Relief Funds Help Congregations and Pastors in Need
The Lutheran Disaster Assistance Fund was established in 2013 to assist churches during times of natural disasters.
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.
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