To: [log in to unmask]
Dear Friends in Disaster Response:
Lutheran Disaster Response (a cooperative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) has an
urgent and continuing need for volunteers in eastern North Carolina during
these coming winter months. Your help is needed.
In September 1999 Hurricane Floyd produced widespread devastation along the
East Coast. In North Carolina, the towns of Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, and
Kinston sustained massive damage. Belhaven, Greenville, Tarboro,
Washington, and Wilson experienced severe flooding. In this unprecedented
disaster 55,000 homes were damaged, including 17,000 uninhabitable and
7,000 destroyed. Fifty-two people died. Most survivors have plowed
through a frustrating maze of paperwork, but for many with limited
resources rebuilding is just beginning. Most people are still nowhere near
returning to their homes. Hundreds of houses still stand abandoned.
Thousands stand in need of repairs, minor and major. Hundreds of families
still live in FEMA trailers, unable to return to their damaged houses.
The LDR North Carolina response is being coordinated through Lutheran
Family Services in the Carolinas (Vice President Carl Miller is managing
the response), along with the North Carolina Synod (ELCA) and the
Southeastern District (LCMS). George Strunk serves as coordinator. In
July 2000 Dale and Jean Peercy were brought in to provide volunteer
coordination and site work preparation. Recovery efforts will continue
into the year 2001.
Where are we now? The Peercys are active in interfaith efforts preparing
sites for volunteers. They have over 100 situations ready for workers.
Because of strong cooperation with other denominations, Lutheran volunteers
are working side by side with - and sometimes under the supervision of -
Methodists, Church of the Brethren, Christian Reformed, or Reformed Church
in America folks.
There is much to do and to be done. Volunteers are urgently needed now and
throughout the winter, to help in the repairing and rebuilding of houses.
Especially helpful are people with these building skills: electrical,
plumbing, sheetrock hanging and finishing, all phases of carpentry, and
painting. Individuals and groups are welcome. Volunteers may bring
general hand tools or tools their skill requires or with which they are
familiar. An adult must accompany youth under 18. When planning a trip
have two dates that might work, so scheduling can be done more easily,
especially at times when many people may want to come (such as spring
break).
In addition to volunteers, a continuing flow of cash contributions is
important to sustain the cost of the recovery operations in the next year.
And always, prayer support is essential, and as powerful as the
floodwaters.
To volunteer: 1-888-336-4250 (toll-free number of George Strunk)
To contribute:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Hurricane Floyd"
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.elca.org/disaster
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
Long after other organizations have come and gone, the Lutherans will
continue to be here, sending money and volunteers, offering prayers, and
giving spiritual and emotional support.
Please circulate this information in your churches and communities, where
appropriate. We are grateful for your interest and commitment to our
church's disaster response ministry. People in North Carolina face an
enormous challenge as they rebuild their lives. Their needs are deep, but
their hopes are high.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Fri, Nov 17, 2000, 3:36 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
