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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Wendy Healy, 203-744-6367
Wendy@LDRNY.org
John Scibilia, 917-566-3903
John@LDRNY.org

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE OF NEW YORK ASSISTS IN NEW YORK FOOD CRISIS ATTRIBUTED TO 9/11

NEW YORK, NY – April 8 -- Lutheran Disaster Response of New York – a ministry of the Lutheran Church to assist those caught in the aftershocks of 9/11 -- has already distributed more than $220,000 in food vouchers and emergency cash assistance to families and food programs that are sponsored by or associated with Lutheran ministries.

“While there was a hunger problem in New York before 9/11, the aftershocks of this disaster have strained the resources of the city’s food programs,” said Executive Director John Scibilia. “As part of LDRNY’s continuing mission, it is vital that we provide assistance in this area.”

Of the $220,000, LDRNY has dispensed $125,000 in food vouchers to families and individuals who are clients of Project LIFE (Lutheran Initiative for Empowerment), the disaster response case management program supported by LDRNY and operated by Lutheran Social Services-Metropolitan New York. Another $30,000 in food vouchers were given to clients with unmet needs.

More than $70,000 has also been granted by LDRNY to several food programs throughout the metropolitan area that are run by or in concert with Lutheran churches. Some of these programs include Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manhattan; Lutheran Family and Children’s Services, Long Island; Jewish Services Coalition/Far Rockaway Food Pantry; Our Lady of Lourdes Outreach Food Pantry; St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and Master’s Helping Hand Food Pantry in New Rochelle.

After visiting these pantries and soup kitchens, the significance of this program became even more defined,” said Jennifer Singer, LDRNY coordinator. “A majority of people being served through these programs are suffering from the trickle-down effect of September 11th. Due to many high-level job cuts, housecleaners, livery drivers and babysitters are out of work, too. Their employers lost their sources of income and could no longer afford such luxuries. Many of these people who lost their jobs were already among the working poor and some undocumented … completely left out of the system as if they did not exist.”

In addition, LDRNY recently met directly with City Harvest, a hunger response program in New York. “Financially supporting these programs is important, but also necessary is making sure these programs have more than one or two sources of funding. We provide information about other available resources to help build stronger, better-equipped, more effective food programs,” said Scibilia.

“This $200,000 for individuals and food programs is just the beginning, and yet it has already touched many who have been affected by the tragedy of 9/11. A significant number remain hungry, but not forgotten.”