The Work Continues
Nearly a year and a half after Hurricane Helene carved a devastating path through the Carolinas, the need for recovery support remains very real. Active deployment teams are still serving in Spartanburg, SC, Hendersonville, NC, and Linville, NC — addressing tree removal, home repairs, and rebuilding.
On Saturday, May 30, Lutheran Church Charities and Lutheran Servants for Christ-SED will host a Marketplace Resource Center at Northwest Community Center in Spartanburg. More than 200 families have been identified with needs for home, family, and supplies. Partners including United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Samaritan’s Feet, Comfort Dogs, and LCC Spiritual First Aid teams will be on hand to provide resources and spiritual care.
You can be part of this — as a volunteer, through prayer, or by donating needed items. About 30-40 volunteers are needed for the day; sign up at LCMS-LERT.org. Contributions may be marked “Spartanburg event.”
Current needs include:
- Oscillating fans and space heaters (needed for Spartanburg and Linville)
- Flood buckets (existing ones only — no need to build new)
- Basic pantry staples (flour, sugar, oil, baking powder, spices, condiments)
- Go-bags stocked with: emergency blanket, poncho or rain gear, work gloves, whistle, small flashlight and batteries, glow sticks, small first aid kit, and “In Case of Emergency” cards
- Children’s books
Items may be delivered to Spartanburg Emergency Management Office, 175 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
The Difference You Make
Your prayers, gifts, and volunteer hours are reaching real people in real places. These notes arrived recently from those who have received help through Lutheran Servants for Christ and the Southeastern District:
“How can we express our gratitude for your most generous gift of $55,000 — this great act of love certainly reflects God’s great love for mankind through Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Thank you again, and may God graciously bless you! Our bridge is indeed repaired! Praise God!”
“First of all I want to thank you for your support and your faith in people affected by Hurricane Helene. My words of gratitude go beyond anything. The Lord is my shepherd and is my everything. My prayers and my husband’s had been heard, and I always said that He never leaves us alone since day one.”
“I’ve probably reread this message like 30 times!! You all have no idea how much this will help us repair our home. Thank you ever so much. It feels unreal to be able to finally start to fix the place that I and my kids can call home.”
To give, volunteer, or learn more about ongoing Helene recovery efforts, visit LCMS-LERT.org.