LUTHERAN EARLY RESPONSE TEAM (LERT) MERCY IN ACTION

Blessing Buckets
 
Last week, the Palatine LERT volunteers, made up of members from Immanuel and Prince of Peace Lutheran Churches (Illinois) met for a chainsaw safety review meeting and to assemble Blessing Buckets. Each congregation collected items for these buckets during the month of August.
 
These much-appreciated buckets are given to homeowners affected by a disaster and are filled with items they can use immediately.
 
Lutheran Church Charities thanks both congregations for donating funds and items in preparation for disaster response.

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Helping a Church Secretary with Storm Damage Cleanup
 
Lutheran Church Charities was contacted by Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, Indiana, to help assist their church secretary, Mrs. B., in removing a storm-damaged tree from her front yard in Griffith, Indiana. Half of the tree had fallen onto a neighbor’s garage during the storm and there was fear of more damage if the remaining damaged tree fell.
 
This past week, the following LERT volunteers, along with Mrs. B's husband, felled and cut up the tree into firewood and placed the limbs on the street for pickup. Mr. and Mrs. B. were grateful to have the assistance and that their property was made safe again.
 
They extend their sincere thanks to the following LERT volunteers:
Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire
Christ Lutheran, Valparaiso – Milan Coburn

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A Beacon of Hope after a Derecho
 
Mrs. Z. faced an overwhelming challenge when a large tree limb fell on her car during the Northern Illinois derecho in July. While visiting BC Auto Body for repairs, she told Steve Chester, the owner and a member of the St. John Wheaton LERT, about other tree damage that she could not afford to take care of on her property.
 
He referred her to Lutheran Church Charities for an assessment, and this past week the St. John Wheaton LERT volunteers and garden club members spent two days removing damaged tree limbs, trimming, cutting brush, and doing general maintenance on Mrs. Z's overgrown property.
 
Mrs. Z. and Lutheran Church Charities extend their thanks to the following volunteers for being the hands and feet of Christ to a local neighbor in need.
 
Immanuel, Dundee LERT – Matt Flynn
St. John, Wheaton LERT – Steve Chester, Marty Johnson, Julie Madden, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro
St. John Wheaton Garden Club – Bill Cooper

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Thanks to the unwavering support from LCC volunteers, she found not only practical help in clearing the debris but also a sense of belonging and emotional reassurance. This experience underscores the vital role of community in times of crisis, reminding us that together, we can rebuild and heal.

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