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Media Contact: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802, 443-220-3269 cell, esollie@lwr.org

Gifts of Love Reach 27 Countries in 2008 through Lutheran World Relief

Baltimore, February 3, 2009 — Lutheran World Relief has released its annual statement outlining the donation and destination of quilts, layettes, soap, and school, health and sewing kits for 2008.

LWR shipped more than 1,455 tons of quilts and kits to over 740,000 people in 27 countries last year, totaling $13 million.  Collectively, U.S. Lutherans and other individuals sewed 455,798 quilts, assembled 103,640 layettes, gathered items for 362,040 health, school and sewing kits, and collected 122,418 pounds of soap.

For the first time, a free, full-color poster is available to congregations and individuals, featuring a map showing both the originating warehouse and the destination of all quilt and kit donations. 

“Many people spend countless hours assembling quilts and kits to send around the world.  LWR is happy to be able to offer its faithful quilt and kit-making groups and individuals this resource to show where those gifts end up,” said Trevor Knoblich, LWR’s program associate for emergency response.
 
While LWR estimates that more than 740,000 people directly received quilts and kits, the actual number of people benefiting from this ministry may be even greater, adds Knoblich.

“The report outlines the actual number of people who received quilts and kits, but the impact of these gifts is much more far-reaching, as the recipient often shares the gift with their loved ones. Taking that into account, we estimate that over 1 million people’s lives were touched by these gifts of love,” Knoblich says. Knoblich manages warehouse inventory, coordinates shipments, and makes visits to receiving countries to ensure smooth delivery of aid.

“LWR is thankful for the continued generosity of Lutherans in the U.S.,” says Brenda Meier, LWR’s director for congregation and community engagement.  “As needs increase across the world, we pray that groups will continue to donate quilts and kits to LWR as a tangible sign of God’s love.”

LWR accepts donations of quilts and kits at two warehouses in the U.S., in New Windsor, Md. and St. Paul, Minn.  LWR recently opened a new warehouse in the Philippines to streamline shipments to the conflict-affected region.

Quilts and kits have long been an important part of LWR’s ministry, with U.S. Lutherans, individuals, and other ecumenical groups donating hundreds of thousands of quilts and millions of dollars in supplies each year.  LWR covers the cost of shipping quilts and kits overseas through donations to its Project Comfort Fund.

“As conflict continues and the global food crisis persists, it is more important than ever to show love for our global neighbors,” says Meier.  “Giving to the Project Comfort Fund gives people an easy and convenient way to do that.” 

To learn more about the Project Comfort Fund, visit lwr.org/beinvolved/comfort.asp.  To order a free copy of the full-color poster, call 1-800-LWR-LWR2.  An accompanying shipping report is available for download at lwr.org/beinvolved, along with resources on how to assemble LWR quilts and kits.

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Media Contact: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802, 443-220-3269 cell, esollie@lwr.org

LWR responds to escalating conflict in Sri Lanka

Baltimore, April 23, 2009 - Lutheran World Relief is responding to the urgent humanitarian needs of people displaced by fighting between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Armed conflict in Sri Lanka continues to escalate as government forces intensify operations to seize land under the control of the LTTE. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on the civilian population of northern Sri Lanka with more than 300,000 people displaced and an estimated 200,000 civilians trapped in the zone of military operations.

“LWR must respond to this humanitarian crisis,” says Tim McCully, Lutheran World Relief’s Vice President for International Programs. “The situation is worsening by the day and the people desperately need our help.”

Thousands of displaced families have sought refuge in government camps. Because of the fighting, most families are unable to travel to other parts of the country or farm the surrounding lands, leaving them without a reliable source of food or income and vulnerable to the ongoing conflict. Many displaced families lack basic necessities such as food, clean water, or medical care.

Working with partners on the ground, Lutheran World Relief will respond to this crisis by distributing food baskets containing essential items such as cooking oil, rice and beans.

“A food basket costs only about a dollar a person and can be delivered quickly. The distribution of baskets will help sustain families as they deal with this crisis,” adds McCully.

More help is urgently needed. Lutheran World Relief is accepting donations to the Sri Lanka emergency relief effort at www.lwr.org/giving; by phone at 1-800-597-5972; or by mail at P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832, USA.

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WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

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Media Contact: Lisa Baumgartner Bonds, 410-230-2814, 443-722-2162 cell, lbonds@lwr.org

More food, water desperately needed in Sri Lanka - LWR responds

Baltimore, May 18, 2009 - Lutheran World Relief (LWR) partners working on the ground in Sri Lanka only have three to four more days’ supply of food to feed thousands of people displaced by violence between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“Our partners are struggling to provide food to the swelling numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs),” says Joanne Fairley, LWR’s Regional Director for Asia and the Middle East.

Fighting escalated this past weekend in the last LTTE controlled territory, sending thousands more civilians fleeing south in search of sanctuary amidst the announcement from the Sri Lankan military that LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was killed.

The news of Prabhakaran’s death, and the LTTE’s subsequent surrender, elicited celebrations in the streets of Sri Lanka, however, thousands of people, namely Tamils, remain displaced and in desperate need of food, water and sanitation.

In addition to the thousands who have made it to a camp, there are an estimated 40,000 en route to camps. To meet the needs of the increasing numbers of displaced the government has had to open more safe zone camps. Those in the newest camps are not yet receiving food aid and the camps with which LWR are working have estimated that, feeding people at the current level, their food supply will run out within three to four days.

The rise in the number of displaced has put a strain on the already limited resources of the camps. In one zone, community kitchens intended to feed 400 people are desperately trying to accommodate upwards of 3,500. 

“The situation in these camps is quite desperate. There is simply not enough food for everyone and if we don’t respond swiftly, people will starve,” says Fairley.

In addition to widespread hunger, disease is a growing concern as many people arrived with only the clothing on their backs. While visiting a camp in Vavuniya, LWR staff encountered a woman caring for her sick infant grandson. During the visit the child became sick with diarrhea and the woman did not have adequate water to bathe the child and had only her clothes to use to clean him. The need for water, cloting and sanitary supplies is critical as overcrowding in the camps will likely lead to the rapid spread of disease.

Water access and storage are critical problems as there is currently not enough water for people to use to drink, bathe and cook. There is an urgent need for containers in which to collect water and for toilets.

Lutheran World Relief has already committed $50,000 in response to this crisis and is working with local organizations to distribute cooked food packets, provide supplementary food items for community kitchens, and provide water. An additional $500,000 is needed to mount a comprehensive relief effort, and LWR has issued an urgent appeal to its donors to contribute toward this effort.

“The news of the LTTE surrender is encouraging,” says Fairley. “However, the humanitarian aid community has to remain focused on the thousands of people who remain displaced and in need of food, water, and sanitation.”

Lutheran World Relief is accepting donations for the Sri Lanka crisis online at lwr.org/giving, via telephone at 800-LWR-LWR-2, or by mail at P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832.

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors:  When listing organizations receiving donations for aid to survivors of major disasters outside the United States , Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:

Lutheran World Relief, http://www.lwr.org/, 1-800-597-5927

For information contact:
Lisa Baumgartner Bonds, 410-230-2814, 443-722-2162 cell, lbonds@lwr.org

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