Fox Valley Disaster Relief Updates - August 17th
As of Friday, August 14th, the synod and our neighbors have raised just under $20,000 for relief efforts focused on recovery from the Tornado in the Fox Valley through the synod’s local disaster relief fund. We understand that there are more gifts on the way. These gifts have been small and large; they have come from people within our synod and far away; from individuals, congregations, and other ministries. A heartfelt thank you to all who have contributed to help our neighbors through this difficult time.
Late last week the Synod Council Executive Committee met to discuss how to utilize the funds and to plan for the first disbursements. The goal of these funds is to keep them local to our synod. For now the plan is to share 50% of the gifts with local nonprofits and ministry partners who are on the ground supporting neighbors who are particularly vulnerable. These gifts will be distributed right away. The other 50% will be shared with congregations located in disaster areas to be used for ministry opportunities that focus on recovery of neighbors and neighborhoods.
One of the most amazing surprises in our synod’s experience of disaster response was how neighboring synods were poised to support us from the beginning. Because of this, a tithe will be retained as a local disaster relief fund shared with neighbors and partners in the future as support from all of us.
Some have asked, “can we send quilts?” We do not yet have a direct connection to a group looking for bedding in the impacted area, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need. The best way to pay attention to physical needs is to follow the local municipalities on social media which is where the city of Menasha and United Way Fox Cities have continued to share updates.
With God’s Work. Our Hands. Sunday scheduled for September 13th; we’re excited to share an idea for a service project that could be done in any congregation with people at any age. “Notes for Neighbors” is seeking to collect letters of all kinds that can be distributed throughout the community to share a word of encouragement. You can learn more about the logistics of that project here.
Lastly, we are starting to gather names of individuals who might be open to serving on a synod disaster response team. While this is yet being formed, if you know someone with experience or passion for disaster relief, please share their name with Pastor Jenn, jenn.pockat@ecsw.org. (Maybe that person is you?)
Give. Serve. Learn. Pray. Receive Support.
Give. The city of Menasha has expressed that they are at capacity for in-kind donations. Money continues to be the very best way to support recovery. There are many ways to give…
You can give through the East Central Synod of Wisconsin’s “Local Disaster Relief” fund online or by mailing a check indication that purpose: PO Box 10385 Green Bay, WI 54307.
You can give to Lutheran Disaster Response using their bulletin insert information or by sharing their giving link.
You can look for a local organization like United Way Fox Cities and donate directly.
Serve. The municipalities have asked people to not self deploy.
Volunteer Fox Cities is currently organizing and deploying volunteers where there is need.
Notes for Neighbors: A Tornado Recovery Kindness Project is a way to share a word of encouragement in communities hit the hardest.
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Neenah invites you to help them feed the volunteers from Rapid Response America as they will be hosted by St. Paul’s for 1-2 months. Here is a link with more information where you can sign up to help.
Learn. Lutheran Disaster response hosted a webinar, “Introduction to Disaster Response” on Thursday, 8/6 - a link to the recording may be found here.
Lutheran Disaster Response Training and Engagement Catalog and online learning platform share considerable resources for individuals and congregations to engage in learning and disaster preparedness. A Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guide is also available.
Pray. Entrust those who have been impacted the most into God’s care. Pray for them to be sustained in the longer journey of recovery. Pray for children to find safe places to play. Pray and individuals working to find temporary housing. Pray for people experiencing trauma from this event.
Support: Disaster Distress Helpline, a 24/7 hotline to talk with a trained counselor: 1.800.985.5990. It’s multilingual, confidential and free.
