WELS Relief distributes aid for flooding
Filed Under: Committee on Relief, disaster, Flooding, Midwest, WELS relief
WELS Committee on Relief—or "WELS Relief"—has completed its assessment of flooding damage to church buildings and members' homes throughout the upper Midwest, and has released $105,000 in disaster aid.
Rev. Phil Schupmann, chairman of WELS Relief, completed a tour of flood-damaged regions of Wisconsin June 25, and Iowa the week before. While damage to WELS churches appears limited to five that suffered significant basement flooding, as many as four WELS families suffered the total loss of their homes in Wisconsin. Six in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have gutted their basements and first floors, but can't rebuild until the city gives them the okay to move back in.
WELS Relief has released $70,000 in aid to 10 Wisconsin congregations and an additional $10,000 to Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wis., where one teacher's home was destroyed by an explosion from a gas leak caused by flooding. WELS Relief has released $25,000 in aid to three congregations in Iowa. Since most WELS members who suffered flood damage have insurance, most of the aid goes to help with basic needs, cleaning supplies, and other needs in the community.
"The most important thing WELS Relief can provide is the care we demonstrate when we go to visit," says Schupmann. "More important than the dollars is the fact that somebody cared enough to come."
Schupmann anticipates that WELS Relief could release another $100,000 to $150,000 over the next six to eight months as additional reports of damage come in and as insurance companies and FEMA determine how much money they will pay out.
WELS Relief has produced a seven-minute video presentation profiling WELS members who endured the flooding and the damage it caused. A DVD was mailed to every WELS congregation and should arrive this week. The video has also been posted on Streams. Watch it online at http://streams.wels.net/video/midwest_flood_08
Individuals and congregations who wish to contribute to the relief effort can do so online at www.welsrelief.net or send a check to WELS Relief, 2929 N Mayfair Rd, Milwaukee WI 53222. Any funds collected above and beyond those needed for the current flooding relief effort will be held for future disaster relief efforts.
WELS Relief also will receive funding for its flooding relief efforts from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Its members have the opportunity to form local chapter service teams to collect or raise funds for flood relief efforts. For every $2 raised by these chapter service teams, Thrivent Financial will provide an additional $1, up to $250,000. Thrivent Financial then will designate a portion of all funds collected to WELS Relief for 2008 Midwest flooding relief efforts. For details, please visit www.thrivent.com/2008midwestflooding or contact your local Thrivent chapter.
