Volunteers help Rockford flood victims clean up

All it took was an e-mail popping up to inspire about 25 people to abandon summer weekend plans for barbecues or swimming.

Instead, they chose to wade in water and debris from a flood last Saturday that damaged the homes of about 500 Rockford families.

Tim Hetzner, president of Lutheran Church Charities in Addison, got word of the problem from members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rockford, whose basement had flooded for the second time in less than a year.

And while church members fretted over the damage, they told Hetzner of a bigger worry: local families.

That's when he put out the electronic call for help, asking volunteers to ditch their hometowns -- including Glen Ellyn, Schaumburg, Elgin, Elmhurst, Libertyville, Palatine and Rolling Meadows -- and head to Rockford the next day.

"People had a very rewarding time," Hetzner said. "They went door to door just asking people if they needed help."

In all, more than 75 volunteers from Lutheran churches throughout the region showed up in Rockford, along with members of the Red Cross.

Dianna Bonfield of Elmhurst, volunteer coordinator for Lutheran Church Charities, said volunteers found homeowners reeling.

"People were so discouraged because 11 months ago they went through this and their homes were ruined," Bonfield said. "Some had still not gotten back on their feet from that, while others had and were feeling back to normal, but all the work they had done was ruined.

"Some of the people you talked to were just in tears. Some were still numb. Part of the time we were there just to listen to people and hear their story because they needed to tell it."

In addition to lending their ears, volunteers cleaned up garbage and damaged household items, brought food to flood victims and created shelter for families whose homes were condemned. In all, the volunteers were able to work at 16 homes in one weekend.

Bonfield said their work not only helped clean up Rockford, but sent an important message to the flood victims.

"In the midst of all the tragedy that comes out of a flood like this, the hurt and the despair that people have, God is always there and brings hope," she said.

"He uses his church and his people to share that message: that someone going through something like is not alone. God is there all along providing what they needed and what they're going to need."

For details on other Lutheran Church Charities volunteer projects, visit lcc.lutheranchurchcharities.org.