Disaster Response service and training event helps Camp Manitoqua

​Camp Manitoqua opens its first session of day camp in a month, but the grounds of the retreat center and encampment are ready for guests. 

Last weekend, 46 beginner and advance Lutheran Early Response Team volunteers and LCC staff worked together as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear leaning, downed, and dead trees from the Frankfort, IL, campground and its trails. 

Nathan Phillips, Manitoqua Program Director, expressed sincere thanks for the team cleaning up fallen limbs and dead brush after recent storms and getting the place ready for campers. 

The workday event, which drew LERT members from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, was preceded a Basic LERT Chainsaw Operation and Safety training, co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors and LCC advanced team leaders Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire.

Twenty-one first-time chainsaw operators and draggers received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders in safely felling and bucking trees and limbs. The group later served with experienced chainsaw team members on making camp trails passable again. 

“It was a great servant event, learning opportunity, beautiful weather, and time of fellowship,” said Deaconess Kathy O’Day, Director of LCC Disaster Response. 

LCC thanks LERT volunteer Lori Powless for cooking and serving a hot breakfast and Good Shepherd – Frankfort for providing lunch on Saturday.

LERT chainsaw volunteers from the following Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin churches attended:

Illinois
Bethany - Naperville
Christ the Rock – Rockford
Cross – Yorkville
Good Shepherd – Frankfort
Immanuel – DeKalb
Immanuel – Dundee
Immanuel – Shobonier
Immanuel – Steger
Lord of Life – Elburn
Prince of Peace – Palatine
St. John’s – East Moline
St. John – Union
St. John – Wheaton
St. John – Wilmette
St. Paul – Matteson
St. Peter – Schaumburg
St. Peter – Gilberts
Trinity – Genoa
Trinity – Lisle

Iowa
Trinity – Davenport

Missouri
LCMS-DR

Ohio
Hope – Akron

Wisconsin
Brookfield – Brookfield

LCC Disaster Response thanks all of these volunteers for their willingness to learn and serve those in need. ​