throughout their homes. Families had to be rescued, and all have lost what little they had owned. Most of these families are now living in fully gutted homes, old campers, and even some tents on their property – and they will be living like this for at least the next six months to a year or more until their homes can be repaired or rebuilt. Your Donations Purchased 40 Microwaves and 50 Chairs! |
This area experienced the hurricane-driven flood surge. All had 4’-8’ of water throughout their homes. Families had to be rescued, and all have lost what little they had owned. Most of these families are now living in fully gutted homes, old campers, and even some tents on their property – and they will be living like this for at least the next six months to a year or more until their homes can be repaired or rebuilt. |
Your Donations Will Help 40 – 50 Families in Need!
This will allow families to cook simple meals, have a place to sit and eat, and for children to do homework as they try to live as best they can in their gutted homes with minimal functional electrical outlets.
Zion Lutheran Church will purchase the needed items from local businesses. Tim Richter and Jan Boerman, L.E.R.T. leader from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle, Illinois, who is still serving in Florida, will deliver these needed items to the Harlem Heights Community Center for family disbursement as soon as they can.
Within the boundaries of Harlem Heights, there are 350 single-family homes, 400 apartments, and more than 750 children. Ninety-five percent of the residents were employed in the service industry on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. Due to the hurricane, their jobs and means of support are now gone.
Beginning last week and continuing, four L.E.R.T. volunteers from Trinity Lisle are serving out of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida. Ed and Jan Boerman and Clay and Linda Arnold have been doing chainsaw work and helping homeowners salvage and pack belongings in their flooded homes.
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Please prayerfully consider donating to help Lutheran Church Charities and Zion Lutheran Church help Harlem Heights families who are struggling and in need.
Chainsaw Worksites Completed: 78
Muck Out & Salvaging Belongings Completed: 11
These communities were in the eye of a slow-moving hurricane, with residents enduring nine hours of sheltering in place while 125+mph winds and multiple tornadoes passed over their homes.
Since our arrival, LCC has completed 102 property assessments of tree damage which requires chainsaw and heavy equipment assistance. We are also assessing for debris removal or helping homeowners salvage their belongings from heavily damaged or destroyed homes.
Most of all, L.E.R.T. volunteers are present to provide spiritual and emotional care with those they serve.
Helping a Recent Widow with Property Damage
Last week, we shared that one of the homeowners, a very recent widow, told the team working at her home, “You are a group of angels sent by God.” She came to worship at Lakeside Lutheran Church last Sunday, and the first thing she said was, “There’s my angels!” The L.E.R.T. volunteers and Pastor David Dahlke gave a very warm welcome to their new friend and spent a lot of time with her after the service. The Pastor and congregation members look forward to seeing her often. |
Removing a Giant Tree from Hard-Hit Property
LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers helped a homeowner cut and remove a giant tree trunk. The team learned it was a Ramose tree they had not seen before. They enjoyed getting to know the family and felt blessed by the time spent with the 94-year-old grandma. She was very thankful and hugged everyone for helping them. The L.E.R.T. volunteers feel blessed to serve over ten families in this hard-hit, low-income community who are trying to recover from heavily damaged property. |
Helping Homeowner Recovering from Recent Open Heart Surgery
Working Together to Serve Homeowners in Need
Members from Lakeside Lutheran Church worked side-by-side with L.E.R.T. volunteers from Trinity-Lisle to help several families salvage belongings and make home repairs from damage after the hurricane. Many roofs came off, or flying debris caused holes where heavy rain came in. They helped five families this past week move flood-damaged belongings out of homes, installed new windows, replaced a water heater, made minor repairs, or salvaged belongings. Residents are overwhelmed with the devastation and need the reassurance and hope found in Jesus Christ. Our teams are being the hands and feet of Jesus – it has been a great week of serving! |
We NEVER charge those we serve!
Week Two Helping Churches and Homeowners with
Physical Recovery and Spiritual Care
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts
These communities were in the eye of a slow-moving hurricane, with residents enduring nine hours of sheltering in place while 125+mph winds and multiple tornadoes passed over their homes. Additional L.E.R.T. volunteers continue to arrive throughout the deployment.
Pastor David Dahlke from LCC’s host church Lakeside Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida, shares, “One of the life lessons we learn early from the Bible is Love your neighbor … what do we do next. And God's hands send the people of L.E.R.T.” He continues, “Help them, serve them and care for them … God calls his church together – hand to hand, life to life, soul to soul – to touch people’s lives and bring them that peace that can only come from the hands of God.” Pastor Dahlke and his congregation are being the hands of Christ to the L.E.R.T. volunteers and to the community. They are so grateful that “God would send Samaritans to not only help them but to pray with them.”
During their first week in Florida, L.E.R.T. volunteers completed twenty-three tree-damaged property sites and seven property sites with debris removal or salvaging assistance. The teams worked at four churches, two pastor homes, eight church worker or congregational staff homes, and many community residents. Several properties were multi-day sites, including tree removal from rooftops.
LCC Disaster Response is one of three recovery basecamps established by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Rev. Ross Johnson, Director LCMS Disaster Response, Rev. Michael Meyer, Director of Disaster Training, and Jay Wendland, FL-GA District Disaster Response Coordinator visited the LCC base camp this week. They were impressed and thankful for what we have completed, and for our servant hearts to those in need. |
During the LCC Disaster Response deployment to aid those devastated by Hurricane Ian, staff and volunteers were blessed to meet Mrs. S and hear her family's story. The family are members at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Englewood, Florida. When LCC staff arrived at the family home to assess the property, it became clear that the need for emotional and spiritual support was as great as the need for help with physical damage.
"I'm tired of having to be strong," Mrs. S confessed with tears in her eyes. She and her husband had saved for years to purchase their first home. One year ago, they finally bought a home, which was a dream come true. Now that home is unlivable. During the hurricane, the ceiling collapsed. Water got into the home, which created harmful mold and damaged nearly all of their possessions. Mrs. S described the emotional process of throwing away precious items from her childhood that she had passed down to her own children. Beyond the physical losses, Mrs. S is concerned for her beloved children.
Robert and his wife sheltered in place for nine hours while the eye of the storm passed over their house. Protecting his wife with a mattress and his own body in a closet, they relied on their strong faith as they read Psalms and prayed for their safety. The Lord heard their prayers!
Betty prepared a safe place in her closet but took refuge in the Lord. The wind was so loud that she didn’t even hear a large tree fall down on the power lines right next to her house. She laid on her bed and sang a beloved hymn, giving her peace that the Lord would protect her. She thanks all of the L.E.R.T. volunteers, saying that it is so wonderful to know that people who don’t even know you care about you. "It’s so much easier knowing God is leading you, guiding you, and sending you people like yourselves to help." |
Helping a Recent Widow with Property Damage
One of the homeowners, a very recent widow, told the team working at her home, “You are a group of angels sent by God.” It is a blessing to listen to everyone’s stories, offer prayers, and serve them in the name of the Lord. Residents are overwhelmed with the devastation and need the reassurance and hope found in Jesus Christ. Our teams are being the hands and feet of Jesus, serving others in their time of need. |
LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts
As the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida, it raged across the state with catastrophic 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Estimated to be about 140 miles wide, it was downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing vast destruction and major flooding.
On Sunday, October 9, eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers arrived in Florida with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and servant-hearts to begin the massive recovery effort in our designated communities of Venice, Port Charlotte, and Englewood until the end of October. Additional L.E.R.T. volunteers will arrive throughout the deployment.
As of Monday, five churches, four pastors, and thirty-one congregation members from five different churches need immediate property assistance. Assessments began upon arrival, and some of the homeowner damage is so bad that homes are uninhabitable. Additional assessments will continue throughout the three-week deployment.
On Monday, LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers completed all of the property clean-up at the host church, Lakeside Lutheran, in Venice, Florida. Pastor David Dahlke and congregation members are very welcoming and supportive of our team members. They are amazed at all of the work done to clean up their property so quickly. Lakeside’s mission is “to joyfully serve,” and they have been joyfully serving our L.E.R.T. volunteers so that we can represent them as we serve in their communities.
Redeemer Lutheran Church in Englewood, Florida, is in a pastoral vacancy. They have survived Hurricane Ian but have sustained major damage to the church, daycare, and school. Approximately 100 trees are down throughout their property. Members are feeling hopeless but have strong faith that God will provide for all of their needs. Early Tuesday morning, the LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers came ready to help and began the clean-up effort. They will be working at least four days on this property alone. |
I want everyone to come here and see what you are doing. I feel like we’ve been losing hope, but you’re restoring our hope. Congregational Leadership, Redeemer Lutheran Church Seeing God’s hands in action through our dedicated L.E.R.T. volunteers, Redeemer plans to reopen the daycare and school on October 17 once the grounds are safe. |
We NEVER charge those we serve!
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts
As the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida last week, it raged across the state with catastrophic 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Estimated to be about 140 miles wide, it downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing vast destruction and major flooding.
Rev. Ross Johnson, Director, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response, and Jay Wendland have asked Kathy O'Day, Ed Boerman, and L.E.R.T. team leader Marty Johnson to be in Florida this week to be part of the assessment team.
Approximately twenty-six LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will begin serving out of Lakeside Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida, which is located 30 minutes from Englewood and Port Charlotte. Pastor David Dahlke has graciously welcomed our team to stay at Lakeside Lutheran. Brenda Gustafson, Church Administrator shared, “We are an older congregation and cannot get out into the community, so we are thrilled to serve you so that you can be the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities.”
LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will begin arriving in Florida on Sunday, October 9, and will be serving in our designated communities until the end of October.
LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will provide chainsaw, heavy equipment, and boom lift assistance, and some mucking and gutting of a flooded church sanctuary. Our teams will also provide spiritual and emotional care as many people took shelter in their homes and endured horrific conditions while the hurricane passed through their cities. Residents are overwhelmed with the devastation and need the reassurance and hope found in Jesus Christ.
LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!
Participating in the conference were also LCC L.E.R.T. team leaders Marty and Anna Johnson, Pete and Christel Springmire from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, and Mark and Beverly Brueggemann from St. Paul, Grafton, Wisconsin.
It was a very informative conference, including planning for the LCMS response to Hurricane Ian.
Pastor Karl Gibbs, LCC K-9 Regional Coordinator - Missouri Valley and LCMS Missouri District Disaster Response Coordinator (DDRC), was presented with the 2022 LCMS Disaster Response Servant Heart Award for his willing service to those affected by disasters. Lutheran Church Charities extends sincere congratulations to Pastor Gibbs for this honor! |
Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
More than 2.5 million homes and businesses were left without power as the storm swept ashore in southwest Florida on Wednesday afternoon, bringing “catastrophic” 150 mph winds and a deadly storm surge of up to 18 feet. Hours later, the storm – estimated to be about 140 miles wide – was downgraded from a high category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm as it moved slowly northeast, causing major flooding.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said it brought “historic” damage to the state. “We’ve never seen a flood event like this,” DeSantis said.
Rev. Ross Johnson, Director, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Disaster Response and Jay Wendland have asked Kathy O’Day and L.E.R.T. team leader Marty Johnson to travel to Florida next week to be part of the assessment team.
Please pray for the safety of those in the path of Hurricane Ian, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff, as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Florida to help during the long recovery process.
Joyfully serving together in Christ,
Interim President/CEO
Lutheran Church Charities
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.
When it is safe to enter the disaster-affected areas, the FL-GA DDRCs will assess the damage and then extend the invite to L.E.R.T. volunteers to deploy to offer needed assistance. Lutheran Church Charities L.E.R.T. teams are on standby and ready to respond as needed.
The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.
Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response has been monitoring the heavy rain and flash flooding that has been occurring the last two days in our northern Illinois area and reaching out to churches in flood-affected areas to see if any assistance is needed. According to the US National Weather Service Chicago, Illinois, the 2-day rainfall totals surpassed 5 and 6 inches for many areas across northern Illinois, with the highest amounts focused in the Rockford area eastward along the Wisconsin line and along a corridor from the southwest suburbs into the north side of Chicago. |
This resulted in flash flooding of many low points, homes, and businesses, especially in portions of Chicago. We are in contact with a couple of churches that have experienced some flooding, and L.E.R.T. volunteers are on standby and ready to serve as needed. The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund so that, when invited, we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need. |
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