LCC Partners with Central Illinois District To Help Families Recover After Floods in Watseka and Milford, Illinois

Tim Hetzner, LCC President / CEO, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response and LCC staff returned to Watseka on Saturday, March 3 to partner with Stephen Born, CID Disaster Response Coordinator after assessing affected homes, scheduling work orders, coordinating work teams and bringing financial assistance to help those in need during the recovery process.
 
100 LERT volunteers from the Central Illinois District and Lutheran Church Charities, as well as 28 Walmart associates from central Illinois stores, joined together with Rev. Don Love from Calvary Lutheran – Watseka and Rev. Karl Gibbs from Our Savior – Milford to help the residents recover from historic flooding. These volunteers mucked out and removed wet debris, drywall and carpet work from 18 homes.

Disaster Response Teams Tackle Watseka
(Monday, March 5, 2018 – WAND 17 NBC)
 
CLICK HERE to watch broadcast

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Families Are Devastated and Feeling Hopeless
 
LCC and LERT volunteers also listened to many stories of loss and were able to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ with those whom they were serving. One of these stories was from the Marrs family whose loss was devastating. They have 6 children ranging from 2 to 13 and eventually had to be evacuated by boat from their home as they could no longer hold back the water. It completely filled their basement and about 8” into the entire first floor. They stayed in the Red Cross shelter until it closed and have now found a temporary rental. LCC LERT volunteers helped this family remove wet items, flooring, and walls. LCC also provided financial assistance to help them pay for their temporary housing and care for their children. This family has lost almost everything. LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Mahlah (Our Savior – Milford, Illinois) and Bethany (Trinity – Danville, Illinois) and their handlers visited them and others in the Red Cross shelter to bring comfort during this unsettling time. Please join LCC in being the Hands and Feet of Jesus and consider donating generously to help them get back on their feet.

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Donate - Marrs family fund

In addition, many elderly people in the community have also experienced much loss and are struggling with losing their home and belongings to this flooding. An elderly couple in their 90’s will have to move away from the only home they have ever known.

These families have shed tears of despair and tears of joy. They went from feelings of hopelessness to seeing the hope of Christ through people willing to listen, help and pray with them. This community in crisis has a long recovery to face and will need our financial and physical assistance for some time.

Kathy O’Day and other LCC DR staff will be returning to Watseka this week to continue supporting resident need assessments and work order scheduling for a joint LCC LERT and CID LERT volunteer muck-out work day on Saturday, March 10th.

Please prayerfully consider donating so that together, we can make a difference in the lives of families and individuals impacted.

Donate - Watseka, IL Flood Disaster Relief Fund