ONE YEAR AGO, your generous hearts sparked a historic expansion of our work to serve the most vulnerable here in the United States.
Since then, your love has surrounded neighbors impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the California wildfires, severe weather across the South and Midwest, and catastrophic flooding in Central Texas — while continuing to care for communities around the world.
You have reached our U.S. neighbors with 114,038 quilts, 212,425 kits and $1.2 million USD in cash grants.
By mirroring our longstanding international approach of reaching the most vulnerable through trusted local faith partners, your compassion found those in crisis faster and it’s stayed with them for longer.
You have surrounded vulnerable veterans in North Carolina to create their “best Christmas" ever.
You have given dignity to those who have lost everything in Oklahoma tornadoes.
You have been a lifeline for neighbors who were devastated by catastrophic flooding in Texas.
You helped an abused mother find a safe place to call home after losing everything in Hurricane Milton.
You have reminded those in crisis that they don’t walk this journey alone.
YOUR COMPASSION COMFORTS NEIGHBORS IMMEDIATELY — AND STAYS WITH THEM FOR THE LONG-TERM
Neighbors affected by the California wildfires receive LWR School Kits, Personal Care Kits and Fabric Kits.
Your love has reached those in urgent need with comforting quilts, essential kits, and lifesaving cash grants, and in record time! We often work with faith partners to preposition supplies. Because LWR Quilts and Kits had been delivered to our partner in Texas before the tragic flooding, they were in the hands of neighbors only 12 hours after the flooding started!
This is what I'm called to do. God often does not call the equipped. He equips those who are called. And for every response that I've had to do, God has been able to equip me.
Creating resilience, supporting mental health and reducing risks through faith partnerships
Faith360’s Erin Burleson (left) and Doreen Garris embrace after a clergy networking event supporting faith leaders in North Carolina.
With each disaster we learn how to better serve our neighbors. From the beginning, we learned the importance of faith partnerships to create nimble, effective responses focused on the most vulnerable and help communities reduce the risks they face to begin with.
With local partners, Lutheran World Relief is developing programming that provides a safety net for those who suffer the most in times of disaster — neighbors such as the unhoused, veterans, children in low-income settings and the elderly. We are empowering communities in high-risk regions, helping them to build back stronger and to be better prepared for future uncertainties.
With your support, the Faith360 Network was launched in North Carolina following the one-two punches of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Faith 360 is a hub that now connects over 300 congregations and 6,000 volunteers. The result is a coordinated, emboldened and compassionate response that as its director Pastor Erin Burleson says, is “helping the community heal, not just recover — through our churches, in our churches!”
You’re also supporting trauma care to clergy, who often serve as first line responders in their communities alongside emergency and medical personnel. Like any responder, the grief these clergy have witnessed, often while suffering themselves from loss, can weigh heavy on exhausted souls seeking to uplift others. Your kindness enables them to keep going despite the challenges.
The challenges are great. Needs are growing, and disasters are becoming more frequent. But because of you, a network of hope is spreading. Your continued support ensures that when a neighbor is in crisis, your love will be the first to arrive, bringing comfort and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.