 114 Homeowner Assessments Completed 80 Total Properties Scheduled – 73 Completed On Sunday, June 20, a confirmed EF-3 tornado, straight-line winds of at least 70mph, and catastrophic storms raged through Northern Illinois, causing extensive damage in Woodridge, Naperville, and Downers Grove, as well as Burr Ridge and Darien. To date, the Village of Woodridge reports 400 homes damaged and 29 destroyed and Naperville had 231 homes damaged and 19 destroyed.
Lutheran Church Charities has been present and serving the hard-hit communities of Woodridge, Naperville, and Downers Grove. As of today, we have met with 114 homeowners to assess their property damage. We have identified 80 total sites that we can assist with. To do this more effectively, over the past two weeks, Pastor Ed Brashier, LCMS Southern District Disaster Response Coordinator, and Shepherds Heart Ministry Director, and Gary Decker, assisted our teams with their 65’ boom lift and mini-bobcat. Different Lutheran Church Charities L.E.R.T. team members volunteer daily and have completed 73 sites. We will continue to serve in our district until we are done with all of the requests. Woodridge Mayor Cunningham Thanks L.E.R.T. Volunteers  Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, daily shares the addresses of those served with the Village representatives so they can schedule wood, brush, and debris pick-up. She received this encouraging note from the Mayor of the Village of Woodridge on Saturday to share with all of the volunteers serving: Please share with your incredible L.E.R.T. TEAM: Oh my! The number of residents you have served is absolutely incredible! I can’t fully express with words how much love and gratitude our community holds in our hearts for L.E.R.T. and all our amazing volunteers! My kindest and best regards, always! Mayor Gina Cunningham Helping Neighbors with Extensive Damage to Uninhabitable Homes  This week the LCC and Southern District lift teams worked together for two days on three neighbors' homes that were left uninhabitable and with major tree damage from the tornado. Becky, a young woman, was in the home recovering from open-heart surgery. Her roof was lifted off the home and several trees caused other damage. Her neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. K., who are elderly and disabled, could not get to any shelter and held hands and prayed that God would keep them safe. Both sustained some minor injuries and were hospitalized. Their nephew came from Alaska to help with the insurance, repairs to the home, and tree damage. My Uncle sends his sincere thanks and blessings to you all. And I’ll be honest, I’ve never been much into religion, but what you all are doing is a real miracle and being angels on earth to those in need. Thank you so very much! Nephew of Woodridge Elderly Residents This is why we do what we do. Chainsaw work becomes a means to share the gospel message with our actions and words when the situation arises. Serving Grandparents Raising Young Grandchildren LCC Disaster Response L.E.R.T. volunteers spent two days helping this family of grandparents raising young grandchildren clear their yard of multiple downed and dangerously leaning trees. They were so thankful to be able to have their yard made safe again and to have had it done at no cost to them. They had received an estimate of $45,000 to do this and knew it was something they could never afford to do. They felt “we were truly a blessing sent by God to help them.”
 The LCC Disaster Response Ministry never charges those we serve. Please donate to the LCC Disaster Response General 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 keep the families affected by the tornado and storms in your prayers, including all of the LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff as we deploy to the hardest-hit areas of Northern Illinois to help during the long recovery process. Your prayers, support, and involvement help Make A Difference – in the name of Jesus to those in need. |
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