This page may be updated as we have additional information.
UPDATE: October 30, 2024
Edward Lynch, who served in the Persian Gulf as a Marine, lives at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s Veterans Restoration Quarters for homeless veterans in western North Carolina. Edward moved in last year and is working to rebuild his life. After Hurricane Helene flooded the shelter and destroyed everything, all 165 residents were moved to a hotel until their homes can be rebuilt.
Thanks to a partnership with ABCCM and Lutheran World Relief, the displaced residents received Lutheran World Relief Quilts and Personal Care Kits soon after the flood.
Edward was excited to pick out his Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilt.
“I’d just like to say thank you to the people that put their time and love and patience in making these beautiful blankets for everybody,” he said. “It is going to remind me where I've been and where I'm going."
I can say I got this when I lost everything, and this is one of the first, nicest things I got. And it gave me something to hold onto in the midst of a crisis.
Since hurricanes Milton and Helene devastated the Southeast, 10 shipping containers of Lutheran World Relief Quilts & Kits were sent to hard-hit areas across North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee in record time. These shipments included more than 60,000 handmade quilts, plus hygiene and baby care items and school supplies. For families who lost everything, these items offer comfort, dignity and a bright spot of hope in the midst of tragedy.
Thanks to the support of faithful Lutherans across the US, Lutheran World Relief is also giving cash grants to local organizations so they can expand their community-level operations to provide for families’ urgent needs. These organizations can now support more struggling families with food, clean water, clothing, transportation and more.
October 10, 2024
Hurricane Milton crashed into an already-battered Florida less than two weeks after Helene devastated the Southeast. As you pray for families affected by these back-to-back disasters, please know that help is on the way.
Lutheran World Relief’s Rev. Lisa Kipp was on the ground in Asheville, North Carolina, where LWR Quilts and Kits are being distributed to residents who lost everything. We are also sending cash grants to distribute food, water and other urgently needed supplies to provide comfort and dignity to families during their time of need.
Thank you to our compassionate donors who have responded so generously to help our neighbors in western North Carolina, Florida and beyond!
Here are more specifics on how your gifts are reaching neighbors affected by back-to-back hurricanes:
Lutheran World Relief is rushing bottled water and other urgently requested items to our partners in North Carolina and Florida. We are also sending a minimum of 10 truckloads of LWR Quilts & Kits to affected communities in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. More will be mobilized as needed.
Thanks to your support, we are providing cash grants to many of the same local organizations who will be distributing Quilts and Kits. The grants will be used to amplify their efforts, including providing food, water, essential supplies and temporary housing. Most of these organizations are smaller but deeply embedded in local communities, so your gifts are expanding critical front-line responses that really need extra support.
Thank you for loving your neighbors, near and far! We will continue to update as the response continues.
September 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene has devastated Florida’s Big Bend region, western North Carolina and other areas in the southeastern U.S. As you pray for families affected by this disaster, please send aid now to help your neighbors survive and recover!
Hurricane Helene: Acting quickly to rush aid
As families boarded up their homes and prepared for the worst, Lutheran World Relief was also busy preparing to respond. Thanks to our compassionate donors who are always ready to help, Lutheran World Relief was able to mobilize components of our response in advance.
Before Helene made landfall, our team was already preparing a shipment of LWR Quilts and Personal Care Kits to comfort those in need. Amazingly, this delivery will arrive just days after LWR announced the expansion of our Quilt & Kit Ministry to serve our neighbors in the U.S.
Send aid to Florida, North Carolina and beyond
Powered by compassionate people like you, Lutheran World Relief is teaming up with local organizations to meet various needs, including food, water, shelter and essential supplies. This is an unprecedented crisis for our neighbors in Helene’s path, and we are praying that, with your help, our response can rise to the immense challenge.
Thank you for taking action to love your neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene and around the world! Your generosity ensures we can respond to urgent needs today ... and be prepared when the next disaster strikes.