We, as a congregation, along with many who have been visiting the Mayfield area as well as other towns to offer help, have been sorting through all the items that have been donated. 

Currently the organizations are asking that we not send any more items.  Instead, they are requesting cash or credit card donations to help get these families back on their feet. 

It will be many years before things could ever be considered normal again.  Many of the first volunteers have already left the area but we are anticipating groups coming back to help again.  There are plenty of areas where helping hands would be useful.

We have had the blessing to be able to coordinate LCMC churches across the country who want to help in some way.  Many donations have been collected both in items and cash donations.  We thank you all so very much, for your concern and support.  

The items we received were quickly delivered to a variety of distribution centers.  We have been reviewing options of where to donate the money that has been graciously donated. 

We met George Glover, president of the “Bread of Life” group who told us about the “Tiny Home” project.  This group has decided to buy “Tiny Homes” to help families return to their towns. 

Right now, some children, after being dispersed, are traveling two hours on a bus to get to their hometown school.  That is four hours a day!

The Tiny Homes are being placed in an old campsite in or near Mayfield that still has water and electric hookups.  Volunteers are donating their time and materials to get things hooked up and to finish the insides of the Tiny Homes.  Another organization is donating all appliances needed for these homes.  It is a beautiful thing, during these hard days, to see so many good people rise to the top and help!

Families with children are being invited to occupy one of thirty Tiny Homes until their houses can be repaired or rebuilt.  George expects to take this on a year-to-year basis thinking it will take up to two years before their homes are ready.  At that point, another family will be invited to stay in the Tiny Home and so on.

For more information on the “Tiny Homes” project, we have recorded the presentation George gave to us at Amazing Grace.  You can see this video at our website, www.amazinggracepaducah.com and click on “Weekly Sermons”.  It is the icon with George standing on the platform. 

We have decided that, should more contributions come in, we will forward these funds to this project until another opportunity arises and seems more fitting for the stage of recovery they are in. 

As of today, we have collected over $17,000!  Way to go LCMC churches! 

May God bless you all abundantly who have helped and those who decide to stick with us in the years to come.  We will keep LCMC updated on the current needs.

For more information on tornado relief efforts in west Kentucky, including information on how to donate, click here. 

The goal of the fund is to reach out to those impacted by disaster who otherwise would not have resources.

Grant decisions are made by a committee made up of representatives from five contributing churches (one representative per congregation).

The LDA Fund provides grants of up to $20,000, to local churches as a result of damages received from natural disasters in their region.

Starting in 2018, service grants are now being provided for volunteers serving in a disaster area. For each volunteer sent from an LCMC church, the service organization working in a disaster area will receive $1,000 per volunteer up to a maximum of $10,000.

Since the inception of the Fund in 2013 through December 31, 2020, contributions to the LDA Fund have totaled $749,064. 

Disbursements for floods, mud slides, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and earthquakes totaled $455,194 distributed as follows:

• Local Churches - $388,194
• Faith-based Disaster Relief Organizations served by local churches - $28,000
• Disaster Service Project - $19,000
• LCMC Related Project - $20,000

Funds remaining for future LDA grants total $294,630 with four applications now being reviewed for the 2021 massive ice storms in the south.

In 2020 a new fund was established with LDA contributions to provide grants to pastors in situations of crisis or distress in an emergency context who have reached out for help to LCMC or the LDA.

The Pastors Benevolence Emergency Fund will provide grants up to $3,000. As of December 31, 2020, $21,988 was available for these grants.

In April 2021 a review of the LDA Fund 2020 transactions was completed by a CPA and transactions were found to be properly recorded and documented.

Praise God for the generous support for all the LCMC churches and individuals who have sent money to the LDA fund and the Pastors Emergency Benevolence Fund! 

There are no administrative costs associated with these funds, with 100% of all contributions going to victims of disaster.

Please consider sending contributions to:

Lutheran Disaster Assistance Fund
c/o St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
8300 C Avenue
Marion, IA  52302
Attention: Dave Brauhn, LDA Director. 

For more information, please feel free to call Dave at (319) 849-0013 or email brauhn1864@gmail.com.

Photo Caption: Relief work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa following the derecho on August 10, 2020.  LDA provided a service grant to Eight Days of Hope for the volunteers serving from an LCMC church.

According to the New York Times, the Category 4 hurricaine reached the the U.S in Texas, bringing with it winds reaching 130 miles per hour and heavy rain, causing severe amounts of damage to the area.

Three groups within LCMC are coordinating efforts to help with disaster relief for victims of the tropical storm. 

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, an LCMC congregation in Victoria, TX is setting up a center to assist those in that area and welcome donations. 

The LCMC Texas District has a Facebook page set up to coordinate efforts as well.  Please visit  www.facebook.com/groups/LCMCHurricaneHarvey to learn more. 

Finally, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ also has established a Lutheran Disaster Assistance Fund (LDA Fund) to responsibly handle the administration of donations in response to natural disasters.  Your funds can be sent directly to LDA for Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts. 

If you would like to contribute to the LDA Fund, please notate that your donation is intended for Hurricane Harvey Relief and mail all contributions to:
 
Lutheran Disaster Assistance Fund
c/o St. Mark's Lutheran Church
8300 C Avenue NE
Marion, IA 52302