by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
The 2005 World Hunger and Disaster Appeal of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) earned more than $55.4 million,
the largest amount collected in the appeal's history. The total
includes more than $17 million in undesignated contributions for
the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, surpassing a budgeted goal of $16.5
million. It also includes $449,810 for "Stand With Africa," a
Lutheran effort to support specific ministry projects in Africa,
and more than $37.7 million collected for disaster response. The
amount collected for disaster response comprises more than $24
million designated to support relief efforts following the 2005
hurricane season in the United States and Caribbean, and it
includes more than $7.9 million for international disaster
response.
There is an "increased awareness of the connection between
poverty and disaster," said Nancy D. Arnison, director, ELCA
World Hunger Program. "People who live in poverty are the most
vulnerable when disaster strikes," she said, adding that recent
natural disasters in the United States and around the world
served as "a wake-up call to the vulnerabilities of people who
are suffering in the world."
"It's on our 'radar screen' that there can be an end to hunger,"
said Kathryn Sime, director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster
Appeal. Due to the appeal's overwhelming response the ELCA is
able to meet its financial commitments to partners active in
hunger and poverty ministries such as Church World Service, ELCA
companion churches overseas, Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran
World Relief and others, she said.
The 2006 goal for the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal is
$17.5 million, an increase of one million from the previous
annual goal. "The increase in the World Hunger Appeal goal is a
challenge to our whole church, as well as a reflection of the
abundant generosity that we've experienced in 2005," Sime said.
LINKS:
World Hunger
http://www.ELCA.org/hunger
Disaster
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster
Church World Service
http://www.churchworldservice.org
companion churches
http://www.ELCA.org/companionsynod/partners.html
Lutheran World Federation
http://www.lutheranworld.org
Lutheran World Relief
http://www.lwr.org
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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
