CHICAGO (ELCA) – Lutheran Disaster Response received the "Innovative Program of the Year" award for its storm-shelter pilot program at the 2015 National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster annual conference held May 11-15 in New Orleans. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The award recognizes the ingenuity and success of the storm-shelter pilot project team, which comprises Lutheran Disaster Response, Upbring (formerly Lutheran Social Services of the South based in Austin, Texas), and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
The pilot project was developed to assist families living in tornado-prone areas by providing the resources and technical support to install storm shelters on their properties. The yearlong pilot was focused on two areas that have been recently affected by tornadoes, and during its course, 206 families in the Oklahoma City area and 19 families in Louisville, Miss., received storm shelters. The pilot-project team worked with long-term recovery groups in these two tornado-affected areas to identify families that needed a storm shelter and to provide case management for the storm-shelter selection and installation process.
"We are grateful for all of our partners who took part in this project that will not only physically keep people safe but will also provide emotional comfort for them when a storm is heading their way," said the Rev. Michael Stadie, program director for Lutheran Disaster Response. "I am pleased that all of our efforts were recognized. We look forward to working with communities across the country [that] are interested in providing storm shelters."
More storm shelters are planned for installation as the program continues beyond the pilot. The knowledge gained from the pilot program will be applied to creating a foundation for national guidelines that can be used for other storm-shelter programs in tornado-affected areas around the country.
This award marks the second time Lutheran Disaster Response has been a recipient of an award from National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Lutheran Disaster Response was awarded "Member of the Year" at the organizations' 2010 annual conference.
Lutheran Disaster Response has a long history of responding to disasters, both domestically and internationally. With a focus on long-term recovery, it is committed to working with local communities impacted by disasters, accompanying them and providing assistance as they navigate their way through recovery. Information is available at www.ELCA.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response.
- - -
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
