Summer storms are causing deep heartache and trauma around the world. Here at Lutheran Congregational Services, our hearts and prayers go out especially to families in Hawaii who are still facing terrible uncertainties about the fate of loved ones. The Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is working [...]

Community and the relationships that connect them become crucial catalysts to the work of Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA (LDR-EPa). Such was the case when Tropical Storm Isaias devastated the community of Eastwick, a neighborhood in southwest Philadelphia, in August of 2020. Flooding and high winds damaged many homes. Roofs were blown off. People [...]

When disaster strikes, Julia Menzo, Director of Community Outreach, must decide when and how to respond so that resources are utilized fairly, especially for those with the greatest barriers to recovery. She consults her local partners in disaster relief work to answer those questions and more. Recovery looks different for each individual, family, and community. [...]

Barb loves to learn new skills as a volunteer. Her existing skills, particularly painting, come in handy, too. A member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, PA, Barb volunteered several days this past May along with others from her congregation. Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA (LDR-EPa) has led a long-term [...]