KYW report on Gulf relief, one year later
Posted by Robert Fisher on August 25, 2006
Mary Ann Gleason, a member of Redeemer, Jamison, who just returned from her fourth relief trip to work with Grace Lutheran Church, New Orleans, and I were interviewed today for a report on KYW NewsRadio 1060, which is scheduled to air either tomorrow (Saturday) or Tuesday, Aug. 29, which is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. The report focuses on the status of relief efforts.
Among the points we made were:
- We’re thankful that ELCA members have responded so well to the call. Nationally, ELCA members have sent $25 million to the Gulf so far, and about 15,000 volunteers have donated 600,000 volunteer hours. Locally about 30 groups have gone down to the Gulf through LDR, involving several hundred volunteers. Congregations have given more than $150,000 through the synod, with more going directly to ELCA Disaster Relief and to affected communities. And local congregations have trips scheduled into next year!
- Volunteers from across the synod have been energized and strengthened in their faith by such service.
- Lutherans are in this for the long haul. We’re not only cleaning up and rebuilding homes and restoring communities. We are doing what we do best: providing spiritual and emotional care to survivors, especially caregivers and children. We’re coordinating volunteer efforts. And we’re providing hardship grants to the most vulnerable survivors.
- Disaster response is in the Lutheran DNA. It’s a way of living out the Gospel and being Christ’s hands and feet and heart to vulnerable people in need.
- Lutherans will be in prayer for survivors on Tuesday’s day of remembrance, as we have been for the last year and will continue to be.
It’s hard to know how much of this will make it into a 60-90 second report on-air. Whatever airs will help to remind people that Lutherans care about our neighbors!
Thank you for all you are doing to support this massive relief effort. Your time, your skills and your dollars continue to be needed as this long-term relief effort unfolds.
update: another take on this experience is here.
