“Everything is up and running again,” said Jay Wendland, district disaster response coordinator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Florida-Georgia District. “All the churches are functioning and able to have indoor services. And we’ve assisted all of the pastors who have reported damages.”
Yet there is still much work to be done. Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) stationed at Fort Myers, Fla., and Venice, Fla., are now turning to the requests for help from nearly 100 other church workers across nine different congregations.
“Needs abound,” Wendland said. “[Requests include] anything from financial assistance to tree removal to daily supplies of food to mucking out.” Baby supplies and paper products are in particularly high demand.
The Florida-Georgia District has established an Amazon wish list for those who would like to help out by purchasing needed supplies. In addition to baby supplies and paper products, the list contains items such as lip balm, toothbrushes, soap, insect repellent and cleaning products.
Wendland emphasized the constant need for more LERT volunteers from now until December. Responding to the ongoing requests for help will keep the two teams busy through Dec. 18. After taking a break for Christmas, the teams will turn to the needs of the wider community.
“Please keep volunteering,” Wendland said. “The donations are coming in. We’re thankful for them, and we’re thankful for all that have contributed in different ways. It may not seem it, but we are really blessed.”
View a photo gallery of Hurricane Ian.
Visit the Hurricane Ian Amazon wish list.
Volunteer to serve on a Lutheran Early Response Team.
Visit the LCMS Disaster Response page.
Individuals and congregations in the LCMS, including those in the Florida-Georgia District, who wish to assist with the response are encouraged to contact the district office at flgadistrict.org/lert or call 407-857-5556 or 877-457-5556 (toll-free).
Individuals, congregations and groups wanting to donate to the Synod’s response may:
- Text the keyword LCMSHURRICANES to the number 41-444.
- Visit lcms.org/givenow/hurricane.
- Make a check payable to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and write “Hurricane Response” on the memo line. Send to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861.
- Call 888-930-4438.
The Florida-Georgia District is also receiving direct contributions to support its hurricane response at flgadistrict.org/give. (The LCMS is not sending direct donation appeals into the Florida-Georgia District so that individuals and congregations there do not experience duplicate or competing solicitations.)
For additional assistance or to ask questions about donating, please call LCMS Mission Advancement’s Contributor Care Line at 888-930-4438.
Posted Oct. 24, 2022
