LDRNY Eletter | Eletter Archive

Dear Friends of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York:

Here’s the May 18th edition of Comfort & Renew Online, a weekly e-newsletter provided by LDRNY. If you have something to share, please drop an email to mikki@LDRNY.org .

LDRNY changes leadership
After six months of sabbatical time to discern God's call for his life, LDRNY's Executive Director John J. Scibilia Jr. has decided not to return to the organization. As of May 10, LDRNY is being managed by a team from both the Metropolitan New York Synod and the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The organization will continue to be guided by Bishop Stephen Bouman, its president, and Dr. David Benke, vice president. Mikki Baloy, LDRNY coordinator, will continue to oversee day-to-day administration of LDRNY. LDRNY has done many great things under John Scibilia's vision and leadership, and we wish him God's blessings as he moves on to other endeavors. As the fifth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, LDRNY continues to serve as a ministry of comfort and renewal.

LDRNY, Faithful Response stress management workshop May 13 & 22
LDRNY and Faithful Response, in conjunction with Nassau County's Office of Emergency Management, are offering a free workshop on Comprehensive Acute Traumatic Stress Management (CATSM), May 13 or May 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freeport Firehouse, Freeport, Long Island. The workshop features Dr. Ray Shelton, director of Professional Development with the American Academy of Experts in traumatic stress. For more information or to register, call Michael Arcari, Faithful Response, 516-679-0080, help@faithfulresponse.org. Or visit www.LDRNY.org.

Does your church want to learn about preparedness?
Michael Arcari, program director for Faithful Response, an LDRNY partner, is available to discuss disaster preparedness at your church. He can discuss how to be prepared, along with showing what goes into a Go Bag, or a topic of special interest to you. To schedule a talk at your church, call Arcari at 516-679-0080, or faithfulresponse@ldrny.org. Visit www.LDRNY.org

American Red Cross seeks organizations for community sheltering
Hurricane season arrives in June, and it's everyone's job to be prepared. The American Red Cross (ARC) is seeking partnerships with community-based organizations for community sheltering. ARC will provide the training, verify that the shelter is safe and meets ARC standards, and cover all the related shelter expenses (food, equipment & liability). The agency/church/organization would provide the volunteers and/or the facility, and ARC would train the volunteers to work in the shelter as a team. The shelters could be located at your church, school or facility, or volunteers could be assigned to an ARC shelter location. Your organization would "adopt" a shelter to run as a team with ARC's support and guidance. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Esther Bevers-Ng, 516-747-3500 X 224 beversng@usa.redcross.org

2nd Annual New York State Disaster Human Services Conference set
Disaster Human Services is a critical component of emergency management, bringing together voluntary agency, faith-based, private and governmental sectors with the shared goal of protecting lives and property in times of disaster. This two-day conference, June 27-28 at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Brookville, will target organizational leadership and disaster human services planning. A series of expert panels, workshops, and facilitated discussions will be presented over the course of the two days, ending with a tabletop exercise on Wednesday afternoon. Visit www.nysvoad.com for more information.

Salvation Army WTC Recovery Office to close June 30
The Salvation Army of Greater NY's WTC Recovery office on East 52nd St. will officially close as of June 30. By that date The Salvation Army will refer all remaining active WTC clients to case managers at its Corps Community Centers throughout Manhattan. The Salvation Army will partner with NYDIS's 9/11 Outreach Coordinator, Mariam Mahmud, to send as many cases as possible to the NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable to secure sustainable recovery support.

Help line available for Katrina evacuees in NYC
Case managers are available to work with Katrina evacuees in New York City, helping to plan for their future. Catholic Charities, Archdiocese NY, is coordinating the effort. Katrina evacuees can call 1-888-744-7900, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Helpline is not a general information and referral line for Katrina-related questions. It is designed to be the central point for assigning clients to case managers. For more information on Katrina help, go to www.LDRNY.org.

Servant event opportunities in NYC
Is your congregation looking for a Servant Event opportunity for Summer 2006? Koinonia NYC organizes servant events that include service projects, faith-based conversations, worship disciplines, Bible study, New York City experiences and a Faith Walk? at Ground Zero. The full-week schedule combines service time in the urban environment of New York City with a closing weekend retreat at Koinonia's wilderness setting in cabin housing. Koinonia NYC will work with your group to create an event that will suit your group's interest and needs. Koinonia NYC is a ministry of Koinonia and works in partnership with Lutheran Social Services Lutheran Disaster Response of New York), and New York City Lutheran congregations to coordinate a meaningful broad-based experience. Housing options are available throughout Manhattan and the greater New York area, depending on group needs. Servant events can also be arranged with Koinonia NYC throughout the year as a week-long event, an extended weekend, or a weekend. For additional information contact the Koinonia NYC office at 212-669-6131 or KoinoniaNYC@yahoo.com. Additional information can also be found at www.KoinoniaNY.org or www.LDRNY.org.

Want to be a docent for Ground Zero tours?
The 9/11 Families Association is training volunteer docents to lead tours of Ground Zero. There are training dates in November in December. You can download an application at www.tributenyc.org/

Take a planned Faith Walk around Ground Zero

LDRNY partner Koinonia NYC invites you to take a Faith Walk around Ground Zero. Faith Walks are inspirational and educational tours of Ground Zero and surrounding landmarks, encouraging healing and hope in the face of despair. If you’re planning a trip to New York City, or want to read more about others’ experiences, go to www.LDRNY.org. Participants always report back that they liked the Faith Walk. Here is a comment from one person: "It was informative, very moving, and certainly uplifting. In your very kind and thoughtful manner, you put us all at ease. Your friendly way made us all able to participate and enjoy this opportunity."

Make a gift to LDRNY

LDRNY is grateful for the gifts it receives. If you’d like to make a donation to honor or memorialize someone, send a check to LDRNY at the address below. Tell us who should be notified of the gift, and please provide an address. Thrivent members will have their gift matched.

You may now make a gift to support the work of LDRNY among the hidden victims of Sept. 11 online, thanks to Lutheran Community Foundation’s Charity Finder. Go to

http://www.thelcf.org/donors/charityfinder_details.asp?charity_id=145

Events, programs and training on www.LDRNY.org

You’re reminded to check the LDRNY.org website often for a complete listing of events taking place around Ground Zero and in lower Manhattan, and for programs and training relating to 9/11. They’re listed here: http://www.ldrny.org/comfort/comfort3.asp

Helpful sites you may want to visit

• Lifenet www.9-11MentalHealth.org 1-800-LIFENET.

LDRNY contact info

To contact LDRNY, call 1-866-864-1600, or send an email to Mikki@ldrny.org Visit the website for information on any of our programs – www.LDRNY.org.

LDRNY

22 Cortlandt St. 10007

New York, NY

1-866-864-1600

212-406-9736

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