Gifts for ELCA hurricane response reach $20 million

by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service

Financial gifts in response to U.S. Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005 have reached $20 million, said Kathyrn Sime, director, world hunger and disaster appeal, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Notable gifts of $1 million were contributed by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans through its gift supplement program; $125,000 from the Lutheran Foundation, Fort Wayne, Ind.; $89,659 from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; and $10,000 from the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore.
"The hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast last August and September were unprecedented in the extent of devastation they brought," Sime said. "But I'm so grateful that we were also hit by an unprecedented and overwhelmingly generous response to these hurricanes. We give thanks to God for the generous and immediate response of Lutherans in this country and around the world, and for the disaster response volunteers and workers who are working now, and for years to come, helping families and communities rebuild and recover." The funds allowed Lutheran Disaster Response to fund a multi-year response plan throughout the Gulf Coast, and in regions outside the Gulf Coast where displaced hurricane survivors have relocated, she added.

Information about the U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane response is at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news