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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Wendy Healy: 203-744-6367, wendy@LDRNY.org

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE OF NEW YORK SCHEDULES 5th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF SEPT. 11

NEW YORK, NY- July 19- Lutherans from around the metropolitan New York area will gather Sept. 8, at Holy Trinity, Manhattan, to mark the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.

      The commemoration event is sponsored by Lutheran Disaster Response of New York (LDRNY), a joint ministry of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to help those affected by Sept. 11.

      The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes special music and reflections from the Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Bouman, Bishop of the Synod and President of LDRNY, and the Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, President of the District and Vice President of LDRNY.

      LDRNY was started after Sept. 11 by Bishop Bouman and Dr. Benke as a local presence in New York to help those affected by Sept. 11. Since then, it has provided millions of dollars to help thousands of victims, families and others, and is one of the last Sept. 11 faith response organizations still in operation. It is one of the few joint ministries of both Lutheran church bodies. It works in cooperation with Lutheran Disaster Response.

      "This is a very significant time for us in New York,"? said Bishop Bouman. "It's a reminder of what happened on that awful day, as well as a testament to the work of God through individuals and programs like LDRNY."

      Dr. Benke agreed. "LDRNY is a blessing that continues to touch the lives of thousands of people in New York."

      Over the past five years, LDRNY has earned a reputation for being a leader in the faith community in responding to Sept. 11. Raising more than $13 million, it quickly reacted to assess the needs of those affected, and responded with dozens of programs. It has worked with other faith and governmental disaster agencies, including FEMA, OEM, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the 9/11 Widows and Victims Families Association, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and many others.

      LDRNY was quick to coordinate the resources of many Lutheran agencies, including Koinonia, Lutheran Social Services of New York, Lutheran Schools Association, the Lutheran Counseling Center, and more, to launch needed programs. In Lutheran schools alone, 47 children lost parents on Sept. 11. 

      Some of the agency's more unique programs include New Ground Day Camps, a youth camping program to help children process what they witnessed on Sept. 11; the New LIFE Center, an outreach and resource center for the Asian community in New York City; Project LIFE, a case management program for people financially impacted; and individual counseling through the Lutheran Counseling Center. LDRNY also help several new organizations get launched, including Koinonia NYC, an outdoor ministry based in New York, and Faithful Response, a counseling program for first-responders still feeling the psychological effects of Sept. 11.

      Synod and District ongoing ministries were also strengthened to redirect resources to address disaster needs, with many new programs being established for immigrants, refugees and economic migrants.

      LDRNY has supported the 9/11 Widows and Victims Families Association, and was a founding member of the 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable, a consortium of agencies that reviews individual needs on a case-by-case basis to distribute funding. Today, the Unmet Needs Roundtable is one of the last remaining efforts of its kind. 

      In addition, LDRNY was a founding member of the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), which was formed to allow all faith agencies to work together on relief and response plans. Today, Lutherans hold a board position on NYDIS.

      In 2002, LDRNY sponsored two events -- one for the Synod and one the Atlantic District - so people from around the country could come to see the work of LDRNY at Ground Zero, and to help them process what had happened. The Synod event invited Lutheran pastors from around the country to visit New York and to preach on Sunday at churches throughout the area. Grace at Ground Zero was held for the Atlantic District as a symposium for lay people and clergy to help them process the after effects of Sept. 11.

      In 2003, LDRNY opened the Comfort and Renew Center, offices overlooking Ground Zero. It invited other agencies to share its space, including Koinonia NYC and NYDIS. Each year, more than 75 groups from around the country visit the Comfort and Renew Center, talking a Faith Walk around Ground Zero and working on Servant Events coordinated through Koinonia NYC.

      A team of pan-Lutheran members are currently providing oversight of the organization, including the Rev. Dr. Gary Mills of the Metropolitan New York Synod, and Kathy Jagow of the Atlantic District. Day-to-day coordination is handled by Mikki Baloy, coordinator.

      For more information on the 5th Anniversary Commemoration Event – or other LDRNY programs -- go to www.LDRNY.org.

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