Urgent Financial Assistance Needed for Low-Income Families in Fort Myers, Florida, Who Lost Everything after Hurricane Ian

Kathy O’Day, Lutheran Church Charities Director of Disaster Response, received an urgent financial assistance request from Tim Richter, Director of Christian Education (DCE) at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, to purchase basic living items needed for very low-income community members in Harlem Heights recovering from the destruction of their homes from Hurricane Ian. Debra Mathinos, Chief Programs Officer of Harlem Heights Community Center, made the initial request for assistance to Zion Lutheran Church, one of their very involved community partners for the past nine years.
 
This area experienced the hurricane-driven flood surge. All had 4’-8’ of water throughout their homes. Families had to be rescued, and all have lost what little they had owned.
 
Most of these families are now living in fully gutted homes, old campers, and even some tents on their property – and they will be living like this for at least the next six months to a year or more until their homes can be repaired or rebuilt.

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Your Donations Purchased 40 Microwaves and 50 Chairs!
Donate to Continue to Help 40 – 50 Families in Need!

DONATE — Harlem Heights Families – Fort Myers, FL

This week, your donations through Lutheran Church Charities helped Zion Lutheran Church order and purchase 40 microwaves and deliver 50 folding chairs to Harlem Heights Community Center for families in need. Debra Mathinos is very appreciative for the assistance from their community partner, Zion Lutheran Church.
 
Zion is continuing to meet with Debra to see what basic living needs – such as microwaves, crockpots, hot plates, mini refrigerators, card tables, and chairs – are still needed by 40-50 families that can be met with LCC assistance. This will allow families to cook simple meals, have a place to sit and eat, and for children to do homework as they try to live as best they can in their gutted homes with minimal functional electrical outlets.

LCC L.E.R.T. Volunteers Continue to Serve in Florida

Last week, four L.E.R.T. volunteers from Trinity Lisle continued to serve with other L.E.R.T. teams out of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida.
 
Jan Boerman and Linda Arnold were able to distribute air mattresses, pillows, blankets, children’s backpacks, and other items from Zion’s distribution center to many families who have lost everything in devastated South Fort Myers neighborhoods. These families were very grateful to receive these items, as they have also lost their means of transportation and could not get to the church to get much needed supplies or were afraid to leave their damaged homes. They consider it a blessing to pray with and serve residents of this area that have not received a lot of attention or assistance.

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Ed Boerman and Clay Arnold assisted with chainsaw and tractor work on extremely hard hit Captiva and Pine Islands.

If any L.E.R.T certified individual is interested in volunteering on their own to do muck-outs or chainsaw work, LCMS Disaster Response is still operating a base camp at Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida. It is planning to remain open until the second week of December.
 
CLICK HERE for more information.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help Lutheran Church Charities and Zion Lutheran Church help Harlem Heights families who are struggling and in need.

DONATE — Harlem Heights Families – Fort Myers, FL

Please continue to pray for the residents affected by Hurricane Ian as they face a long recovery process.