LCC Disaster Response L.E.R.T. Volunteers Complete Deployment in Tennessee Serving 25 Families Affected by Tornadoes

Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Disaster Response L.E.R.T. (Lutheran Early Response Team) chainsaw teams were invited by Rev. Ross Johnson, Director of LCMS Disaster Response and Rev. Dr. Roger Paavola, LCMS Mid-South District President to assist Pastor Keith Enko at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage, Tennessee with tornado recovery in their community. On March 3, Nashville and surrounding towns experienced seven tornadoes that were on and off the ground for 150 miles, leaving a trail of destruction and sadly taking the lives of 24 people and injuring countless others.

Kathy O'Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, LCC Staff and forty-eight L.E.R.T. chainsaw certified team members completed their deployment this past week, serving 25 families affected by tornadoes in Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon and Donelson. They worked with Pastor Keith Enko at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hermitage. The church intends to continue to assist the two families that have lost everything attending their Early Childhood Center, and to provide spiritual and emotional support to their community as they prepare for a long-term recovery.

Pastor Enko and Sarah Baker, Congregational President, meets with a homeowner.

Jan Gerveske from St. John, Wheaton, Illinois, presents quilt to Pastor Enko.

These L.E.R.T. volunteers spent eight days cutting and removing many fallen, leaning and damaged trees that completely covered the yards of many homeowners, as well as removing debris from properties for pickup.
 
Our team also spent several days helping to clear trees and debris from the Donelson Christian Academy to make it safe for students in the future. Kathy O’Day received the following thank you note from Dr. Danny Kellum, Headmaster Emeritus to share with the L.E.R.T. volunteers:

Just wanted to take a moment and thank y’all for your great assistance during the tornado cleanup at our school. The love of the Lord was very evident in the lives of all your folks. Thank you again, and may God continue His blessings on you all, and continue His safety and protection to your group.
 
Blessings, Danny

The team also worked on an elderly couples’ property for several days. The couple was given a slice from a tree with a cross and the team's signatures on it. After expressing their thanks, the man said that, when they rebuild their home, he would make a table out of this slice to always remember what was done for them in the name of the Lord.

LCC L.E.R.T. volunteers serve those in need after a storm - to bring the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ!

LCC never goes where we are not invited. We NEVER charge those we serve. We pick up all of our travel, lodging, and meal costs. We put boots on the ground within 24 hours (often fewer) from the time we get the invite.
 
Please prayerfully consider a donation to the LCC Disaster Response General Fund or LCC Disaster Response 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.

DONATE - LCC DISASTER RESPONSE FUND

DONATE - DR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND