wfn.org | Lutheran Societies Commit Millions in Terrorism Response

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 26, 2001

LUTHERAN SOCIETIES COMMIT MILLIONS IN TERRORISM RESPONSE
01-238-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Brotherhood added another $650,000 on
Sept. 24 to an earlier commitment of $362,000 for "East Coast disaster
relief assistance" in the aftermath of terrorist attacks Sept. 11 in New
York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.  Another fraternal benefits society,
Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL), had released $1 million to
"mobilize" AAL members and branches to help disaster victims through
fund raising and to support AAL volunteer disaster coordinators.
     Many members of both organizations are members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  AAL, based in Appleton, Wis., and
Lutheran Brotherhood, based in Minneapolis, announced plans in June to
merge by the end of 2001.
     "Our 1.2 million members nationwide are reaching out for ways to
help the victims of this horrendous tragedy," said Bruce Nicholson,
Lutheran Brotherhood president and CEO.
     Lutheran Brotherhood will match all contributions made to Lutheran
Disaster Response (LDR) up to $650,000.  LDR is a ministry of the ELCA
and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
     LDR is coordinating local Lutheran organizations' disaster-related
needs, including foster care for some of the 400 children orphaned by
the disaster, counseling and pastoral care for the victims' families and
others, emergency housing and a special program to help children deal
with their grief.
     Lutheran Brotherhood's initial allocation of $362,000 provided
matching funds for its East coast branches planning disaster-related
fund-raising efforts.  The organization sets aside $2.6 million each
year in disaster relief funds for local branches.
     AAL will urge employees and branch members to donate blood and
plasma. Volunteers are also being encouraged to help busy local blood
centers handle paperwork and serve refreshments to donors.
-- -- --
DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:

ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
P.O. Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764

Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the Web: http://www.elca.org/disaster

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html