ELCA NEWS SERVICE September 6, 2005 Lutheran Disaster Response Leader Meets with President Bush 05-168-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- At the invitation of U.S. President George W. Bush, Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, attended a special meeting with religious leaders from across the country at the White House Sept. 6 to discuss Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery operations. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). President Bush "thanked Lutherans" for what they are doing "to bring compassion to people who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina" and "bring hope to the hopeless," said Feltman, who had an opportunity to tell the president about the work of Lutheran Disaster Response. "The mission of Lutheran Disaster Response is to provide hope and healing for those who have been devastated by disaster. We are committed to long-term (recovery) efforts for disasters like Hurricane Katrina. We are mobilizing all aspects of the Lutheran church to be available and support hurricane disaster response, especially our Lutheran social ministry organizations, our Lutheran refugee and immigration organization, our Lutheran hospitals and our Lutheran counseling centers. We are accessible and available to all people across the country, especially as hurricane evacuees are being dispersed. We are here to rally Lutherans to assist in these efforts. All of us serving together are Lutheran Disaster Response," she said. "President Bush said he is aware of the catastrophic nature of this disaster, and he has pledged to be a part of recovery efforts for the long-term," said Feltman. "Former President Bill Clinton and former President George H.W. Bush have raised $60 million for the governors' funds of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi," Feltman said. "President Bush's strategy also includes rebuilding communities that have been devastated, so people may return home," Feltman said. Some discussion on a "National Day of Prayer surrounding this disaster" also took place, she said. Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response "Lutheran congregations are working overtime" to meet the needs of people affected by Hurricane Katrina, said Feltman, who also serves as director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. "Churches have turned into disaster centers, offering food for the hungry, shelter to the homeless and comfort to the bereaved. The generosity of (the Lutheran church) is making a significant difference to all those who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina," said Feltman. In addition to serving as disaster response centers, many congregations are organizing work teams, collecting donations and delivering materials to hurricane-affected communities, she said. Many Lutherans who are volunteering to enter devastated areas for debris removal and clean up are organizing themselves to be "self-sufficient," providing food and water for themselves while they serve, said Feltman. "It is essential that when our teams arrive on-site to volunteer, they will have all the resources they need so they don't tax local resources. If you want to volunteer, take the extra time to plan and prepare," she said. "Of particular concern are (hurricane) survivors displaced (from their homes) or in other vulnerable positions," she said. "The devastating degree of flooding (produced by the hurricane) will cause long-term environmental challenges." Information on volunteer opportunities and making donations are available on the Internet at www.elca.org/disaster Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response have been coordinating emergency and long-term disaster response "with other faith-based and community disaster partners," said Feltman. Both are working to provide immediate assistance to people displaced from their homes, communities and work; emotional and spiritual support for those affected by the hurricane; care for caregivers; and hardship grants for Lutherans and others "who need short-term assistance for expenses such as rent, insurance deductibles or special medical equipment" not covered under insurance or FEMA grants, she said. ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod The ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod will hold a "Service of Healing and Recovery" at Faith Lutheran Church, Bellaire, Texas, on Sept. 7 at 7:00p.m. The Rev. Paul J. Blom, bishop of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Houston, will preach. The synod is made up of 130 congregations, with 19 congregations in Louisiana. As many as 10 congregations in Louisiana may have sustained damage from wind and flood produced by the hurricane, and several church buildings are under water. Synod staff is guiding hurricane survivors to where they can get help and providing information for people who would like to help, said Blom. House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Harvey, La., has sustained "more damage than we thought," said Blom. The church has sustained water damage and part of the ceiling fell in, he said. Residents from Covington, La., are returning home and need help removing downed trees. Lutherans from Baton Rouge, La., are working to set up "staging areas" to provide recovery assistance, Blom reported. ELCA congregations in the Houston area are participating in efforts to relocate some evacuees from the Astrodome to other places, "where the quality of life may be better," he said. ELCA Southeastern Synod Through the Lutheran-Episcopal Services of Mississippi Ascension Lutheran Church, Jackson, Miss., is serving as a "distribution center," offering relief supplies to people impacted by the hurricane, said Elaine S. Schwartz, director for communication resources, ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta. Christus Victor, Ocean Springs, Miss., is set up to serve as a Red Cross shelter to house hurricane evacuees, she said. Staff of the ELCA Southeastern Synod has and continues to receive calls and e-mails from people across the country offering help and expressions of love, said Schwartz. "The response has been just overwhelming," she said. "It makes us feel thankful to be part of God's community." Lutheran World Relief To aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is sending health kits to Lutheran Disaster Response's staging area in Jackson, Miss. LWR is the overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA and LCMS. "Historically, Lutheran World Relief has focused on emergency response overseas, but given the unprecedented nature of Hurricane Katrina, we feel that it is appropriate to make a rare exception and distribute the items domestically," said Brenda Meier, LWR's parish project associate, Baltimore. "I feel confident that the people who created and sent these health kits to LWR will wholeheartedly support our decision to use these material resources right here in the United States," she said. Heath kits contain one hand towel, a wash cloth, one bath-sized bar of soap, one adult-size toothbrush, one five-to-seven ounce tube of toothpaste, comb, one metal nail file or nail clippers, and six bandages. Once the shipment of heath kits have been received by Lutheran Disaster Response and distribution begins, LWR and Lutheran Disaster Response will assess what additional material resources, if any, may be appropriate for use in relief efforts, said Meier. "We are pleased to support the work of Lutheran Disaster Response in this emergency situation," she said, "and will continue to offer what we can to assist them in our ongoing relief efforts." - - - DOMESTIC DISASTERS: Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid survivors of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764 Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522 Credit card gifts via Internet: http://www.elca.org/disaster/katrina