Category: Hurricane Ian

This week, your donations through Lutheran Church Charities helped Zion Lutheran Church order and purchase 40 microwaves and deliver 50 folding chairs to Harlem Heights Community Center for families in need. Debra Mathinos is very appreciative for the assistance from their community partner, Zion Lutheran Church.

Zion is continuing to meet with Debra to see what basic living needs – such as microwaves, crockpots, hot plates, mini refrigerators, card tables, and chairs – are still needed by 40-50 families that can be met with LCC assistance. 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.

LCC L.E.R.T. Volunteers Continue to Serve in Florida

Last week, four L.E.R.T. volunteers from Trinity Lisle continued to serve with other L.E.R.T. teams out of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida.

Jan Boerman and Linda Arnold were able to distribute air mattresses, pillows, blankets, children’s backpacks, and other items from Zion’s distribution center to many families who have lost everything in devastated South Fort Myers neighborhoods. These families were very grateful to receive these items, as they have also lost their means of transportation and could not get to the church to get much needed supplies or were afraid to leave their damaged homes. They consider it a blessing to pray with and serve residents of this area that have not received a lot of attention or assistance.

Ed Boerman and Clay Arnold assisted with chainsaw and tractor work on extremely hard hit Captiva and Pine Islands.

If any L.E.R.T certified individual is interested in volunteering on their own to do muck-outs or chainsaw work, LCMS Disaster Response is still operating a base camp at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida. It is planning to remain open until the second week of December.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help Lutheran Church Charities and Zion Lutheran Church help Harlem Heights families who are struggling and in need.

Please continue to pray for the residents affected by Hurricane Ian as they face a long recovery process.

Urgent Financial Assistance Needed for Low-Income Families in Fort Myers, Florida, Who Lost Everything After Hurricane Ian

11/8/2022

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 Will Help 40 – 50 Families in Need!

Lutheran Church Charities is partnering with Zion Lutheran Church to use your financial donations to purchase microwaves, crockpots, hot plates, mini refrigerators, card tables, and chairs for at least 40-50 families.

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.

Harlem Heights is a severely distressed community in South Fort Myers, with families living in poverty at twice the rate of the rest of Lee County in Florida. The average household income of a typical Harlem Heights family is less than $25,000/year. Demographically, this community is 71% Hispanic (from Haiti, Guatemala and El Salvador), 20% African-American, and 9% Caucasian.

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.

The Harlem Heights Community Center and its Foundation is a grassroots organization that works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood by providing charitable outreach projects in the community with community partnerships. The foundation also operates the community center, early learning center, and school. They are heavily involved in serving this community and helping find resources to assist families in recovering from this devastating disaster.

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.

Please continue to pray for the residents affected by Hurricane Ian as they face a long recovery process.

Eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team Volunteers in Venice, Florida, for Third Week of Helping with Recovery Efforts after Hurricane Ian

10/26/2022

Assessments Completed: 102
Chainsaw Worksites Completed: 78
Muck Out & Salvaging Belongings Completed: 11

Helping Churches and Homeowners with Physical Recovery and Spiritual Care in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida as it moved inland. Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Director Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, are working with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinator Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District.

As of Sunday, October 23, eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers are in Florida with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and servant-hearts to continue the massive recovery effort in our designated communities of Venice, Port Charlotte, and Englewood, as well as North Port, Punta Gorda, and Rotunda West until the end of October.

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.

During their first two weeks in Florida, L.E.R.T. volunteers completed seventy-eight tree-damaged property sites and eleven property sites with muck out, debris removal, or salvaging assistance. The teams worked at four churches, two pastor homes, ten church worker or congregational staff homes, and many congregational members and community residents.

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.

BEFORE

AFTER

Helping Homeowner Recovering from Recent Open Heart Surgery

While working on another property, we met a female homeowner in her 40s who was recovering from a recent open-heart surgery. In fact, this was her fourth heart surgery. Her property had quite a yard of downed trees, and she didn’t know how she was going to get it taken care of as she has many medical expenses. She truly appreciated the caring support and was amazed that we would offer to help her at no cost in her time of need.

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!

LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!

Please pray for the residents in the impacted communities and all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff during our deployment to the hardest-hit areas of Florida to help during the long recovery process.

Eighteen LCC Lutheran Early Response Team Volunteers Arrived in Venice, Florida, to Help Churches and Homeowners Clean Up Property Damage from Hurricane Ian

10/11/2022

Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland. The death toll reported is now more than 100 as search and rescue teams continue to go door to door throughout impacted communities.

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.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Director Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, are working with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinator Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District.

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.

Lakeside Lutheran Joyfully Serves Community through L.E.R.T.

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.

Restoring Hope at Redeemer Lutheran Church

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.

LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers will provide chainsaw, heavy equipment, 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!

DONATE — LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG TRAVEL FUND

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Support Lutheran School Students and Teachers in Fort Meyers Returning to School After Hurricane Ian

10/11/2022

The families and staff at Saint Michael Lutheran Church and School in Fort Meyers, Florida, were impacted by the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian. More than 40 families from their congregation lost their homes. Some of the teachers' homes were flooded or have cars that were no longer drivable. It has been a challenging time for all. Through all of these challenges, their Pastor, Principal, Director of Christian education, teachers, parents, and congregation have worked together to help one another.

Lori Schwan, Director of Christian Education from Saint Michael, invited the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs to be at the school on Tuesday as the teachers, parents, and children returned for the first time since Hurricane Ian. It was a soft opening, allowing teachers and parents to meet with counselors from Lutheran Counseling Service in the morning and then an open house for the students in the afternoon.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Jemimah (St. Paul - Boca Raton, Florida), Moriah (St. Luke - Oviedo, Florida), and Peace (Trinity - Orlando, Florida) traveled to be present with the staff, parents, and teachers to bring comfort, love and a gentle and kind distraction from all the stress and loss the community is facing.

The LCC K-9 Ministry teams were blessed to see the teachers' and parents' faces relax and the lines of stress ease as they petted and interacted with the dogs. Seeing the children smile and hug the Comfort Dogs was a gift. Even in our darkest times, God's light shines and directs our paths. People are working together, helping each other, and watching over each other during these times of tragedy to help lighten the load.

"For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness." Psalm 18:28

LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Travel Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

LCC Disaster Response Deploying to Florida this Weekend to Help Assess Homeowner Property Damage and Assist with Recovery From Hurricane Ian

10/5/2022

Working with LCMS Florida-Georgia District Disaster Response Coordinators to Help Impacted Churches, Individuals and Families in Hardest-Hit Areas with Recovery Efforts

Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland. The death toll reported is now more than 100 as search and rescue teams continue to go door to door throughout impacted communities.

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.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Director Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, have been collaborating with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinators Joel Mathews and Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District.

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.

LCMS Disaster Response has asked us to begin our work with two heavily damaged churches, Trinity Lutheran of Southwest in Port Charlotte and Redeemer Lutheran Church & School in Englewood, and remove downed trees at our host church Lakeside Lutheran. All three congregations also have several staff and congregation members who have property damage. In addition, we will serve affected residents as requested in these communities.

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!

Please pray for the residents in the impacted communities and 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.

LCC Disaster Response Ready to Deploy to Florida to Help Assess Property with Catastrophic Damage from Hurricane Ian

9/29/2022

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)

Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland, battered southwest Florida with high winds, rain, and storm surges as it moved inland.

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.

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response has been carefully monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian since it began. Kathy O'Day and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, have been collaborating with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinators Joel Mathews and Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District.

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.

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC Equipment Maintenance & Fuel Expense Fund so that we may continue to show the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those suffering and in need.

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,

Lynda Streich
Interim President/CEO
Lutheran Church Charities

LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.

Hurricane Ian Hits West Coast Florida; LCC Disaster Response Is Monitoring and Ready to Respond When Invited

9/27/2022

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response is carefully monitoring the path Hurricane Ian is taking as it is making landfall in the Gulf States. Kathy O'Day, and Ed Boerman, Northern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators, have been collaborating with the LCMS Disaster Response and District Disaster Response Coordinators Joel Mathews and Jay Wendland from the Florida-Georgia District.

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.