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GULF COAST RECOVERY CAMPAIGN BEGINS March 4, 2008 When the 2005 hurricane season battered communities along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the response of Lutheran donors was amazing, even overwhelming. Through your support, Lutheran Disaster Response has played an integral role in the initial stages of recovery from these terrible disasters. But the work is far from over. Urban planners and other local officials estimate that recovery could continue for years to come. Now, we ask you to renew your commitment to the Gulf Coast by giving to an unprecedented second funding campaign. All gifts received
through this campaign will support the work of local long-term recovery
organizations, through staff expertise, volunteers, and other resources.
What is a long-term recovery organization? In short, it is a not-for-profit
organization formed as a sort of local response headquarters. By working
with these committees, local leaders from any active response organization
have the opportunity to contribute resources to a wider group and
broaden their influence on community restoration. Through long-term
recovery, all available resources are multiplied through the collaborative
commitment of everyone involved. Download as bulletin insert: Disaster Reponse Insert An Invitation
to Join Others to Help Rebuild Biloxi “Nearly two and a half years have passed since the Gulf Coast and the entire country experienced a natural disaster of unprecedented nature. The immeasurable devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005 called for an equally unprecedented response. Lutherans from around the country continue to bring help and hope to the affected communities in overwhelming ways. Examples of this incredible response abound, including more than 36,000 volunteers who have given over 1.6 million hours in repairing and rebuilding more than 10,000 homes.” Rev. Kevin A. Massey, Acting Director, ELCA Disaster Response, January 17, 2008. The need is still great. Today, people are still living in trailers or with relatives. Houses are still boarded up as if Hurricane Katrina happened yesterday. It's been two years! In Central States Synod, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Prairie Village, Kan., is sponsoring a home through Habitat of Northern Virginia. Congregational fundraising is currently underway to raise $30,000 by Easter 2008, which will be combined with grant money received to fully fund the cost of rehabbing a house for a family currently living in a FEMA trailer in Biloxi. Members from Resurrection will be going to Biloxi June 21–28, 2008, to volunteer in the repair and rebuilding efforts currently underway in the Gulf Coast region. Their hope is that they will be able to work on the house they sponsor. Currently there is room for additional 10 volunteers to join their group and help rebuild a home affected by the Gulf Coast Hurricanes. The estimated cost per person for the trip is $400. The group plans to work four days in Biloxi as well as vacation two days in New Orleans. For more information or to make a reservation to serve with the group, please contact Pastor Alix Pridgen at apridgen@everestkc.net. To read stories shared by others who have been helping to rebuild Gulf Coast communities affected by Hurricane Katrina, please visit www.css-elca.org/missioninterpreter.html. Thrivent
Builds effort to assist in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Response
VOLUNTEER
RESOURCES MAKE A GIFT Financial contributions are still VERY MUCH needed. Give through your congregation or the synod, or donate online through the ELCA. Visit www.elca.org/disaster/giving/ for instructions and details on how to get your donation to the desired fund.
South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery
May 4, 2007 was the date that devastating storms and tornados swept through South-Central Kansas, nearly obliterating the town of Greensburg and causing major damage to the rural areas north of Greensburg toward Great Bend. Much has been done in the past year, but there is still much to do. Please keep the people of this area in your prayers and consider how you might be able to help them into the future. Check our Disaster Response page regularly or visit the Lutheran Disaster Response web site. For a year in pictures, click the following links to check the progress in Greensburg/South Central Kansas:
Also, for additional coverage visit:"Tragedy To Triumph: Greensburg Rising." The Early Show [CBS] has just completed a weeklong series, broadcasting the show from Greensburg. CONNECTIONS Lutheran Disaster Response/Greensburg
VOLUNTEERS We have sufficient volunteers registered through the month of July to do work on the varied projects of SCKTRO and Mennonite Housing. However, we are in need of volunteers for the remaining months of the year. Plan your mission trip early and reserve a place by sending in the Group Intake Form. Contact us by phone or e-mail. ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN moved our office pods from two locations to a single location west of the Volunteer Village Community Building. This move is saving us time every day aw conduct business from one location. Orphan Grain Train is providing additional sleeping units and a person care unit soon. These units will double the capacity for volunteers to be in Greensburg to accommodate ninety people. We will still use facilities outside of “Greensburg as our volunteers are over 100 per week for the next three months. (There are free RV hookups available in Greensburg as well as some camping space.) SCKTRO has four new houses under construction. It also has thirteen repair or improvement projects underway. Each day the challenge is to place people with the right skills on the right project with the right tools and materials. Mennonite Housing is currently building ten new homes. They also use volunteers who volunteer through SCKTRO. These new homes are financed by USDA Rural Development Self Help Program. CBS EARLY SHOW broadcast from Greensburg for the week ending May 3. I hope that you were able to view some of these programs. Greensburg received much attention and free products during this week. President Bush presented the Greensburg High School graduates with their diplomas on May 4. I believe that was a ‘first’ for high school student in our country. WEATHER - Recent wind and thunderstorms have brought anxious moments to Greensburg residents as they remember the tornado of a year ago. Twenty-seven families have storm shelters now because of United Way of Wichita funding. Keep the Greensburg families in your prayers as they continue to experience anxious days this spring. Download: 0508 LDR Connections LDR CONNECTION
BETHANY
VOLUNTEERS TEAM UP TO HELP IN For a photo album of the trip, click Bethany Volunteers at Greensburg. IMAGES Arial images from the area: www.kansas.com/static/slides/050507tornadoaerials/. The CSS photo al blum may be viewed at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dlglamann ELCA
RESPONDS TO CENTRAL PLAINS FLOODS SUMMARY This entire area of Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas will require a myriad of assistance programs to meet the Long Term Needs. We recommend continued contact with the pastors of the churches and designated district and synodical reps to identify both short and long term needs. We’ll also need to coordinate the presence of LDR in each of the cities as the water recedes and the particular needs are identified. The major damage of each location is in the lower income areas, and the needs will be the greatest due to their lack of insurance as well as financial wherewithal. The churches are
doing all they can to assist, but their assistance is limited in many
obvious ways. The long-term effects of this flood will equal that of
a major hurricane. The damage will continue to grow to structures, personal
property, contents and individual finances. LDR’s presence is
needed in each location. [MORE] Check out images at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kstatealec/CoffeyvilleFlood2007 Planning Ahead
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GREENSBURG
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