CHICAGO (ELCA) -- More than two dozen train cars of hay from the Midwest will be delivered in early March to help hundreds of farmers in Ohio and mid-Atlantic states feed their livestock. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Domestic Disaster Response, along with other disaster response groups, is expediting the hay-drive effort.
A total of 1,500 tons of hay from the upper peninsula of Michigan will be delivered to 200 farms in West Virginia and Ohio. On March 1 hay was loaded into the first two train cars, said Mary Woodward, director of Lutheran Social Services of Southeastern Ohio, Pleasant City.
"Last summer's drought in the mid-Atlantic and eastern Midwest regions caused many independent beef farmers to start using hay intended for winter as early as July," said Johanna Olson, assistant for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. "The shortage of hay resulted in premature livestock being sold at below market weight, and very little hay for cattle to survive the winter."
The ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Church of the Brethren Emergency Response Service Ministries, Church World Service and Mennonite Disaster Service -- known as the Family Farm Drought Response Coalition -- has delivered hay from the Midwest to hundreds of farmers in Ohio and mid-Atlantic states since August 1999, Olson said.
"ELCA Domestic Disaster Response has focused its efforts primarily in Ohio and West Virginia, while other agencies have focused their efforts in other states," Olson said.
"So far more than 330 tractor-trailer loads -- well over 4,000 tons of hay -- have helped hundreds of farmers in critical need in the mid-Atlantic drought-stricken area," said Olson. "We have kept about 260 family farms going in southeast Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and parts of northeast Pennsylvania."
Olson said ELCA Domestic Disaster Response was able to participate in Family Farm Drought Response Coalition through cooperation from the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, Lutheran Social Services of Ohio, ELCA West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and Orphan Grain Train.
Woodward said railroad companies are volunteering their services at the request of U.S. Senators Spencer Abraham, R-Michigan, and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. "I am very excited that the March 1 shipment is under way," she said.
In the last four months, Woodward facilitated shipments of more than 1,000 tons of hay by truck to farmers in Ohio and West Virginia.
The effects of the drought also have an emotional impact, Olson said. "Morale is low."
"The ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod is seeking to address low morale in its area. The county extension agent and Lutheran Brotherhood will sponsor a buffet meal for farm families," Olson said. Lutheran Brotherhood is a fraternal benefits organization based in Minneapolis.
Relief initiatives are being furthered in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania to celebrate Rogation Days, a custom dating back to the 15th century to ask God's blessing on crops and land, Olson added.
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response ministers to survivors of disaster in the United States. It is coordinated through the ELCA Division for Church in Society.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
