Dear Partner in Ministry,
Wow! Our friends at Nelsonville Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church in Amherst, WI – both of the Tomorrow River Lutheran Parish – have just increased their incredible gift. All congregational gifts will be doubled – up to $258,000 – for our neighbors suffering in the Ukraine crisis.
Here are the top three things you need to know to share this great news with your congregation:
- The deadline for the match has been extended to April 25. This allows for you to receive donations through Easter Sunday and then rush them in the mail to us. Please mail checks to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061. Please write “Ukraine Match” in the memo line.
- You can give online at lwr.org/match. This link can be used for your congregational gift or by your individual members. All gifts given at this link will be matched.
- We’ve developed a suite of congregational resources for you! Resources include a bulletin insert, graphics to share on social media, and a report of how Lutheran World Relief is responding to this crisis.
And please extend our gratitude to your quilters and kit-makers. Because of the care and generosity of Lutheran congregations across the country, we will be air-lifting Personal Care Kits and Mission Quilts that were pre-positioned in our Dubai warehouse as part of our first response. These urgently needed supplies will reach Ukrainian families who have fled for safety. We expect that our initial response will include providing food, shelter and emergency funds for refugees, in addition to supporting critical health needs through the provision of medical supplies or support for emergency medical services.
We plan to respond in Ukraine, in neighboring countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, and in other countries suffering from the inevitable ripple effects, like fuel and food disruptions. We have committed at least $1 million to this critical response effort — but we cannot do it without congregations like yours, willing to share God’s love with our neighbors in crisis. At this time, financial gifts are the number one need to assist refugees on the move.
Thank you for all the ways you are inspiring generosity in your congregation.
Until your love reaches every neighbor,
Rev. Tim Krick
Lutheran World Relief