Florida

Bahamas
Synod

Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
3838 W. Cypress St
Tampa, FL 33607
813-876-7660
813-870-0826 fax

Why Give to ELCA Disaster Response?

By the Rev. Eric Shafer
Director, ELCA Department for Communication

One of our newer ELCA churchwide staff members asked yesterday why he should give to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (DDR) for Hurricane Katrina relief instead of giving to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army or another major U.S. charity. It is a very good question, especially with all the news and entertainment media attention on gifts to the Red Cross.

Although ELCA Domestic Disaster Response/Lutheran Disaster Response works closely with other domestic disaster agencies like the Red Cross, I can think of three good reasons to give to DDR:

  • 100 percent of my gift will go to Hurricane Katrina relief.

  • As a Thrivent member, Thrivent will match my gift (see www.thrivent.com).

  • The ELCA has a reputation for being on site, helping in disaster recovery, long after other groups have left. For example, nearly four years after 9/11 we are still working in New York City.

I also know that Lutheran Disaster Response provides unique services.

In addition to meeting those needs often not covered by federal and other agencies, LDR provides spiritual and emotional counseling services, with attention to care for the care givers, and attends to the needs of children through the Camp Noah day camps.

For those who are new: Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a collaborative ministry of the ELCA (through ELCA Domestic Disaster Response) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Churchwide staffer Heather Feltman is the DDR director and LDR executive director. Much more at www.elca.org/disaster. 

You can contribute to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response through your congregation or synod office or directly by mail (checks payable to "ELCA Domestic Disaster Response") to P.O. Box #71764, Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764 (note "Hurricane Katrina relief" on the memo line) or with a credit card by phone (800/638-3522) or online (www.elca.org/giving).