This past week, Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, Jamie Miller, LCC Disaster Response Equipment Manager, and 21 Lutheran Church Charities Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) volunteers returned to serve out of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hendersonville with Pastor Jonathan Christensen.
 
The teams were able to assess 40 sites and complete work at 27 homes, totaling 800 volunteer hours. "We gave needed portable heaters, heating fuel, and gift cards to families in need. But most importantly, we were able to listen to their stories and offer the mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation of Jesus Christ to those in need of hope," says Deaconess O'Day.

This week, our dedicated teams made a significant difference for a family, with two homes on a large, wooded lot. They faced the daunting task of dealing with at least 25 fallen and dangerously leaning trees that posed a threat to their safety and well-being.
 
The family, which includes a mother and grandmother now housing her daughter and her children after their home was completely destroyed, expressed immense gratitude as we cleared their property of these hazards.
 
Their relief was palpable as they envisioned their children playing safely outside again, bringing hope and healing back to their lives.

Another team assisted Mr. and Mrs. G. whose home suffered severe structural damage from fallen trees. The couple is not able to live in their home and will not be able to return for at least a year, but they wanted the damaged trees remaining to be cut and removed so they wouldn’t need to worry about further damage occurring.
 
Their steeply sloped and densely wooded backyard presented a challenging landscape for cleanup. However, the dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to clear the yard, removing the dangerous debris and stacking the wood for collection.
 
Mr. and Mrs. G expressed heartfelt gratitude for the compassion and effort shown by the LERT volunteers, which not only alleviated their immediate concerns but also provided a sense of hope during a difficult time.

Our LERT volunteers helped another family who asked for help to ensure the safety of Mr. B, a 90-year-old neighbor whose home was threatened by leaning trees.
 
With unwavering dedication, the LERT volunteers harnessed themselves to sturdy trees and bravely rappelled down the steep terrain to remove the dangerous obstacles blocking his driveway. Their selfless actions not only protected Mr. B's access to his home but also filled him with joy and gratitude as he witnessed the lengths our volunteers went to, all while wearing smiles.
 
His heartfelt words of "certainly feeling blessed" remind us of the profound impact we can have on each other’s lives.

The commitment of LERT volunteers to follow up with families in distress highlights the importance of ongoing support and connection. By ensuring that families like the ones we served this week receive continued care, LCC reinforces its mission to provide not just immediate relief, but also a lasting presence of hope and faith.

Lutheran Church Charities Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) volunteers assessed 104 sites and completed 70 during a three-week deployment in western North Carolina.

Since October 19, LCC LERT crews have totaled 1,956 volunteer hours, rotating in and out for the laborious work of cutting damaged trees, clearing debris, and removing hazards around Asheville, N.C., and Hendersonville, N.C., areas that felt the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s high winds and massive flooding during September and October.

In the face of Hurricane Helene, Mrs. C found herself in a moment of incredible vulnerability, nine months pregnant and struggling to protect her twin children from the storm's fury. Her world shifted when she went into labor. The birth of her healthy baby boy became a beacon of hope.
 
“She shared how her family’s faith has given them peace, comfort, strength, and hope,” said Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response. “She told us she trusts that God was and will be with them through this entire process. And she thanked God for sending our team to help clean up all her fallen trees to make her yard safe for her kids when they can return.”
 
With LCC volunteers by her side, Mrs. C received practical help to assess her damaged home, clear fallen trees, and pack up her kitchen as they prepared to move out for repairs.

Her words, filled with gratitude and trust in God, remind us that even in the darkest times, there is light through the love and support of those around us. Together, we can turn despair into hope and rebuild lives.
 
“It was a blessing to listen to her story and witness her faith,” O’Day said.

Last week, the crew was able to bless the community in additional ways. On October 31, volunteers joined the Mt. Pisgah congregation at Halloween Street Treats events in downtown Hendersonville, handing out candy and much-needed personal items, such as children’s backpacks, socks, hygiene kits, hats, mittens, and flashlights.

More than 1,000 people attended this event, seeking to bring some normalcy to children who had endured a chaotic month since the hurricane. “Parents were so grateful and expressed thanks for all the items and how supportive the church was,” O’Day said. “Seeing the appreciation on their faces helps us believe that we are making a difference in these families’ lives by showing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.”

The LCC Disaster Response team received a visit from Southeastern District President Rev. Bill Harmon, Assistant to the President Martin Schultheis, and District Disaster Response Coordinator Sally Hiller. The Southeastern District officials watched the LCC LERT team work and thanked them for their service.

The entire LCC LERT team went to a 40-acre goat farm owned and operated by a single woman named Ms. B. The property had several large oak and pine trees that were down, some on her outbuildings, barns, pastures, fallow field, pens, and paddocks.

“She was overwhelmed when she called Mt. Pisgah for assistance,” O’Day said. “She couldn’t believe we would prioritize her request and come so quickly to her aid with all our equipment and volunteers to get her farm back to operational status.”

Southeastern District officials Harmon, Schultheis, and Hiller visited and prayed with Ms. B, who gave everyone hugs and expressed her thanks at the end of the day as the volunteers left. “It was a very blessed day!” O’Day said.

A few days later, the LCC LERT team and two members from the Mt. Pisgah team worked at two sites all day. The homeowners had many large oak trees down on their properties. One of them, a Ms. S, had a long and steep driveway that was blocked by eight very large trees. The crew cut and moved the wood to open up access to the driveway and home.

“She shared how emotionally traumatized she had been by this catastrophic storm, as well as losing one parent the day after Helene struck and her other parent three months prior,” O’Day said.

Several team members spent time listening to her story, talking with her, offering support, and leading a prayer of hope. Both homeowners expressed appreciation for all the work done and the care shown to them.

“It is a blessing to serve,” O’Day said.

Lutheran Church Charities President/CEO Rev. Chris Singer was on the ground in North Carolina this week visiting Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod churches and pastors and assessing locations for LCC Care Teams to serve communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

LCC staff members observed the Category 4 storm’s destruction in Asheville, the French Broad River region, and other locations as floodwaters recede and search-and-rescue efforts continue.

“It’s clear that Helene was a devastating wind, rain, and flooding event,” Rev. Singer said. “So many trees are collapsed and fallen on property and roadways. In several of the mountain towns and places along the rivers, water completely submerged the lower areas. Buildings were wiped out. Homes destroyed. Lives upended. They need our help and our prayers.”  

Rev. Singer met with four North Carolina pastors: Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Skopak, Emmanuel Lutheran Asheville, N.C.; Rev. Peter Frank, St. Peter's Lutheran Conover, N.C.; Rev. Jonathan Christensen, Mount Pisgah Lutheran Hendersonville, N.C.; and Rev. Eric Hollar, Bethel Claremont, N.C. While the LCC team was on the ground Tuesday, they received an invitation to deploy from Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon, president of the Southeastern District, and from Sally Hiller, Southeastern District Disaster Response Coordinator.  

LCC stands ready to offer emergency assistance, tangible support, and most importantly, the comfort and hope found only in Jesus Christ.

You can help by donating to the LCC Hurricane Helene Support fund, which enables Lutheran Church Charities to deploy ALL FOUR ministry area teams to provide care and aid to victims’ families, and LCMS churches in the affected areas.

Your financial assistance goes directly to support those suffering and in need, as well as for supplies and for volunteers to travel to the region to serve.

LCC Care Team to deploy on Friday
A Lutheran Church Charities Care Team certified in Spiritual First Aid™ will arrive in North Carolina on Friday to distribute food and supplies and offer spiritual and psychological support to those affected by Hurricane Helene and the first responders who are helping them.

The team will be led by Heidi Gilbert-Then, a parish nurse from St. John’s Lutheran Lannon, Wisc., and joined by members of Bethel Lutheran Claremont, N.C. They team also will help serve hot meals on the four- to five-day deployment.

Additional LCC Care Teams will be formed and deploy to assist on short-term assignments.