The coronavirus has brought a greater need for food because of the loss of income for families. Last week around 135 bags were given out when the pantry planned on 70.

If you wish to donate food, there are some specific instructions to follow. Please contact the pantry at 630-903-8173 for instructions and to arrange delivery times.

CLICK HERE for a list of needed items.

Additional donations were presented to Pastor Greg Hoffman of St. Paul in Rochelle, Illinois for a family who lost everything when their home burned down to the ground on February 14. The family of six found a temporary home for rent and the funds will help them in the rebuilding process. The current need is met.

The family is grateful and feels blessed from the gifts of God's people with hope of a new home.

Thank you to all at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, who helped make crocheted bag mats from plastic grocery bags for the homeless.

On Saturday, May 16, a group of volunteers met up with Pastor Jason Pankau of Chicago Hope Church and filled his vehicle with 33 sleeping mats for the homeless that their congregation serves. Thank you for your time and this donation that will make a difference in people’s lives and gives the members of Chicago Hope the opportunity to be Jesus to people who are suffering and in need.

Donations were presented to Carol A. Christen, Principal of Lutheran High School in Metairie, Louisiana.
 
Your generous support will help Carol cover the payroll for the staff. When Carol learned that she would be receiving a donation from LCC, she burst into tears.

LCC’s Rev. James Kirschenmann presented donations to Rev. John Brazeal and Geri Brazeal, Principal at Christ the King Lutheran Church & School in Chicago, Illinois. The funds will
help them continue the ministry in these challenging times.
 
Also delivered were crocheted lap blankets that Pastor John and Geri will take to a nearby nursing home.
 
Christ the King is finding new ways to reach outside the church walls. Pastor John is seeing connections being made with people who have never set foot inside the building, and those relationships are growing stronger through this crisis.

Pastor Karl Fay of Prince of Peace, Palatine, Illinois, thanks LCC donors for continued financial support for faithful congregation members burdened with medical expenses and for Pastor Alfred Emmanuel and his family as they settle in the U.S. after relocating from Pakistan in February.

A couple burdened with ongoing and extraordinary medical concerns and expenses is extremely grateful and thank all for the financial support and continued prayers in this difficult time.
Pastor Alfred Emmanuel and his family are blessed by your donations that help them with rent, utility and grocery expenses until they can secure employment.

 Your financial assistance is still needed. Please prayerfully consider donating generously so that LCC can support Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in helping both families in these challenging times.

Your financial assistance is needed to help Pastor John Brazeal with funding teachers' salaries and providing assistance to the families in need in his community.
 
Please prayerfully consider donating generously so that LCC can support Christ the King in helping Pastor Brazeal during these challenging times.

In February, Pastor Karl Fay and members from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, Illinois, welcomed Pastor Alfred Emmanuel and his family as they relocated from Pakistan. After 20 years apart and an arduous process, Pastor Alfred, his wife Asia, and their four children were joyously reunited with his brother, Gulfam Emmanuel, sister-in-law Anila, and their son Austin.

Since their arrival in February, Pastor Alfred and his family are doing well and are happy to be here. Gulfam, Anila, and Austin enjoy every day being with them. “We thank and praise God for the donations they are receiving through the generosity of LCC donors, our church family, and our friends that have helped our brother and his family relocate and transition,” shared Anila.

Pastor Alfred and his family are thankful and amazed at how Christians here help others. This is something that they have never seen before. In Pakistan, he never took a salary. Any small offerings from his members, he gave back to people in his congregation who were in need. What he got from the church, he gave back to the church. He continues to see his prayers being answered, even during times there has been a setback.

"We are blessed by the generosity and love we have received since arriving,” shared Pastor Alfred. He continues to ask God to watch over and bless him and his family. “Our faith continues to get stronger, and we look forward to our kids having a bright future here; living without fear of religious persecution and having freedom of religion to do God’s Will.”
Pastor Alfred’s faith is strengthened by the hope he gets through Jesus as promised in Joshua 1:6-7, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”

Financial Assistance Still Needed
Transition to their new life here is going well but some progress has slowed down due to the current COVID-19 situation. Alfred and Asia, along with their two oldest children, look forward to start working as soon as things improve so that they can to take care of their family needs. The two oldest children, Zabloon and Zoya, are waiting to start the GED program at Harper College during the summer session in July. Zain, who is 16, started his studies at Fremd High School and his doing really well. The youngest, Zonara, soon to be 11, started at Hunting Ridge Elementary School and absolutely loves her new school. Both Zain and Zonara are continuing their school work through the e-learning programs with their respective schools.

Pastor Alfred participated in the virtual worship service at Prince of Peace the weekend of March 28-29 with his family by sharing the Lord’s Prayer in his native language.
 
This past weekend the entire family and another female Pakistan member from Prince of Peace celebrated their first Palm Sunday in the U.S.

Your financial assistance is still needed to help Pastor Alfred with rent, utility and grocery expenses until they can secure employment. Connections have been made for employment but they cannot start during the current COVID-19 crisis.
 
Please prayerfully consider donating generously so that LCC can support Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in helping Pastor Alfred during these challenging times.