September Benevolence:

Lutheran Disaster Response

The powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 8 that hit areas southeast of Peru’s capital, Lima, on August 15, killed more than 500 people, injured 1,500 others, and destroyed homes in the tens of thousands. The wrath of the category-5 hurricane, Dean, wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean and Mexico, devastating the homes and livelihoods of thousands. Flooding and mudslides in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, and Oklahoma have left scores dead, hundreds evacuated, and much property damage. Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators were on the ground immediately, providing relief and long-term recovery support work in these areas. They were in place in communities in Hurricane Dean’s path even before the storm hit, and LDR’s affiliate in Texas has been coordinating response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita for nearly two years.

Lutheran Disaster Response concentrates on long-term recovery in activities like volunteer coordination, spiritual and emotional care, hardship grants and case management. Your benevolence gift in September will benefit these and other less publicized disaster victims around the world. Your prayers and gifts are needed and welcomed. Benevolences may be made directly to Prince of Peace in September with a notation for LDR on the memo line of your check. You may also choose to designate your gift to a specific disaster. One-hundred percent of your gift is used for immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts following that disaster. For more details, visit www.elca.org and follow the links to Disaster Relief.