CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continue to support survivors in Peru after an earthquake struck the South American country June 23.
The church's International Disaster Response has provided $35,000 to support recovery operations in Peru. An initial $20,000 was provided for emergency assistance immediately after the earthquake, and an additional $15,000 was contributed July 5.
The funds sent by the ELCA will help support relief efforts coordinated through Action by Churches Together (ACT), a worldwide network of churches and related agencies that meet human need through organized emergency response. ACT is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of both the WCC and LWF. ACT issued an appeal for funds on July 2. "The $15,000 [sent by the ELCA] is being channeled through Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and its projects in Peru," said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international communication, ELCA Division for Global Mission. LWR is the overseas relief and development agency of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. "For the sake of urgency," ACT officials said the present appeal includes the proposal [for funds] from LWR only. ACT members in Peru -- DIACONIA, Centro de Estudios y Prevencion de Desastres (PREDES) and LWR -- are working to provide temporary shelter, water containers, blankets, kitchen sets, tools for the removal of the debris, and animal care. "The initial $20,000 was sent [by the ELCA] to [support] DIACONIA's assessment of the crisis and for it to initiate relief"immediately after the earthquake struck, said Ishida. Coordinated through the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International Disaster Response helps relief agencies provide funds for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials and supplies. Funds are also used to rebuild communities and to repair structures destroyed by major disasters.
INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to
survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or
the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA International Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
1-800-638-3522
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
