Lutheran Disaster Response seeks volunteers

by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is
seeking volunteers to aid in long-term hurricane recovery in
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas this summer.

"Almost 10 months have passed since Hurricane Katrina, and
another hurricane season is upon us, but the rebuilding work from
the 2004 and 2005 storms is far from over," said Michael
Nevergall, LDR associate for program interpretation. "Volunteers
are important because there is still a lot of work to do. At
this point we expect the cleanup and recovery effort from
Hurricane Katrina alone to take as many as 10 years."

According to LDR policy, volunteers must be in good health and at
least 16 years old. As recovery efforts transition from
immediate relief to rebuilding, LDR is particularly looking for
volunteers with backgrounds in construction or related trades.
"The type of volunteers we need is changing because as time goes
on and we're doing more rebuilding," Nevergall said. "We need
people who have training in specific trades. Those skilled
volunteers can then help coordinate and lead teams of less-
skilled volunteers."

LDR is working in cooperation with Lutheran Social Services of
the South, Lutheran Services Florida and Lutheran Family and
Children's Services of Missouri this summer. In the 18 months
after Hurricane Katrina, an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 people
will have volunteered with LDR.

*Katherine R. Hinck is a senior journalism and religion major at
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer she is an
intern with the ELCA News Service.