Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response Assists Sixty-One Families in Southern Illinois with Storm Recovery Efforts

For ten days, Kathy O’Day, LCC Director of Disaster Response, and twenty-seven LCC Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) volunteers served with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Southern Illinois District in Nashville, Addieville, Okawville and Ashely, Illinois. These communities were struck by a derecho (land hurricane) and 90 mph straight-line winds on June 29 and 30.

Lutheran Church Charities and Southern Illinois District L.E.R.T. teams spent 980 volunteer hours assisting sixty-one families by removing trees, damaged limbs, and debris with chainsaws, boom lift, bobcats, and tractors.

This woman lost her husband three years ago and, until this disaster, has been maintaining her own property. She felt overwhelmed by the damage to her many trees and didn’t know what she would do.
 
She couldn’t believe the work the volunteers got done to make her property safe again. While she watched the team work, volunteers also sat and talked with her.
 
The team carved a cross in one of her trees and presented her with a cross slice signed by all. Through many tears of happiness and hugs, she thanked everyone over and over.

---

Matt Bierman and Bryce Cramer, Lutheran Church-Missouri (LCMS) Southern Illinois District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRC), and Pastor David and Rachel Benning from Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, Illinois extend their sincere thanks to the following volunteers:

Illinois
Good Shepherd, Elgin – David Vollrath
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete Springmire
Immanuel, Dundee – Matt Flynn
Immanuel, Palatine – Chris Johnson
Lord of Life, LaFox – Mark Holstein, Max Metz, Bill Pietsch, Larry Zagorski
Messiah, Sterling – Jacob Beets
St. John, East Moline – Bill and Debbie Girard, Ken and Janet Hill
St. John, Wilmette – Tom Morrison
St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta
Trinity, Lisle – Ed Boerman, Wayne Scott
 
Indiana
St. John, Dillsboro – Steve Black, Ruth Weisbrod
 
Wisconsin
St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Stu Natale, Kaye Voss
St. Paul, Janesville – Lark Sanders

LCC extends our thanks to the Southern Illinois District and the congregation of Trinity Lutheran for their wonderful hospitality.
 
And a special thanks to Pastor David and Rachel for hosting the L.E.R.T. volunteers at their home for a steak cookout.
 
A wonderful time was had by all. It was so great doing the Lord’s work together!

LCC never goes where we are not invited.
We NEVER charge those we serve!

If you are so moved, please donate to the LCC Disaster Response Fund or LCC 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 — LCC MAINTENANCE & FUEL EXPENSE FUND

Please pray for all of the communities affected by these devastating storms, including the LCMS and LCC Disaster Response volunteers and staff that help during the recovery process.
 
LCC works in coordination with LCMS Disaster Response national and local districts of the LCMS.