wfn.org | Lutherans Raise $20 Million for Hurricane Disaster Response

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 10, 2005

Lutherans Raise $20 Million for Hurricane Disaster Response
05-189-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans from across the United States
and around the world have raised about $20 million to support
Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief efforts in the U.S.
Gulf Coast.  Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) have given $11.45 million as of Oct. 6, and
members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) sent
$8.5 million.
     "I am grateful for all the gifts of prayers, volunteers and,
most of all, financial contributions which will help fund a long-
term response to the two hurricanes in the Gulf Coast," said
Kathryn Sime, director for the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster
Appeal.
     "Lutherans in this country and overseas have responded
generously and continue to do so even six weeks after the first
hurricane.  I am especially thankful for those donors supporting
our Gulf Coast response who have also contributed to (other
relief efforts), such as the famine in Niger and the silent
disaster of chronic hunger and poverty," Sime said.

Lutheran Disaster Response
     Lutheran Disaster Response is allocating a total of
$3 million to support the process of resettling survivors of the
hurricanes, said Heather L. Feltman, director for Lutheran
Disaster Response -- a ministry of the ELCA and LCMS.  Feltman
also serves as director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.
     Hundreds of thousands of people who evacuated the Gulf Coast
continue to live in hotel rooms and other shelters across the
United States, she said.
     "We are aware that many Lutheran Disaster Response partner
organizations are working with displaced Americans in their
states.  We have heard stories about the suffering and loss many
people have (experienced) from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane
Rita, particularly the loss of life, loss of home, loss of work
and loss of church," Feltman said.
     Given the unprecedented number of "displaced Americans"
caused by the hurricanes, Lutheran Disaster Response's partner
organizations working to resettle hurricane survivors may apply
for grants to support their work, said Feltman.
     "The purpose of the request for proposals is to address the
diverse issues facing displaced Americans from Hurricane Katrina
and/or Hurricane Rita," said Feltman.
     "Proposals need to reflect funding and/or other leveraged
resources, including partnerships, to accomplish project goals.
Lead agencies may use subcontractors in areas of expertise to
meet the specialized population, such as the elderly and the
homeless, people seeking vocational training, people with mental
or other disabilities, single-parent families, and people with
addictions," she said.

Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act
     The "Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act" passed by the U.S.
Congress provides a charitable deduction for cash gifts up to 100
percent of adjusted gross income for gifts made to any qualified
charity between Aug. 28 and Dec. 31, 2005, whether for Katrina
relief or other charitable purposes.  This provision effectively
permits unlimited IRA and qualified retirement pension
withdrawals for the purpose of donating the funds to charity.
While gifts from individual accounts and other retirement plans
must be recognized as income, the withdrawal may be offset by the
100 percent charitable deduction.  Information about using IRA
and qualified retirement pension to make "year-end gifts" is
available at www.ELCA.org/fo/yearendgiving2005.html on
the Internet.
- - -
DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds to aid
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 Internet:
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/katrina

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news