Help is needed in three ways if you would like to make a difference: 1) donating supplies for relief efforts, 2) volunteering to serve on a relief team, or 3) providing financial support.
Relief activities are being coordinated by the WELS South Central District, WELS Christian Aid and Relief, Pastor and District President Don Patterson, and Pastor and District Relief Coordinator Daron Lindemann. Please see the information below:
1) DONATE SUPPLIES—drop off new or used supplies, or order supplies online to be delivered to churches below
HOUSTON—If you want help for relief in the Houston area, Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Georgetown, TX is gathering supplies for this purpose. Visit http://www.crossandcrowntx.com/harvey/ for details about needed supplies and drop off. Or order supplies online and have them shipped directly to Cross and Crown (3800 Shell Road Georgetown, TX 78628). For your convenience, you can bring donations to church at Trinity on Sunday (Sept. 3) and Pastor will take them down to Georgetown on Monday. If you want to take a donation yourself, please have all supplies delivered or dropped off in Georgetown by September 8. Also, please mark all shipments or donations with “Houston Supplies.”
EDNA/VICTORIA—If you want to help for relief in the Edna/Victoria area, Holy Word Lutheran Church in Austin, TX is gathering supplies for this purpose. Critical supplies include: water bottles or jugs, tarps, generators, chain saws with extra chains, no cook/prep food items, and large coolers. You may refer to the online list at the web page above for other ideas that are acceptable. Drop off or order online and ship to Holy Word Lutheran Church 10601 Bluff Bend Dr Austin, TX 78753. For your convenience, you can bring donations to church at Trinity on Sunday (Sept. 3) and Pastor will take them down to Austin on Monday. If you want to take a donation yourself, drop off supplies Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m – 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., or bring to either Holy Word campus on Sunday. Drop off or deliver through September 10. Those supplies received by this Wednesday, August 30 will be taken on our Phase One relief trip to Edna/Victoria. Please mark all shipments or donations with “Edna/Victoria Supplies.”
2) VOLUNTEER—serve on a relief team
Volunteers are needed for a Phase One relief trip to Edna/Victoria this week Thursday, August 31 – Sunday, September 3, as well as future relief trips. If you are interested please complete the online form https://goo.gl/forms/Ej7TA8WmHA71Svvz1.
Volunteers are being gathered for possible relief efforts in the Houston area, but the exact timing and scope is yet undetermined. You may, however, submit your name and availability for Houston relief volunteering at this online form https://goo.gl/forms/Ju8nUy2IY0JwPsUi2.
These are two different forms, one for each relief site. If you want to volunteer for both, you must fill out both forms.
PLEASE HELP NOW! Our most critical need right now is two men and their trucks. We need a big truck (Ford F250 size or similar) or SUV to haul an 18-foot, double axle trailer from Austin to Edna on Thursday, August 31. We need a regular truck to haul a smaller trailer. We may need more. Anyone who has a big truck, please contact Pastor Daron Lindemann directly and immediately at daron@holyword.net or 512-808-6052. All other volunteers please complete the appropriate form.
3) PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
WELS CHRISTIAN AID AND RELIEF: Go to www.wels.net and click on “Giving” and then click on “Christian Aid and Relief” and then then select “Hurricane Disaster Relief” in the “Designation” drop down menu you will find at the bottom of the page.
LOCAL TEXAS FUNDING: Holy Word Lutheran Church has set up a hurricane relief fund to benefit these particular relief efforts. Go to https://pushpay.com/pay/holyword/OFj-4_6evoQNq7api2Z4Eg or text HOLYWORD to 77977 for easy online donations and select “Hurricane Harvey Relief.”
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:11-13).
We, the churches of the WELS South Central District, believe that a storm is not our lord, and a storm is not creating success or failure of our churches and ministry. That responsibility belongs to our true Lord and Savior Jesus. He is our success and our salvation, even through the storm! Now by his grace, he has called us not only to endure the troubles of this world, but to engage in the troubles with the gifts he has given. When we do, we grow. And so does the world. Closer to him.
