LCC Disaster Response Teams and Volunteers Help 32 Families Recover from Tornado Damage in Cascade, Wisconsin

Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response returned to Cascade, Wisconsin this past weekend to work with Pastor Richard Bidinger of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, offering chainsaw assistance to homeowners after an EF-1 tornado on August 28 damaged an overwhelming number of trees throughout the community. With all of the willing hands, hearts and heavy equipment, LCC was able to complete 20 more sites this weekend. Over two consecutive weekends, LCC completed 32 job sites by cutting and hauling away hundreds of trees for homeowners, relieving them of overwhelming physical and financial burdens. The mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ was very evident.

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Caring for Cascade
Tim Hetzner, LCC President / CEO, speaks with Pastor Richard Bidinger about the day the tornado hit Cascade and how LCC Disaster Response, LERT Chainsaw teams, and the community have come together to begin clearing the devastation that occurred. First hand, this community has seen faith in action and experienced the love of Jesus. Through LCMS churches, LCC and our dedicated volunteers, they responded with, "Here I am Lord, send me."

Pastor Bidinger interview

Representing Jesus in Disaster
Jenny, Pastor Bidinger’s wife, shares with Tim how she has been coping with the aftermath of the tornado and how their church can represent Jesus to the community.

Jenny Bidinger interview

LCC once again responded with boots on the ground doing assessments on Friday, September 7, and brought LERT chainsaw teams and heavy equipment to work Saturday and Sunday, September 8-9. They were also joined by many volunteers from local churches and the community.

‘It’s rewarding:’ Volunteers from Chicago church help with storm cleanup in Cascade
(Saturday, September 8, 2018 – Fox 6 Now / Madeline Anderson

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LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Lila (Beautiful Savior – Mequon, Wisconsin), Rhoda (Prince of Peace – Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin) and their handlers visited homeowners and volunteers on Saturday with Pastor Bidinger and his wife, bringing comfort and stress relief to impacted families.

LERT Chainsaw Team & Family Working Together
An elderly couple had 16 large evergreen trees fall and were very overwhelmed as to how to get them removed. They knew that they would not be able to afford to pay to have it done professionally. The LCC LERT team and this couple’s family worked together for the day to cut down and haul away all of these trees to the dump. They were so pleased and could not thank the team enough. The LERT team were told they are now family!

Watch McKenna sharing their story

LCC Boom Lift Helps Clear Extensive Tree Damage
This family had returned from vacation after the tornado to find at least 50 trees down on their property, including on their roof. Last week, the LERT teams carefully removed all the trees from the roof and helped with some of the downed trees. This weekend, the LERT boom lift operators worked on this site to remove tree limbs dangling over a mobile home on their property, as well as some other widow makers in their yard. They are very grateful for all of the assistance and professionalism of volunteers working with equipment to help them in their time of need.

Dealing with Disaster
Brenda and her husband realized that even with the help from their family, somtimes. you need help from others in times of disaster. Her husband told her that "I've been praying and praying and wondering how we're going to get this all cleaned up. The Lord answered my prayers."

Brenda Shultz Shares Her Story

Wisconsin LERT & Volunteers:
St. Paul’s – Cascade: Dominick Kowalczyk, Dominick Kowalczyk II, Sam Tiller, Gene Lodico, Jeff Seider, Dennis Dyken, Dennis Weinhold, Bonnie Feiber, Pastor Richard, Jenny, Tricia and Ethan Bidinger, Bethany Schneider, Troy Schneider
St. Paul’s – Sheboygan Falls: Richard Boeniecht
Good Shepherd – Sheboygan: Pastor David Blas
Waldo Fire Department: Lester Laack
Boy Scout Troop 885 – Sheboygan Falls: Pat Waitkul, Ryan, Becky and Jake Syverson, Andy and Zach Schleicher, Mary and Charlie Waitkus

Northern Illinois LERT:
Cross Lutheran – Yorkville: Derek & Amy Kowalczyk, Dave Braden, Joel Danker
Trinity – Lisle: Mike Kostecki,
Immanuel – Belvidere: Bob Schwarzkopf, Bernie & Janet Zimdahl, Robert Koehn, Mark Gutzler, Mike Perry
St. Peter’s – North Plato: Bob Warfel, Danny & Bobbie Swyndroski, Pete & Christel Springmire
St. John – Wheaton: Marty Johnson, Anna Piro, Palmer & Judy Goodwin, Jim Braun
Lord of Life – Elburn: Matthew Byars, Terry & Mary Kramer, John Griffin, Ken Johnston
Trinity – Tinley Park: Joel Powless
Our Savior – Burlington: Ron Schowengerdt
Shepherd of the Hills – McHenry: Ron Jones

Lutheran Church Charities thanks all of the LERT teams and volunteers for the many hours they dedicated to helping families in Cascade, Wisconsin. Thank you to this wonderful community for working closely with us and making us feel so welcomed

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