Our Stories
People come to LSS Disaster Services at a very difficult stage in their lives. Each person’s story is unique. We strive to meet our clients where they are and serve them as individuals so that they can better their lives. Here are some of those unique stories.
Jane’s Story
After going through a difficult divorce, Jane and her handicapped adult daughter found themselves without a place to live. With no other options, they moved into their grandparents’ house in Noble County. The house had previously caught fire, and Jane had no money to make repairs. They stapled cardboard to the walls to keep as much cold air out as possible. The porch and a wheelchair ramp had burned, so Jane had to climb in and out of the house while lifting her daughter. Once LSS was made aware of Jane’s plight, repairing the home became a Servant Mission project. Volunteers from around the state assisted with the project, which basically rebuilt the entire house and wheelchair ramp. Funds from the United Way of Guernsey and Noble Counties helped purchase the building supplies. Jane and her daughter now have a safe, warm and secure home in which to live.
Cheryl’s Story
One night, Cheryl, her sister and children were awakened by 4 feet of water swirling around their beds and had to climb through a window to safety. They live on a very small stream that is dry most of the time but was overwhelmed by an unusual amount of rain.
They lost their cars, all of their belongings and their home. Through the case management process, LSS Disaster Services exhausted all available options for Cheryl. She and her sister are not eligible for a bank loan, so their home could not be replaced. LSS rebuilt it. It was gutted and needed plumbing work, electrical re-wiring, insulation replacement, drywall, flooring, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures and cabinets. Without the help of LSS, Cheryl and her family didn’t know what they would have done.
Gary’s Story
Gary and his family were living in Meigs County when a F-3 tornado rolled his mobile home half a mile from its original site. Luckily, Gary was able to get out unharmed, but his home was destroyed. Gary had no homeowners insurance because the property had been in his family for two generations, and he could not afford to rebuild the house himself. That is when LSS Disaster Services volunteers stepped in to help. When materials came available, volunteers helped Gary install a new septic system, new water lines and a new home for his family.
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio is a United Way agency, a member of Lutheran Services in America and a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
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