Dear Friends,

Thanks for all the emails, texts, prayers and offers of assistance headed our way. We feel the love. 

Thousands have evacuated. Over two thousand have been rescued. Hundreds of homes have water. Several congregations have reported water in the building. First Galveston and Zion Houston have water. Faith Dickinson has three feet of water. 

Don’t come. Not yet. The disaster is still under way. More rain is coming. There are alternating flash flood warnings and tornado warnings. Mayor Turner has asked people not to drive. For who have asked about giving, there are many options:

You can give to the Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Fund in the following ways. Resources will be used for helping congregations and their people get back on their feet so they can serve their neighborhoods. 

• Give online at https://gulfcoastsynod.org/about/donate/. Click the donate button and give to “Hurricane Harvey.” 

• Mail your donation to:

Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Fund

12941 North Freeway

Suite 210

Houston, Texas 77060

Memo: Hurricane Harvey

• Send a text to 281.738.2165 with the amount you would like to contribute. Include the dollar sign ($) before the amount. Example: $25.

You’ll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on that link and enter your cardholder name and credit/debit card information. Once complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via email. For future giving, simply send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically.

• Give through your congregation. Make checks payable to your congregation indicating “Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Fund” (designated Houston Flood 2017) and place your gift in the offering plate. 

You can also give to Lutheran Disaster Response, a highly reputable ELCA organization that supports case management primarily, through local providers like Lutheran Social Services. They give by need and not by creed. Learn more about giving to LDR at http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response/

Keep an eye on https://gulfcoastsynod.org/hurricane-harvey/

Mike