Haiti Earthquake Relief

haitiearthquakereliefOn January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the island country of Haiti, primarily impacting its capital of Port-au-Prince and its nearly two million residents. It is believed that over three million citizens of Haiti are affected. Already one of the poorest countries in the world, this catastrophe exacerbates the suffering felt by many already living with hunger and poverty.

  • Learn about relief efforts through the Lazarus Project Haiti, a ministry supported by Lord of Life Lutheran Church and others, through blog postings found on our Forum.
  • ELCA International Disaster Response is working through long-standing partnerships to provide emergency food, water, shelter and medical supplies to ease this situation. Find an online donation page and additional information from the ELCA Web site.
  • Lutheran World Relief is accepting text donations (text keyword “LWR” to 40579 to donate $10 — donation will appear on the texter’s next cell phone bill; standard messaging and data rates may apply) as well as other donation options.
  • Congregations may pass special offerings through the synod office and designate them to ELCA International Disaster Response or Lutheran World Relief.
  • Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will add $1 to every $2, up to a total Thrivent Financial contribution of $1 million that Thrivent Financial members donate to: ELCA International Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, LCMS World Relief/ Human Care or WELS Committee on Relief. Donations will be accepted through March 31, 2010. Thrivent Financial will add a maximum of $250 per member donation.  Visit thrivent.com/helpinghaiti or call 800-236-3736 (ext. 83003) between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time to make a donation to one of these organizations and access matching funds.
  • Lutheran World Relief issued an appeal to its U.S. supporters to increase their donations of quilts, health kits and school kits in order to meet the needs in Haiti. Find kit instructions online (kit contents are listed on the right side of the page).
  • Suggested prayers and hymns for this time when our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Haiti can be found here and on the ELCA Web site.  A hymn text written to the tune of “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” is available from the National Council of Churches Web site, called “In Haiti There is Anguish.”