 Last week, the Palatine L.E.R.T. team helped clear a Prince of Peace member’s 90-year-old mother's home front and back yard of overgrown brush, trees, and limbs. The family could not do this work themselves nor afford to hire a professional tree company. Mrs. B. was in tears and was very grateful for all the help. She expressed her thanks for everything the team had done! It was a blessing! Another family member sent a note of thanks to the following LCC staff and Palatine L.E.R.T. volunteers for their willing service: Jim Beckley, Richard and Bonnie Habegger, Steve MacKay, Kathy O’Day, Marta Rees and Todd Sloan. "I just wanted to let you know how thankful we are for all the hard work you have done. The yard looks amazing! Cannot remember when it looked so good. Thanks for everything!" All consider it a blessing and privilege to serve.
Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T)
Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T)  Last week, a two-section wheelchair ramp was built for a Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois, congregation member so that he can access his home when he comes home from a rehab facility this month after a serious injury and health setbacks. The L.E.R.T. volunteers also brought one of the church's wheelchairs to the congregation member's home, so the wife could practice safely pushing one of the volunteers on the ramps before helping her injured husband for the first time. The project's building material was funded by a Thrivent Action Grant, designed and completed by the following L.E.R.T. volunteers: Immanuel, Palatine – Steve MacKay Living Waters, Peoria – Bob Price Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley, Richard & Bonnie Habegger This couple is grateful for the prompt response and willingness to build what they saw as another physical and financial obstacle they would need to overcome. They also greatly appreciated the support, mercy, and compassion of Christ shown to them.
LCC Disaster Response Holds Annual L.E.R.T. Chainsaw Training and Service Workday at Walcamp5/10/2023
Lutheran Early Response Team  Lutheran Church Charities held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. chainsaw operation and safety classroom instruction at St. John Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois, on May 5. This class was co-led by LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors and LCC advanced team leaders, Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire. The hands-on chainsaw training and workday was held at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois on May 6. On Saturday, forty-seven basic and advanced chainsaw-certified LCC staff and L.E.R.T. team members worked as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear downed and dead trees, limbs, and brush from the camp. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to prepare for campers. The seventeen first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling and bucking trees and limbs, as well as serving with chainsaw team members. A new chainsaw operator stated, “I never thought I would learn so much about chainsaws and safe operation - and enjoy fellowship with a group of people I had never known before. I’m looking forward to serving in this way.”  Illinois Fellowship of Faith, McHenry – Alan Holm Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire Immanuel, Dundee – Jon Bartelt, Bill Conforti, Carl Fischer, Matt Flynn, Al Navarro Immanuel, Palatine – Troy Horbach, Kurt Spaletto Lord of Life, Elburn – Mark Holstein, James Okkema, Eric Poss, Tom Raisanen, Larry Zagorski Prince of Peace, Palatine – Kurt Spaletto St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Bob and Barb Royce, Laurie Trudell St. John, Wheaton – Susan Brown, Steve Chester, Palmer and Judy Goodwin, Max Hernandez, Marty Johnson, Jeff Johnston, Julianna Madden, Kathryn Madden, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Jonathan Schaeffer, Dave and Martha Schlesselmann, Rich Wren Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman, Mike Kokstecki Trinity Roselle – Kristin Bilar Zion, Ottawa – Dave Reif Wisconsin St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Kaye Voss St. Paul, Janesville - Lark and Terry Sanders   On Saturday, April 22, LCC held a Basic LCMS L.E.R.T. training for new and recertifying team members at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in LaFox, Illinois, led by Deaconess Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response.
There were a total of eighteen in attendance from the following teams or churches in Illinois:
It is good to see how the disaster response ministry is continuing to grow with volunteers willing to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ in service to those suffering and in need. On Saturday, April 15, the LCMS NID Shine/Immanuel Lutheran School Serve Event was held in East Dundee, Illinois. Immanuel's school asked the local L.E.R.T. team to clear the overgrown bushes, burrs, and trees along the sides of the walking path and playground where kids' balls roll into.
Immanuel Lutheran School extends thanks to the following L.E.R.T. and congregation volunteers:
Last week, L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers Steve Brown, Marty Johnson, and Pete and Christel Springmire removed fallen and damaged ice storm-affected trees from two homes in DeKalb. Each homeowner was very appreciative of the assistance in making their property safe again.  Last week, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and twenty LCC L.E.R.T. chainsaw volunteers served for a day at Camp Emmaus, a 97-acre Church of the Brethren camp. We were asked to fell many large dangerous leaning and storm-damaged trees near several of their buildings and trails. LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers used rigging for the redirection of trees for safe felling and heavy equipment to move cut and fallen wood. Aaron Gerdes, President of Camp Emmaus Board of Directors, was very impressed with our professionalism and grateful for our willingness to make their grounds safe for their campers and retreat attendees. He extends his thanks to the following L.E.R.T. volunteers for their hard work: Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn, Doug Hoyt, Terry and Denise Fuelling Lord of Life, Elburn – Kevin Krage, Max Metz Prince of Peace, Palatine – Dan and Bobbie Swyndroski Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm, Ron Jones, Vincent Selvaggio St. John, Wheaton – Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Dave Schlesselmann, Rich Wren St. Paul, Rockford – Dean and Carol Ulrich |
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