Island Lutheran Church in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, quickly responded to the heartbreaking news of local high school sophomore Krystal Buck's passing. Understanding the profound grief felt by her community, the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC) team joined LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Team Zoara and quickly mobilized to offer support. Krystal had bravely battled leukemia before suffering a life-ending infection.
 
A vibrant cheerleader and active school member, Krystal's spirit left a lasting impact on her classmates. In tribute, the school administration welcomed both the heart and cross to be displayed in Krystal’s classrooms and the lunchroom, allowing her peers to share their memories and condolences.
 
Messages written by her classmates beautifully captured her essence: “Krystal was a bright light in this dark world… our sunshine on a cloudy day… always so kind and happy… she was so positive and loved by everyone.”
 
The heart and cross will be gifted to Krystal’s family, offering love and support as they navigate through this tragic time of loss.

The school counselor at Bluffton High School reached out to LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry to be there as the students and staff learned the news of Krystal’s death. As soon the school learned LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Zoara would be there they said, "We all love Zoara, and thank you for responding so soon."
 
Zoara welcomed their hugs and touch as they sought her comfort. Zoara and her handlers visited several classrooms where Krystal was a student. It took one student to approach Zoara and then others would follow and spend time receiving her comfort and warmth. Often times the teachers would spend more time with Zoara than the students as they had seen how fiercely Krystal’s fought her battle with leukemia. Many staff members also knew Krystal’s older siblings.
 
READ MORE to learn how Zoara's team comforted the students and staff.

Last week was a difficult one at Bluffton High School, Bluffton, South Carolina, as they learned that their friend, classmate, and student Krystal Buck (pictured) had died after a two-year battle with leukemia.

Krystal fought hard against this disease, all the while pushing through with determination and positivity.  Krystal continued to attend Bluffton High School and to play sports which included being a cheerleader and soccer player. Krystal's goal was to become a Child Life Specialist one day and help children who had experiences like hers.

The school counselor at Bluffton High School reached out to LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry to be there as the students and staff learned the news of Krystal’s death. As soon the school learned LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Zoara (Island Lutheran - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) would be there they said, "We all love Zoara, and thank you for responding so soon."

Zoara and her handlers and the Heart of Mercy & Compassion team for Island Lutheran were there on Thursday, October 31 to comfort and support the students and staff at Bluffton High School. Zoara  and her team spent time with Krystal’s cheerleading and dance teams giving them time to process those thoughts and feeling of losing her.

Zoara welcomed their hugs and touch as they sought her comfort. Zoara and her handlers visited several classrooms where Krystal was a student.  It took one student to approach Zoara and then others would follow and spend time receiving her comfort and warmth.  Often times the teachers would spend more time with Zoara than the students as they had seen how fiercely Krystal’s fought her battle with leukemia. Many staff members also knew Krystal’s older siblings. 

The Heart of Mercy and Compassion was a great way for the students to share and express their thoughts and feelings. 

It was a very emotional day but through the presence of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion team from Island Lutheran, everyone felt loved, seen, and comforted.

Lutheran Church Charities welcomes Faith Lutheran Church in Appleton, Wisconsin, as a new Hearts of Mercy & Compassion affiliate church. Their church mission is to Gather, Grow, and Go. 

Regarding God’s call to Go, the church says, “God sends us as changed people to serve others in our community and around the world. He sends us to the broken-hearted, to the poor, to the sick and dying, to the orphaned and widowed, to those living in fear, to those living in the regret and shame of their past. He sends us to meet physical needs wherever we have ability. And He sends us to share the amazing message of hope to the world: ‘that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them’ (2 Corinthians 5:19).”

Faith Lutheran is eager to use the Hearts of Mercy as a means for this outreach and is building up a large team to do so. May God richly bless this new ministry!

In September LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion joined hands with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to provide support directly to children battling cancer and their families who care for them.
 
We offered special gold-colored Hearts of Mercy & Compassion to match the color of the childhood cancer awareness movement, along with heart-shaped boxes filled with uplifting child-friendly toys and resources, aimed at brightening the days of these young warriors undergoing treatment.

The chaplains at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been busy in September, distributing the goodies-filled heart-shaped boxes to many young patients. The director of the chaplains expressed deep gratitude for your prayers—they mean so much to the patients, their families, and the entire St. Jude care team.
 
The boxes have been a delightful highlight for the children. One 7-year-old boy was overjoyed to find a flashlight inside, and many of the kids have been pretending to be doctors, playfully instructing others to “follow the light with their eyes only.” The sour suckers have also been a big hit! The chaplain shared that the children truly value the messages of hope and the prayers they receive, as they reflect the caring community surrounding them.
 
Thank you for your generous support of this new initiative that brought joy to many families. It is through your kindness that we can continue to spread love and care through the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion in new and meaningful ways each year!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and it's a reminder of the challenges faced by children battling cancer and their families who care for them.
 
As the month unfolds, LCC Hearts of Mercy & Compassion is joining hands with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to provide support directly to these families.
 
LCC is offering special gold-colored Hearts of Mercy & Compassion to match the color of the childhood cancer awareness movement, along with heart-shaped boxes filled with uplifting child-friendly toys and resources, aimed at brightening the days of these young warriors undergoing treatment.

Childhood cancer affects 1 in 285 children. The journey through treatment can be incredibly difficult, both physically and emotionally. Major illness is often ranked among the most stressful life events, underscoring the magnitude of this battle.
 
St. Jude has been working tirelessly in this fight, dramatically increasing the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent over the past 60 years. This remarkable progress is a testament to the groundbreaking treatments and unwavering dedication of the St. Jude team.

On Tuesday, September 24, the HMC team from Island Lutheran Church in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, traveled to Winder, Georgia, to express their appreciation for the dedicated first responders in the community.

It is clear that the prompt actions of the two Student Resource Officers (SROs), who apprehended the Apalachee High School shooting suspect within minutes, along with the swift response from various units to secure the area, prevented further loss of life. 
 
Island Lutheran church members signed each of the seven hearts of gratitude, showing their support. They added words of encouragement saying, “God is using you to show His great love and mercy” and words of gratitude including, “Thank you for your selflessness."
 
The team recognized the bravery and commitment of the SROs, the Winder Police Department, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Barrow County Fire, EMS, and 911 Dispatch teams for their exceptional efforts. They visited each department separately, spending time with and praying with them.

At the Barrow County Emergency Services buildings, as the team presented hearts, the first responders shared stories of their experiences. Some of them had children at the school while they were on duty. 
 
Amidst their anxieties and worst fears, they selflessly stayed on duty, with their teams, to secure the school, and, only after that was accomplished did they step away to go find their children. 
 
They knew the best way to protect their children was to do their jobs. What sacrifice was shown and what an honor to have had the opportunity to support them in their roles as first responders!
 
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.

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.