Oktoberfest Fundraiser Aids Disaster Response Efforts

-By Joe Harrington, Liberty Lutheran PR Intern

Liberty Lutheran and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Glenside are celebrating another successful Oktoberfest! The fifth annual event took place Saturday, September 28th at St. Paul’s in Glenside. Oktoberfest raises thousands of dollars each year to benefit Lutheran Disaster Response- Eastern PA, a service of Liberty Lutheran.

“We had over 600 people attend Oktoberfest this year, which made it our largest and most successful year thus far,” said Henrik Sonntag, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. “It is great to be able to hold an event like this that allows us to express our faith while having fun and raising money for a great cause,” he added.

The day’s festivities included traditional German foods and beers, and even some homebrews from members of the St. Paul’s Congregation. There was a great show of traditional German dancing put on by GTV Almrausch, one of the oldest German folk dancing groups in the country.

St. Paul’s Oktoberfest event has become a vital fundraiser for Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA (LDR-EPA.) LDR-EPA oversees disaster preparedness and response for people in need throughout 24 counties of Eastern Pennsylvania. The program works with individuals, congregations and clusters of congregations, as well as other denominations, government agencies and community organizations to help prepare for and respond to natural or human caused disasters. When a local disaster occurs, LDR – EPA partners with local and federal emergency management, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and faith-based organizations to assess the situation and respond. Most recently, LDR-EPA has been instrumental in the long-term efforts of helping victims recover from Super Storm Sandy in 2012, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

“Oktoberfest is always a great time and it just gets better every year,” Julia Menzo, disaster response co-coordinator at Liberty Lutheran said. “It is a great way to bring the disaster response community together and we are extremely grateful for all that St. Paul’s does for us with the Oktoberfest event. This event and St. Paul’s efforts allows us to help as many people as possible in their time of need,” she added.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

About Liberty Lutheran

Incorporated in 2001 and headquartered in Ambler, Pa., Liberty Lutheran, with its more than 25 locations and combined service history of 300 years, faithfully provides vital resources to individuals and families facing life-changing situations. These individualized services include independent and assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice care, in-home supports, wellness services, children and family services, integration services for immigrants and political refugees, and disaster response. Liberty Lutheran’s team of dedicated employees serves individuals and families through their family of services in Eastern Pennsylvania, including Artman, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Liberty at Home, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Lutheran Congregational Services, Mary J. Drexel, and The Village at Penn State. www.libertylutheran.org