ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 26, 2008  

Lutheran Disaster Response Nearly Completes $27.7 Million Expenditure
08-034-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR)
has nearly completed the expenditure of more than $27.7
million collected to support recovery work along the U.S.
Gulf Coast in response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and
other hurricanes from the 2005 season.  And in an effort
to continue rebuilding the Gulf Coast in the long-term,
LDR -- a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod (LCMS) -- is asking for more funds.
     "We're thankful to everyone who contributed toward
this work," and "we're proud of the accomplishments that
we've reached with that money," said the Rev. Kevin A.
Massey, LDR acting director.
     With the funds collected more than 11,000 case
management clients were served in eight different states,
especially along the Gulf Coast, said Massey.  He said
the money also helped support more than 40,000 volunteers,
whose contributions in hours volunteered far surpasses
the money collected.  "We've helped people directly with
this money," he said.

Details on LDR expenditures
     About $18.68 million was contributed by members of the
ELCA and LCMS in designated giving from 2005 to 2007,
according to Massey.  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans,
Minneapolis, matched the funds with more than $9.03 million
for a total of more than $27.7 million.
     The funds contributed were dispersed in three primary
ways -- grants to Lutheran social ministry organizations
and agencies, which serve the needs of people affected by
disaster; grants to non-affiliate partners, such as other
faith-based organizations that work in cooperation with
Lutherans in rebuilding after disasters; and administrative
expenses, for hiring consultants, chaplains and others who
provide expertise in disaster response.
     Total expenses were:
+ In 2005, LDR granted about $8.25 million to Lutheran
social ministry organizations and $366,699 to non-affiliate
partners.  LDR spent $132,635 for administrative expenses.
+ In 2006, LDR dispersed more than $7.78 million to Lutheran
social ministries and $216,285 to non-affiliates.  LDR spent
$214,000 for administrative expenses.
+ In 2007, LDR granted more than $8.37 to Lutheran social
services and $30,000 to non-affiliate partners.  LDR spent
$47,716 for administrative expenses.
     At the start of 2008, more than $2.27 million remained
with LDR from the $27.7 million.  The remaining balance has
been carried forward to continue the Lutheran response
efforts along the Gulf Coast.
     "The accomplishments of Lutheran Disaster Response are
only one part of the disaster response that Lutherans have
done," said Massey.  "I would especially like to highlight
the ministry and service of Lutheran congregations and
pastors along the Gulf Coast.  They've done wonderful work
serving their neighborhoods and communities, (from) places
like New Orleans to Biloxi, Miss.  They continue to do
wonderful ministry that we as a church should be very proud
of and need to publicly uplift," he said.
     A key component of LDR as it moves further into
long-term recovery is to uplift "and support the ministries
of pastors and congregations" along the U.S. Gulf Coast,
Massey said.

Katrina Aid Today
     In addition to the $27.7 million collected, LDR
received more than $7 million through "Katrina Aid Today"
-- a national case management consortium administered by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United
Methodist Committee on Relief.  LDR met and surpassed
its goal in case management work through the consortium,
Massey said.  The consortium's work will end March 31.

A new campaign for funds
     This spring LDR will shift its disaster response
operation to support the work of local "long-term recovery
committees" that will continue to serve the needs of people
and restore communities devastated by the 2005 hurricanes.
Massey said this is a "normal transition in all disaster
recovery work" and one that will require more funds.
     "As vast as the money was, we knew that it was never
going to last forever.  And, we're now moving our work into
other ways that will have a greater impact in the long-term
recovery of the Gulf Coast.  We've made these transitions
to be able to have a significant impact for years to come,"
he said.
     "We're committed to being involved in the Gulf Coast
recovery for the long-term recovery phase, so we're also
now asking people who were generous in the beginning to
consider remembering the Gulf in other keys ways.  As much
as we've been able to do, it really has been only a drop in
the bucket compared to what is needed in the Gulf right
now," said Massey.
     "I encourage anyone who has not yet visited the Gulf
to consider going and volunteering.  You need to see for
yourself the incredible need that still exists all along
the Gulf, from Port Arthur, Texas, to all the way past
Mobile, Alabama.  Everyone who has seen the Gulf knows that
the needs are immense and will be immense for years to come.
So, I encourage anyone who has seen the Gulf to remember
the people of the Gulf in your prayers, encourage people
to volunteer or to give and help in anyway they can," Massey
said.
- - -
     Information about Lutheran Disaster Response is
available at http://www.ldr.org on the Web.

     Audio of Massey's comments is at 
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080325.mp3 on the ELCA
Web site.

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

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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