| LCMS response to Hurricane Helene | Wildfire Disaster Relief Program |
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| Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At first it seemed like the damage from Hurricane Helene would be minimal. Our disaster responders breathed a sigh of relief. Then the reports of significant damage in unexpected areas across the Southeast began rolling in. The hurricane had caused severe flooding in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas, and south-central Georgia experienced significant tree damage. In western North Carolina severe flooding caused road closures and widespread power and cellular outages, making communication difficult or impossible. Your longstanding, joyful generosity towards LCMS Disaster Response means that Lutheran responders can act immediately when catastrophe strikes — right now, initial response efforts to Hurricane Helene are already underway. There is much to be done. Thousands of people in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida are all in need of meals and other basic supplies. In the days and weeks to come, debris must be cleaned up and fallen trees cleared away, and homes and businesses must be rebuilt. LCMS Disaster Response is coordinating with the Southeastern District and the Florida-Georgia District to assess damage and coordinate response efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Many Lutheran responders are already committed to meeting immediate and long-term needs. Your gracious financial support will help these response efforts continue long into the future. Will you once again partner with LCMS Disaster Response? The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is well-known and trusted when it comes to disaster response. By partnering with the LCMS, YOU play an important role in loving and caring for victims of Hurricane Helene, as well as supporting all future disaster response efforts. Your generous gift today will enable LCMS Disaster Response to show the mercy, compassion and love of Jesus Christ to Hurricane Helene victims across the southeastern United States. In Jesus, Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
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The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) have teamed up to support cattle ranchers who suffered significant losses in wildfires in the northwest and other places across the state this month. Drought conditions and nearly 80-mile-an-hour winds created a lethal combination and exacerbated a multitude of fires that ignited across North Dakota starting last weekend.
As of Oct. 8, more than 88,000 acres had already burned, and several fires were still raging. Livestock industry losses include pasture, hay, stored feed, fences, buildings, farmsteads and livestock. Sadly, the fires also claimed at least two human lives. More livestock losses are expected to accrue over time as pneumonia and other disease set in from smoke inhalation and burns. “It’s hard to imagine what these producers are going through right now,” said NDSA President Randy Schmitt, a Rugby, N.D., cow-calf producer. “The fires have impacted their homes, their livestock, their communities, their whole world – everything they hold dear. Plus, until there’s substantial moisture to dissipate the chance for flare-ups, they live with the fear of fire starting up again.” To help North Dakota cattlemen and women offset losses from these destructive fires and the challenges that are sure to linger long after the last flame is put out, the non-profit organizations are launching the Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief Program. The NDSA and NDSF have kickstarted the relief fund with a $50,000 initial contribution and are inviting others to join them by contributing to the effort. “Together, we can help rekindle hope in producers who have suffered serious losses,” said NDSF President Jason Leiseth, an Arnegard, N.D., cow-calf producer whose own ranch was in the line of fire but narrowly missed last Saturday. “Our family was lucky, but there are many that weren’t. We want to do all we can to help them through this catastrophe.” Monetary contributions to the Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief Program can be made two ways: 1) Checks can be made to the NDSF with “Out of the Ashes” written in the memo and sent to 4520 Ottawa St., Bismarck, ND 58503; or 2) Credit card gifts can be made online by clicking here. The gifts will be pooled and distributed in their entirety to North Dakota cattle ranchers this winter through an application and nomination process. A committee comprised of fellow ranchers will review the applications and distribute the funds to those most in need. Application and nomination forms for the disaster relief program will be available at the end of the month at www.ndstockmen.org. The NDSF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, so gifts can be deducted as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. For more information about the Out of the Ashes Wildfire Disaster Relief Program or other ways to help, call (701) 223-2522 or visit www.ndstockmen.org. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has reactivated the Hay Hotline, which is one of those ways. The Hay Hotline is a clearinghouse to connect those in need with those with gifts of hay, fencing supplies and other tangible items to offer. For more information about the Hay Hotline, visit https://www.ndda.nd.gov/hay-hotline-rancher-relief or call (701) 328-5110. The NDSA is a 95-year-old beef cattle producers’ trade organization that works to unite, protect, promote, educate and serve the state’s beef industry. The NDSF is a charitable organization that supports the beef industry with scholarship, leadership, promotion, research and building projects and disaster relief. Together, the organizations have distributed more than three-quarters of a million dollars in direct aid to cattle producers recovering from catastrophic floods, blizzards and wildfires since 2009.
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