LDRNY Eletter | Eletter Archive

Dear Friends of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York:

Here’s the July 21st 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.

The Lutheran Church welcoming to people from Indonesia
The Lutheran Church is reaching out to welcome people from Indonesia, who've turned to God and their faith to get them through the aftermath of 9/11. Life hasn't been easy for them. Because they're from Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, they were singled out by the U.S. government as suspected terrorists. To read the full story, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.

Lutheran Disaster Response assessing hurricane damage
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) Director Heather Feltman has traveled to the Florida panhandle and the southern coast of Alabama to meet with LDR coordinators assessing damage from Hurricane Dennis. She tells LDRNY that flooding is a major concern for many communities, with homes that never flood experiencing water damage. As of last Thursday, some communities were still without electricity and roads were filled with debris. In cooperation with emergency management, LDR coordinators are identifying families in need. LDR is providing grants to purchase clean-up supplies and building materials, as well as offering emotional and spiritual care support to church leaders and other caregivers as needed. Please remember our coordinators and these communities in your prayers. Many of these residents are the same residents who were impacted by Hurricane Ivan just 10 months ago.
Heather's prayer this day:
O Lord, take hold of and mold our frail wills,
give us guidance to work effectively, words
to inspire and nourish, and a spirit of
cooperation as we accompany others
during this time of devastation and
destruction.
Amen.

LDRNY partner joins LDR committee
God's blessings to Pr. Ann Tiemeyer, director of Koinonia NYC, an LDRNY partner, who has been asked to join the Domestic Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) in Chicago. In addition, Pr. Tiemeyer was interviewed on the ELCA radio ministry about KoinoniaNYC's New Ground Day Camps, Faith Walks and Servant Events. It will air Sept. 11.

New Ground Day Camps in full swing
This week, camps are being held at Ascension, Deer Park; Holy Trinity, Bellerose; Calvary, Hauppauge; and Zion, Rahway, N.J. To read the full story and see where camps are being held throughout July and August, go to www.LDRNY.org and click on Top News.

Learn how to be prepared
There are two sessions left for All Together Now, a program that empowers New York City residents to take practical actions to be prepared for any emergency. In building, block, or household-based teams, All Together Now participants follow a series of preparedness actions, such as how to create a Go Bag, how to live without electricity, and how to help neighbors in need. OEM and the Empowerment Institute invite you to learn more about the All Together Now program at an upcoming information session. Hosted by various community organizations, all sessions are open to the public.  For a list of dates and locations in NYC, go to http://www.ldrny.org/comfort/comfort3.asp (LDRNY Comfort and Renew Center events)

Hurricanes remind us of the need for a Go Bag
All disaster and emergency experts recommend that the best way to be prepared for a natural disaster is to be prepared! A Go Bag helps you do that, especially during this year's hurricane seaseon. You can make or own bag, or if you don't want to, LDRNY has done the work for you. LDRNY's Go Bag is the most comprehensive disaster-preparedness bag on the market today. The red standard backpack is filled with more than 50 items to help a person survive in the first 24 hours following a disaster or emergency. Items include a flashlight, water, energy bar, whistle, rain poncho, mylar blanket, hand-warmer packet, radio and compass, first-aid kit, toothbrush, hand-sanitizers, ID holder, DNA/fingerprint kit, pen and pad, and much more. The suggested contribution for the Go Bag is $70 each, plus $7.50 shipping/handling, and can be obtained by calling LDRNY at 1-866-864-1600, or by visiting the website, www.LDRNY.org . Click on the red logo on the homepage to get more information and an order form.

Job opportunities
-Lutheran Social Services seeks a financial analyst- housing. The qualified person will have a BA or BS in finance or accounting or five to seven years of progressive experience in the field of supportive housing.  Experienced applicants should have hands-on skills at administering all phases of DHS, DoHMH and HUD funded contracts. Experience at working with tax credit reporting will be considered a plus. LSSNY offers a competitive salary and full-time benefits. Contact the vice president for finance via fax at 212-870-1102.

- Augsburg Fortress Publishers seeks a manager for the bookstore at Union  Theological Seminary in Manhattan. This position is responsible for planning, integrating and directing sales strategies to achieve sales objectives and deepen customer relations in the store channel. Responsible for developing a competent staff through recruitment, selection, development and training. If you'd like to learn more about this opportunity, please visit www.augsburgfortress.org. If interested in applying, please fax resume to 612-330-3387, email resume to jobs@augsburgfortress.org, or mail resume to Augsburg Fortress, PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN  55440-1209.

Make a gift to LDRNY
LDRNY is grateful for the gifts it receives. This week, a gift was received in memory of SAL SCIBILIA, from George and Celia Petersen. 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

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."

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
www.LDRNY.org
Dr. John J. Scibilia, Executive Director (john@ldrny.org)