Grants Available to Lutherans for Refugee and Immigrant Services

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), in partnership with Wheat Ridge Ministries, is offering financial assistance to Lutheran congregations to encourage development of support services for immigrants and refugees. Competitive grants are available through the LIRS Bernthal Fund for Congregational Involvement, said William C. Tremitiere, director, LIRS Resource Development.
     LIRS, based in Baltimore, is a cooperative agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  It was established by Lutheran churches in the United States to carry out the churches' ministry with immigrants and refugees.
     Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Ill., is a charitable organization that provides assistance and support to Lutheran congregations and agencies that engage in health-related ministries.
     The grants will enable congregations to develop support services for refugees and other new arrivals beyond the initial stages of resettlement, Tremitiere said.
     1999 was the first year of the program.  LIRS awarded grants totaling $62,500 to 11 Lutheran congregations to help implement a variety of creative projects and services, he said. These included programs such as computer job training, child care for students enrolled in English language classes, immigration assistance, citizenship classes, outreach ministry and other types of support.
     For the year 2000, LIRS plans to offer seed grants of up to $5,000 per project, Tremitiere said. Congregations awarded grants are expected to contribute at least 25 percent of the project cost, either through cash or in-kind support, he said.
     Tremitiere said funding priority will be given to projects that demonstrate at least one of several services to immigrants and refugees: legal assistance, social services, joint projects between community members and new residents, and leadership development within the ethnic groups served.
     Lutheran congregations have until Jan. 24, 2000 to apply for grants, Tremitiere said.

     EDITORS: Congregations interested in obtaining an application packet should contact Joyce Hoebing, LIRS director for grants and management, phone (410) 230-2761, e-mail jhoebing@lirs.org, or check the LIRS Web site at www.lirs.org.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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