Assistance has been ongoing this week in the homes of elderly and single parents. Teams have been tearing out paneling and drywall that had been destroyed by flood waters. This week LCC will begin picking up donated items for families in the Westchester area.

While the requests are coming in slower, there are ministry opportunities that continue in Westchester. Please continue to pray for families affected by the floods, see if you could meet some needs of those individuals (financially, materially or emotionally), and consider supporting the ministry of Faith Lutheran Church, Rev. David Prentice and Rev. Matthew Gunia, as they continue to reach out the individuals and families in the community providing spiritual care and assistance as families try to get their lives back in order. LLC will also continue to place a staff member out on location at Faith Lutheran to assist the church in reaching out to those who continue to need assistance.

It's been 12 days since the flooding in Westchester and the surrounding area took place. Many of the homes of elderly and single parents still need their basements cleaned out and items moved out. Also needed are some tear outs of paneling and drywall.

LCC will be placing a staff member out on location at Faith Lutheran who will be staying out there to work with crews. SO ... please consider grabbing a few people and coming out to help - morning, afternoon or evening - whatever fits your schedule! For those elderly who do not have family in the area - if we don't help them no one else will. PLEASE consider Making A Difference in their lives by showing this mercy and Compassion of Christ! Click here if you would like to volunteer - each person can make a difference.

This past week in Westchester over 57 LCC Volunteers worked in 19 homes whose basements were underwater and cleaned them out. We have several homes where we need to return and remove drywall and paneling and eight new homes that are currently being assessed and work orders being written up. All of them are elderly or single mothers!

We desperately need a lot of volunteers to meet the needs of this community through Faith Lutheran Church. LCC will be working 3 shifts on Wednesday starting at 9:30 AM to 8 PM. You can check one or more shifts that you wish to work.

Once you have filled out the volunteer form that will be your confirmation that you are volunteering to serve at the disaster site. We will expect to see you there. For any questions please contact Dianna Bonfield at 866-455-6466 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Also needed - home cooked meals for the families that we are serving or have been serving. This is an excellent way to share the Mercy and Compassion of Christ with those in need. Meals can be dropped off at the NID office (2301 South Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162) between 8:30AM and 4PM. We will be taking meals for the next several weeks. All meals will be hand delivered to the families.

Thank you for Making A Difference by sharing the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ.

Tim Hetzner
Pete Imlah
Dianna Bonfield

Please check in at the church:
Faith Lutheran Church
1124 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, IL 60154

Lutheran Church Charities has been doing Flood Relief in Westchester since Saturday, July 24th, when heavy rains caused flooding in the Chicago suburb. LCC is working through Faith Lutheran Church in Westchester, Illinois.

Over 40 volunteers came to Westchester, IL on Saturday, July 31st and brought the Mercy and Compassion of Christ to those affected by the recent flooding (view photos).

The water has been pumped out of basements and now starts the process of helping people sort through and decide which items to keep or toss. We are also providing spiritual care with counselors and the two pastors at Faith, Rev. David Prentice and Rev. Matthew Gunia.

LCC and Faith Lutheran Church receive new requests for assistance every day. Our next working day is Wednesday, August 4th to help several homeowners in Westchester and members of Faith Lutheran Church. There are several homes that have items that need to be removed from their basements as well as carpet and drywall removal.

• 9:30AM - Noon
• Noon - 4PM
• 4PM - 8PM

Faith Lutheran Church
1124 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, IL 60154-2533

Lutheran Church Charities has been doing Flood Relief since last Saturday when the flood hit. We will have crews out again on Saturday!

TODAY!!!!! SATURDAY JULY 31ST – COME OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

7-31-2010 7:30 am: Only light sprinkling currently in Westchester, let's get to work! There is plenty of indoor work to be done on homes, and Faith needs help cleaning their basement that had flooded and getting the sanctuary ready for Sunday worship. New updates will be posted here as soon as they are available.

Starting at 9:30AM and going into the evening, LCC will be serving the community surrounding Faith Lutheran Church – all of which were affected by the flooding last Saturday. We will be cooking and providing food to the community, offering assistance in cleaning out their basements (which we have been doing all week), giving back and foot massages, and doing whatever else is needed to serve those who are hurting and tired. Can you help?

Thank you for Making A Difference and sharing the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ!

Faith Lutheran Church
1124 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, IL 60154-2533

Help is still needed in the area and we are looking for volunteers through Thursday, July 29th. Click here if you can volunteer and help flood victims in Westchester.

Food donations are also needed to feed the community - many do not have gas or electricity. Click here if you can donate food items.

LCC working in the worst hit area to this point - Westchester
You support is appreciated to help us MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Rev. David Prentice
Faith Lutheran Church
Westchester, Illinois


Rev. Ted Vratny
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Hillside, Illinois

Friday night into Saturday morning of July 23-24, heavy rains caused flooding in the west suburbs of Chicago. Westchester Village Manager Stan Urban has declared a "state of emergency" for the village.

The staff at Lutheran Church Charities has been in touch with Pastor David Prentice at Faith Lutheran Church in Westchester. Pastor Ted Vratny from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hillside is also working with LCC.

As I write - more rains are expected! LCC has had two staff people at Faith as they had to wade through water and sewage to get to Faith - and then by boat with the Fire Department. Although Faith itself only has several inches of water in its basement, the entire surrounding area is flooded.

LCC staff and LERT teams (Lutheran Early Response Teams for Disasters) have been put on standby in case we are called in to assist and help families through our churches. 

We have set up our base of operation at our closest LCMS church - Faith Lutheran Church in Westchester and the Northern Illinois District office in Hillside, Illinois, less than a mile from Faith.

Faith and Immanuel Lutheran Churches are reaching out into the communities to share the Mercy and Compassion of Christ with those who have suffered loss. 

Street in front of Faith Lutheran Church, Westchester, Illinois

Pete Imlah, Pastor Prentice, Tim Hetzner and Barry Laubscher in Westchester, Illinois heading out to visit members of Faith Lutheran Church

We will be deploying more volunteers out tomorrow to help people in the church and community pump out their basements and recover damaged items. Please keep everyone in your prayers. Your support is greatly appreciated as we reach those affected with the Mercy and Compassion of Christ - as we serve those in need. Please watch our website for current pictures from today and future announcements!

How to Help

• Pray - Pray for those who have lost property and belongings, for the Pastors, relief workers, volunteers and all others serving those who have been displaced by the flooding.
• Contribute to the LCC Disaster Relief Fund. Financial contributions are needed now and for the days ahead to assist the members of our LCMS churches and their communities in the aftermath of the flooding.

As tragic as this flooding is, it opens doors for the People of God to be the Church in Action showing the COMPASSION of Christ, along with the PRESENCE of Christ, and PROCLAIMING Christ in all we do!

Serving Together, Serving Christ, so we can serve others IN HIS NAME,

Tim Hetzner
Lutheran Church Charities

I have talked with Rev. David Prentice at Faith Lutheran Church in Westchester (1124 Westchester Blvd., Westchester IL 60154). He tried to get to his church this morning but was unable because of the roads being closed. He is going to try different routes now and will let me know as soon as he knows more.