Josephine Akwarandu, a member of the African Immigrant Ministry, lost her husband on August 14 after only a brief illness. The husband (age 43), who was a taxi driver, was the main bread winner for the family. With his death, Josephine, left with two children, is in desperate need for help so she can pay her rent for at least the next three to four months.

Her monthly rent is $550.00. The African community in Chicago has helped pay for the funeral and would appreciate any help so Josephine can pay her rent while figuring out a way to generate more income for her and her young son and daughter.

LCC is working with a single mother and her three children and grandson who lost everything in the recent flooding. They were living in a first floor apartment that was completely flooded. They have been moved to a new apartment but lost all of their furniture and household items. They are in need of the following:

• 2 Queen size beds
• 1 Twin bed
• Living room furniture
• Stove
• Refrigerator
• Clothing- Boys size 5T, 13-14, shoes size 8 1/2-3
• Women's clothing size 8 and 11
• Linens and towels
• Cleaning supplies
• Personal items

If you have any of these items to donate please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you have any of these items to donate please contact LCC at 866-455-6466 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We have a member who is going through difficult financial times. Since being laid off from her job as an accountant over a year ago she hasn't been able to get back on her feet, she has been struggling to stay independent. She had been working, making about half of what she was accustomed to but she was laid off from that job on June 15th. She recently had a medical situation add to her debt (she is on a COBRA plan) as well as slowing down her mobility. She also suffers from depression. Her family lives out of state and can not help her financially or support her in her living situation.

The congregation is helping her but she is in need of $2,000 to clear up her medical bills. Any assistance that she can receive as she struggles to pay her bills while she continues to look for full time work would be such a blessing to her.

We have a woman, in her early 60's (not old enough to quality for medicare) who is facing several severe hardships. She has been a faithful, life-long Lutheran. While she is not handicapped to the point of qualifying for disability income, she does have some physical limitations along with some illness for which she is under a doctor's care. She is currently out of work and does not have money to cover her rent, utilities, food, and medicine. Because of family difficulties, she has no immediate family members to turn to.

This woman is in dire straits and is "falling through the cracks." Any help or assistance she could be given would certainly be appreciated.

We are working with a member family that is in dire need. They are a 58-year-old couple, married for 39 years, and are facing a financial crisis. He lost his manufacturing high management position 35 months ago and they have consumed all of their 401 retirement investments and stocks. In the past year he had major reconstructive surgery for skin cancer.

Now they are on the verge of losing their home, unable to use their maxed out credit card, have borrowed against their life insurance policies, are behind on property taxes and have medical bills that have gone to a collection agency. If his minimal health insurance coverage is lost, he may be uninsurable in the future.

They both eagerly serve on committees and boards of our congregation and volunteer for many church-related activities. The congregation is helping the family in every way that we can but their needs are greater than we can do alone. If anyone is moved to donate to help this family get back on their feet it would be a tremendous blessing for them.

Request from Pastor James Zimmerman, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Addison, Illinois

We have a member family that we are working with that is facing foreclosure. She is a single mother, her child is in high school. She recently lost her job and is actively looking for work. She is not eligible for unemployment so she doesn't have any money coming in. Prior to losing her job she had an excellent credit history. She has only been in her home for a few years so she doesn't have much equity. Because she is ineligible for unemployment her situation is becoming desperate. The congregation is helping all that we can. Any additional help that can be provided would be such a blessing to this family

Request from Christine Rechsteiner Campus Ministry Coordinator, Celebration Ministries, Park Forest, Illinois

We have a gentleman at our church that lost his job 7 months ago. In the meantime, while he looks for work, he has given 110% of his extra time in helping us get the ministry off the ground. His car broke down last week and he continues to walk here (which takes him an hour) to continue to be a blessing to us. The repairs to his car will cost $1500. He is divorced and pays child support for his four children. He just has enough money to pay his regular bills; this car expense will put him behind. We are doing all we can to help him. Any additional support for him would be such a blessing for this tireless servant!

Request from Pastor Clifford Frederich, St. John's Lutheran Church, Elgin, Illinois

I am writing on behalf of a single mother and her 10-year-old son that I am working with. Terry (name changed) has had many challenges, both economic and family issues, over the past 12 months. As a result, she and her son have become homeless and are living at a temporary shelter. Terry has found work and has also found an apartment. She needs assistance to pay her car insurance, $289.00 due on June 15th, and a $500.00 deposit for the apartment. She is working and will be able to cover her ongoing expenses, she just needs some help getting into an apartment and with her car insurance so that she can continue to get to work.

Any help would be such a blessing to Terry and her son as she works to put her life back together.

LCC works through our churches to provide assistance by making the need known - and dollar per dollar we give the money to a church to help the family or individual. However, we receive some requests that are emergencies, and money is needed that day or the next day and we can't always get the need out in our weekly email newsletter first.

Would you consider making a gift to our LCC Emergency Assistance fund so that when these emergency needs occur we can help (through our churches) quicker? This is an important way for the Body of Christ to share the Mercy and Compassion and Proclamation of Christ.