September 05, 2023
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Hurricane Idalia left wind and flood damage in south central Georgia especially in Valdosta and areas around Statesboro and Glynn county. We are still assessing the numbers of families and individuals impacted by this hurricane. Funds are needed to help people with emergency assistance and in long-term recovery with funds for materials and supplies. Donations are greatly appreciated to support this response. Volunteers are needed to help with clean up and rebuilding. Clean up kits and supplies are needed now. If you can help please contact Pastor Morgan Gordy for more information.
Griffin and LaGrange/ West Point GA: January 2023 Tornadoes caused major damage across several counties in Georgia. Thanks to a grant from LDR and other generous donations, we have been able to fund a construction manager for the Griffin area. Thanks to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Griffin for standing up volunteer housing and being the construction management hub for this response. Funds for this response will provide for materials and supplies for rebuilding in both LaGrange/ West Point and Griffin [Spauding County]. Volunteers are needed to help with the rebuilding.
Selma and Prattville AL: January 2023 Tornadoes caused major damage across several counties in Alabama. Thanks to a grant from LDR and donations, we have funded an outreach worker to ensure that all may have a chance to recover from these devastating tornadoes. Funds for this response will provide for materials and supplies for rebuilding in Prattville, Autauga/Elmore counties and in Selma. Volunteers are needed to help with clean up and rebuild.
Middle and West TN: Floods and Tornadoes 2021, 2023- yes, Tennessee continues to have disasters across the state. Most recent in East TN with damaging straight line winds. We continue to respond and assist with long-term recovery in seven counties across the state from the 2021 batch of tornadoes. In March/April 2023 tornadoes ripped through the state again. Now we are setting up responses in Rutherford / Cannon County. Thanks to Advent Lutheran Church for hosting the long-term recovery committee meetings and for Jeff Lycyzyn for agreeing to chair this committee as well as assist other committees as they are forming in are as also impacted by the tornadoes. Funds are needed for materials and supplies as well as volunteers to help these families recover.
Amory/Wren MS: March 2023 Tornadoes devastated Mississippi. Disaster response resources have been spread thin addressing all the damage in so many areas. We are focusing our efforts on Amory and Wren as other disaster providers are focusing more on the other areas. Pastor Stacey Parvin is working 1-2 days per week helping the communities form a recovery process and providing much needed emotional spiritual care. Even though we have been active here since March, our work here is just beginning. Donations for materials and supplies, continued emotional and spiritual care, and volunteers for rebuild is much needed for their recovery. We are currently working on volunteer housing options in this area so that teams may come in and help.
We were blessed to have LDR National Trainers – Dale and Jean Peercy come in August and provide disaster response workshops for the communities and providers in Amory, Jackson MS and in Griffin GA. With their skillful instruction we hope to see more forward movement in the recovery process in these areas.
As you see, our synod continues to experience disasters. LDR continues to walk with us in all of these events. It takes us all to bring light and hope and hands of help that is much needed after these storms. If you would like more information, or would like to help, please reach out to me at pmgordy@elca-ses.org. Thank you for all you do!
God’s peace,
Pastor Morgan Gordy
Griffin and LaGrange/ West Point GA: January 2023 Tornadoes caused major damage across several counties in Georgia. Thanks to a grant from LDR and other generous donations, we have been able to fund a construction manager for the Griffin area. Thanks to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Griffin for standing up volunteer housing and being the construction management hub for this response. Funds for this response will provide for materials and supplies for rebuilding in both LaGrange/ West Point and Griffin [Spauding County]. Volunteers are needed to help with the rebuilding.
Selma and Prattville AL: January 2023 Tornadoes caused major damage across several counties in Alabama. Thanks to a grant from LDR and donations, we have funded an outreach worker to ensure that all may have a chance to recover from these devastating tornadoes. Funds for this response will provide for materials and supplies for rebuilding in Prattville, Autauga/Elmore counties and in Selma. Volunteers are needed to help with clean up and rebuild.
Middle and West TN: Floods and Tornadoes 2021, 2023- yes, Tennessee continues to have disasters across the state. Most recent in East TN with damaging straight line winds. We continue to respond and assist with long-term recovery in seven counties across the state from the 2021 batch of tornadoes. In March/April 2023 tornadoes ripped through the state again. Now we are setting up responses in Rutherford / Cannon County. Thanks to Advent Lutheran Church for hosting the long-term recovery committee meetings and for Jeff Lycyzyn for agreeing to chair this committee as well as assist other committees as they are forming in are as also impacted by the tornadoes. Funds are needed for materials and supplies as well as volunteers to help these families recover.
Amory/Wren MS: March 2023 Tornadoes devastated Mississippi. Disaster response resources have been spread thin addressing all the damage in so many areas. We are focusing our efforts on Amory and Wren as other disaster providers are focusing more on the other areas. Pastor Stacey Parvin is working 1-2 days per week helping the communities form a recovery process and providing much needed emotional spiritual care. Even though we have been active here since March, our work here is just beginning. Donations for materials and supplies, continued emotional and spiritual care, and volunteers for rebuild is much needed for their recovery. We are currently working on volunteer housing options in this area so that teams may come in and help.
We were blessed to have LDR National Trainers – Dale and Jean Peercy come in August and provide disaster response workshops for the communities and providers in Amory, Jackson MS and in Griffin GA. With their skillful instruction we hope to see more forward movement in the recovery process in these areas.
As you see, our synod continues to experience disasters. LDR continues to walk with us in all of these events. It takes us all to bring light and hope and hands of help that is much needed after these storms. If you would like more information, or would like to help, please reach out to me at pmgordy@elca-ses.org. Thank you for all you do!
God’s peace,
Pastor Morgan Gordy
