When Hurricane Katrina struck three years ago, Pastor Eric Shafer of Trinity, Lansdale was a churchwide staff member who spent Labor Day weekend manning the phones to take donations and calls for help that came to the ELCA because the church (unlike FEMA and the Red Cross) had live people answering calls. Read his thoughts about why and how to support ELCA Disaster Response.

It was three years ago this past weekend that I spent most of the Labor Day weekend holiday at the ELCA churchwide offices in Chicago, helping to staff the telephones so that people could call in to make donations to support our church’s disaster response efforts immediately following Hurricane Katrina.  I was prepared to receive many generous credit card donations – and we did. 
 
What I wasn’t prepared for were the hurricane victims who also called.  I will never forget speaking to several women who were at the New Orleans Superdome – I could hear screaming in the background as these callers pleaded “please help us.”  We quickly provided telephone counselors and other resources for this more immediate need.
 
I soon found that we were receiving calls from victims because we were staffing the telephones in person over the Labor Day weekend.  Calls to the Red Cross and FEMA were being answered with voice mail.  Our church was answering in person.  I will never forget this effort and the amazing response our ELCA members made for hurricane relief.

Now, hurricane season is upon us again and major hurricanes are threatening the Gulf Coast area again.  It appears that the immediate damage from Hurricane Gustav will not be as severe as it might have been, but tell that to those who have lost their homes again!  And, several more hurricanes are in line behind Gustav which will bring major flooding to Louisiana, Texas and beyond all this week.
 
Thus, it is time for us to help again.  Here is what you can do now:

• Pray for our brothers and sisters in the gulf coast
• Make a donation to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response

Two simple but very effective responses.

Here is a sample prayer for you to use: 

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of the universe.  The earth, the stars, even galaxies yet undiscovered are the works of your hands.  And we, your creatures, stand in awe.  Shelter, protect, comfort all who are in harm’s way, especially our sisters and brothers along the Gulf Coast. When calamities abound, give us the strength to endure, and hope for restoration, that we may reflect your light for this ailing world.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Here is how to make a donation:

• Call the ELCA at 800-638-3522 to make a donation via your credit card OR
• Send your check for “ELCA Domestic Disaster Response” with “2008 hurricane relief” on the memo line to:  P.O. Box # 71764, Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764 OR
• Go to www.elca.org/disaster and make a credit card donation online.

 
However you donate, 100% of your donation will be used for 2008 hurricane relief.  That is what is so wonderful about being part of the ELCA. We, the ELCA, are already on the ground in the Gulf Coast region and ready to respond again.  And, because our congregations contribute to regular benevolence which supports the fund-raising expenses and the telephone operators, 100% of our donations will go to this cause.
 
God bless and keep our brothers and sisters along the Gulf Coast and us all.
 
Sincerely,
 
The Rev. Eric C. Shafer