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Greetings
In visiting Southeastern Ohio last week, I met with people who were amazed
and encouraged that a church is acting beyond its four walls and actively
addressing an urgent need to an often over-looked group of people.
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, with ELCA Domestic Hunger, has been
participating in relief efforts to provide hay to farmers in critical need
in Northeast Pennsylvania, Southeast Ohio and West Virginia. This is in
response to a severe and widespread drought affecting the Northeast,
Mid-Atlantic and eastern Mid-west regions of the country. And the drought
continues, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, this drought could
surpass the ones of 1929 and 1966 to become the most devastating drought
since the Depression.
Our response began in last summer and early fall with Orphan Grain Train, a
fellow Lutheran (LC-MS) partner, donating several tracker trailer loads of
hay to NE Penn. Orphan Grain Train has also donated several loads to SE
OH. In the last several weeks our predominant concentration has been in
Ohio and West Virginia.
Thanks to ecumenical partnership, we are helping around 150 farmers survive
the winter in WV and OH. We're able to reach out to those family farms in
most critical need from collaboration with Southern Ohio Synod - ELCA,
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio; and WV-Western Maryland Synod -
ELCA. Lutheran efforts in OH alone have brought more then 500 tons of hay
into the state and have helped to lower the cost of hay at auctions.
This ecumenical partnership is known as the Family Farm Drought Response
Coalition, a group of ecumenical disaster agencies composed of Christian
Reformed World Relief Committee, Church of the Brethren Emergency Response
Service Ministries, Church World Service, Mennonite Disaster Service and
us.
Church World Service has also implemented the Farmer Disaster Helpline,
1888-800-0118. This service connects farmers with information about
disaster response resources (state, federal and local disaster assistance),
supplemental hay and grain programs and faith based family support
services. The scope of the Helpline serves Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. This is a number worth
circulating.
The need is far from over and perhaps you could be of help - truckers are
needed. If you know of truckers available, please give us a call. If you
are aware of solicitations for donated hay, again, let us know. And as
always, donations of cash, designated for "drought response/hay lift," help
fund this effort.
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response PO Box 71764 Chicago, IL 60694-1764
Finally, a word of thanks from a farmer "to those of you that reached out
your hand and gave sunshine to others." Let us be a light indeed.
Blessings to all of you this holiday season.
Johanna Olson
JOHANNA OLSON (written 1:01 pm Thu, Dec 16, 1999) Assistant for ELCA
Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society); Lutheran
Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry between the LCMS and ELCA); 8765
West Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; tel. 773-380-2822 fax 773-380-
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