Southeastern District, Disaster Response
September 2008
This is a Hurricane Ike, Hanna, and Gustav update. I am thanking God that it has been a quiet weather week. Yet each day, the requests for help grows as people are able to return to their homes – or the locations of their homes. The flooding, chaos, displacement that such terrible storms bring is devastating. I invite you to follow through this note as I share what we have learned this week. At the bottom, you will see information about opportunities for you to participate in the recovery effort.
LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick writes: “It is obvious that the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike is of enormous proportion, not just in the Gulf Coast area, but wherever Ike cut his path. Such widespread destruction also means that there is massive human need requiring attention. As Rev. Mark Junkans of the Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition in Houston noted: “There are so many different communities within such a wide area in the Houston area that it is incredibly difficult to distribute the things that are needed. Even as people are still being rescued from the areas most affected by flooding, I have been throughout a lot of the poorest apartment complexes and subdivisions where families are already without much food or provisions.”
As of yesterday, Dr. Lou Jander, Texas District Disaster Response Coordinator, reported that “20 LCMS churches were significantly damaged, as were six church workers’ homes. The status of the LCMS church on Galveston Island is yet unknown.” Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care disaster response, added, “There is going to be a lot of devastation, if not to LCMS congregations, certainly to member’s homes.” This devastation, of course, extends into the neighborhoods and communities surrounding LCMS congregations and their members.”
What can you do?
First, pray: for those in the path of the storm, their friends and families; for first responders and emergency workers; for the people who will bring food, shelter, emotional and spiritual support and many other kinds of assistance to the many thousands impacted by Ike, for the return of electricity and basic services.
Second, send a donation: there are many organizations, which have been and will be providing aid, short- and long-term. Financial contributions to aid the Texas victims may be mailed to Texas District, LCMS at 7900 E Highway 290, Austin, TX 78724. Please also mark on the envelope “Hurricane Ike”. You may also use the following link if you wish (accepts only credit card):
https://www.regonline.com/2008HurricaneIke
One hundred percent of the contributions made for Hurricane Ike assistance will be used for that purpose.
Please don’t donate clothing! – or other items that have not been specifically requested. Items like these usually end up in landfills or in the way.
Third, you can volunteer or support volunteers: just as we have continued to do in the 3 years since Hurricane Katrina, Lutheran volunteers will be organizing, training, and traveling to the Hurricane Ike impact area to assist with the long-term ministry of rebuilding people’s lives. There is great need for volunteers – skilled and unskilled.
The Texas District and Southern District are now accepting volunteer information.
Texas District: call the LCMS Texas District at 512-926-4272, and ask for Helen.
Southern District: call 1-888-248-2636 or e-mail info@raiministries.org.
Already several teams of volunteers from the SED are in the area or planning to be there to work. If you are interested in forming a team or joining a team planning to serve, contact Liz DeMik at disasterhelp@se.lcms.org.
As always, we turn to God in these times and pray for his mercy and compassion to be shown in the lives of his children. May this be one of those moments when the church reaches out with a caring embrace to all who are in need.
When we receive word of specific actions that congregations may take, such as partnering with another family, we will be in touch. In the meantime, consider your own disaster plans – do you know what you will do if you are faced with the winds and waters of a hurricane? Check www.se.lcms.org for congregational and family disaster preparedness resources.
At Home Mission Project:
The Orphan Grain Train has developed Project Scrub Bucket. These filled scrub buckets are in response to the recent flooding across the midwest and will now be used in the Hurricane impacted areas. This is a great Fall project for your Christian Education program. There are two ways to participate in this effort. The first is to prepare a display, showing what goes in the scrub bucket and inviting donations of items to fill buckets. These completed kits are then shipped to Nebraska, the Orphan Grain Train headquarters. (There is also an additional cost for shipping them.)
The second way that you can assist, is to display a completed scrub bucket and let people know that it costs $36 to fill the bucket. Invite everyone to find a way to raise the funds to contribute one scrub bucket for Disaster Relief. Funds are then sent to Orphan Grain Train and earmarked: Project Scrub Bucket.
Each scrub bucket holds $36 worth of cleaning supplies (including broom and mop) and cash donations of all sizes are requested to help fill the buckets. Each scrub bucket will include:
*Comet or other cleansing powder
* Top Job or other liquid cleaner
* Bleach (1-gal. size)
* Windex or other glass cleaner
* Scrub brush
* Rubber gloves
* Sponge(s)
* Roll of paper towels
* Broom and/or mop
Project Scrub Bucket was begun by Orphan Grain Train’s Indiana Division in response to the needs of homeowners returning after Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of buckets were distributed throughout the hurricane-affected areas in 2006. The Indiana Division distributed several hundred more in
Donations may be made through the secure online giving page here, by check payable to “Orphan Grain Train Flood and Storm Relief” PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702-1466.
