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From Elaine Bryant, Associate Director for Lutheran Disaster Response
The firefighters are heading home but in many ways our work at Lutheran
Disaster Response is just beginning in Montana. "God has worked another
'miracle,' " reports Rev. Glenn Merritt, Grace Lutheran Church, Hamilton.
The fires are out following two weeks of rain and snow. "This season's
precipitation is at least four weeks early," according to 22-year Montana
resident, Rev. Tom Lee, Assistant to the Bishop of the Montana Synod.
The HEPA filter remains silent in the Grace Lutheran preschool classroom.
Happy children eat their school lunches after once again being able to play
outside and breathe fresh air.
Mrs. Lucille Lippolis, a resident of Willow Court Residential Center, is
grateful for the roomsized HEPA filter provided through Grace Lutheran
Church in Hamilton. "I couldn't breath. I needed my window air conditioner
because of the heat but it actually brought outside air in. I wouldn't
have made it without the filter."
Rev. Mike Warmbier, Montana circuit counselor for the Bitterroot Valley, is
based in Salmon, Idaho. "My concern now is for long-term health needs. As
winter approaches, the effects of months of smoke will aggravate the usual
respiratory problems. Idaho residents are especially at risk because the
state has no standards of air quality and issued no warnings."
The Lutheran Disaster Response banner continues to fly over the trailer
distribution center in Albertsons' grocery store parking lot. Volunteers
from Grace and Faith Lutheran Churches continue to distribute vouchers for
food, laundry services and other commodities.
Rev. Tim Meyer, Associate Pastor at Faith, is committed to continuing
response. "The church will continue to reach out to people affected by
wildfires with whatever resources we have available."
"Case work in the Bitterroot Valley is the greatest need at this time",
reports Maureen O'Malley, Lutheran Disaster Response of Montana
coordinator. Communities south of Missoula to Sula need assistance in
locating returning families, assessing needs and identifying resources.
An unmet needs committee is being formulated to review cases and distribute
financial assistance. The community-based committee includes
representatives of the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross and Lutheran
Disaster Response.
Contributions for Montana Fires may be sent to:
LCMS World Relief
PO Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit Card gift line: 1-888-930-4438.
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
Credit Card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
On-line web giving: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
Elaine (Richter) Bryant
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Wed, Sep 20, 2000, 3:35 pm). Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Please visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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