Additional Ways Your Congregation Can Help Disaster Victims

Urgent Need for Personal Care Kits and "Flood Buckets" in Disaster Response

We continually pray for the communities that have been devastated by Helene. As shared earlier in the week, the Mid-South District's Disaster Response team has been activated. Our primary Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT), Faith In Action, has deployed from Faith Lutheran Church in Hopkinsville, KY, under the leadership of Rev. Trae Fistler. To provide a home base that is closer to the impacted areas, Rev. Vincent Shemwell and the congregation of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Johnson City, TN have graciously opened their church to house LERT volunteers as they work in flood-ravaged communities of East Tennessee, and to coordinate supplies. Activities for LERTs like Faith In Action are fluid at the moment as these groups work to respond to new needs. Rev. Fistler shares frequent updates about the team's work on the Faith In Action Disaster Response Facebook page; you're encouraged to follow them and share their posts!

Please continue to lift these volunteers in prayer! They are engaged in dangerous work that is both physically and emotionally exhausting.

HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR CONGREGATION HELP?

There are several practical ways that individuals and congregations can be part of the effort to help disaster victims:

Assemble & Ship PERSONAL CARE KITS —

Thousands of personal care kits are needed right now. For disaster victims who have lost everything, these are kits of basic necessities like soap, bandages, toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc. Amazon currently offers a bundle of supplies to make 100 complete kits for $159.99 (click to view the HYGIENE KIT BUNDLE).

Boxes of assembled kits should be shipped to:

Faith In Action Disaster Response

c/o Bethlehem Lutheran Church

201 E. Watagua Avenue Johnson City, TN 37601

PH: 423.926.5261 (correction from previous email)

NOTE: The Mid-South District will gladly reimburse the cost of shipping the kits. Simply email the shipping receipt (and the congregation name, city, state to be reimbursed) to Angela Fowler at afowler@mid-southlcms.com.

Assemble & Deliver FLOOD BUCKETS —

Providing complete "flood buckets" helps residents begin clean-up of water-damaged properties. What's in a flood bucket? LCMS Disaster Response provides an overview and complete list HERE.

NOTE: This project is best suited for congregations within driving distance of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Johnson City (see address above). Assembled buckets are bulky and not practical for shipping. So plan to have a team deliver the completed buckets. Be sure to contact the church at 423.926.5261 (correction from previous email), prior to delivery.

MONETARY SUPPORT —

You can also support relief efforts through a gift to the Mid-South District’s Disaster Relief Fund. This fund not only resources the day-to-day operations of the District’s Disaster Relief teams, but also provides direct support to storm victims for immediate needs such as food and housing. You can share a gift in two ways:

GIVE ONLINE to the Mid-South District Disaster Relief Fund

GIVE BY CHECK: Gifts by check can be made payable to Mid-South District LCMS with "Disaster Relief" noted as the designation. Please send donations by check to the MID-SOUTH DISTRICT / 1675 WYNNE ROAD / CORDOVA TN 38016.

Gifts can also be shared directly with the Disaster Relief ministries of the Southeastern District LCMS and the Florida-Georgia District LCMS:

SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT — Online Gifts: “Hurricane Helene Support,” or mail to Southeastern District LCMS Disaster Response, 2305 N Parham Rd. / Suite 200 / Henrico, VA 23229.

FLORIDA-GEORGIA DISTRICT — Online Gifts: “Disaster Response,” or mail to Florida-Georgia District LCMS Disaster Response, 5850 TG Lee Blvd. / Suite 500 / Orlando, FL 32822