LDRNY Eletter | Eletter Archive
Dear Friends of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York:
Here’s the January 26th edition of Comfort & Renew Online, a weekly e-newsletter provided by LDRNY. If you have something to share, please drop an email to mikki@LDRNY.org
Help line available for Katrina evacuees in NYC
Case managers are available to work with Katrina evacuees in New York City, helping to plan for their future. Catholic Charities, Archdiocese NY, is coordinating the effort. Katrina evacuees can call 1-888-744-7900, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Helpline is not a general information and referral line for Katrina-related questions. It is designed to be the central point for assigning clients to case managers. For more information on Katrina help, go to www.LDRNY.org
New funds available to help 9/11 workers
The Health & Welfare Council of LI recently received funding from the American Red Cross 9/11 Fund to help those still suffering the effects of the World Trade Center attack. It is eager to aid recovery workers at Ground Zero, in particular, who continue to have serious health problems as a result of their service in the financial district, and who may lack health coverage. Caseworkers from the Long Island Council of Churches agencies can ask for funds at the Unmet Needs Roundtable, in which LDRNY is involved. Or call Alric Kennedy, 516-565-0290, ext. 204.
Does your church have a 9/11 memorial?
Robert L. Harrison is photographing local 9/11 memorial sites for Hofstra University's Long Island Studies Center. If you know of a church site in Nassau or Suffolk county, contact Harrison, harrisonbd@hotmail.com.
LDRNY partners offer preparedness workshop at Atonement, Jackson Heights
Faithful Response Director Michael Arcari and Pr. Tom Taylor, deputy director of LDRNY for Long Island, will conduct a preparedness workshop at Atonement Lutheran Church, Jackson Heights, on Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. Feel free to attend. Faithful Response is a program partner of LDRNY.
Unsung Heroes organization elects Michael Arcari
God's blessings to Faith Response Director Michael Arcari who has been elected to the Executive Board of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes. Arcari is also the organization's treasurer.
Faith Walk leader to present paper at national conference
Pr. Lisa Bellen-Boyer, one of the regular Faith Walk leaders at Ground Zero, will present a paper for the Mid-Atlantic Regional American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature (AAR/SBL)Conference in Baltimore in March. She will discuss how the World Trade Center site is a place of pilgrimage.
Faithful Response participates in conference, Jan. 28
The Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes group, of which Faithful Response's Michael Arcari is a board member, is offering a conference, Jan. 28. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Suffolk County Community College, Brentwood Campus. "The Unmet Needs of Disaster Response Workers: Positive Solutions" dedicated to identifying problems that the first responders of 9/11 and others disasters face. The conference is in cooperation with Suffolk County Legislator William Lindsay. Faithful Response is participating in the conference. For information, contact Jonathan Sferazo, 631-423-0277.
NYDIS sponsors 9/ll event on collaboration
New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), of which LDRNY is a founding member, sponsors a free seminar, Looking Back To Go Forward: Creating Interdisciplinary Ties In Disaster Recovery, March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NYU Kimmel Center, Manhattan. Clergy and mental health providers who serve disaster survivors will focus on practical aspects of collaboration, with an emphasis on shared experiences and the development of concrete, real-world resources. For inquiries and registration, contact conference chairs: Grant H. Brenner, M.D., Disaster Psychiatry Outreach. 212-721-9235, or Maggie Jarry, NYDIS, 212-669-6105.
God's blessings to LDRNY partner pastor
God's blessings to Pr. Rip Hoffman, who had been trying to build the Community of Hope ministry around Ground Zero for the past few years. Community of Hope has been a partner of LDRNY and shared office space at the Comfort & Renew Center overlooking Ground Zero. Pr. Hoffman, who missed day-to-day parish ministry, was recently called to Salem Lutheran Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. "Over the last three years I've been given the opportunity to try several different ministry initiatives in Lower Manhattan. I am thankful to the Metropolitan New York Synod and LDRNY for trust and confidence they have placed in me"? said Pr. Hoffman.
FEMA gets new director for Region II
Stephen Kempf, Jr. has been appointed FEMA Region II director for the New York area. He begins Jan. 30. He most recently served as vice president of Infrastructure Emergency Response and Coastal Protection Divisions at Hatch Mott MacDonald, in Freehold, N.J., where he directed marketing and business development activities involving infrastructure security planning, emergency management, coastal protection and municipal engineering.
Does your church want to learn about preparedness?
Michael Arcari, program director for Faithful Response, an LDRNY partner, is available to discuss disaster preparedness at your church. He can discuss how to be prepared, along with showing what goes into a Go Bag, or a topic of special interest to you. To schedule a talk at your church, call Arcari at 516-679-0080, or faithfulresponse@ldrny.org. Visit www.LDRNY.org.
Lutheran Counseling Center offers pre-marriage counseling workshop
The Rev. Dr. Donald Hillyard with the Lutheran Counseling Center (LCC), an LDRNY partner, will offer an initial Prepare/Enrich Premarriage and Marital Counseling Training Seminar at New Hope Lutheran Church, Jamaica, Feb 9 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for counselors and pastors who counsel couples getting married. For information or to register, call LCC at 516-741-0994. Cost is $150. Register by Feb. 1.
Servant event opportunities in NYC
Is your congregation looking for a Servant Event opportunity for Summer 2006? Koinonia NYC organizes servant events that include service projects, faith-based conversations, worship disciplines, Bible study, New York City experiences and a "Faith Walk" at Ground Zero. The full-week schedule combines service time in the urban environment of New York City with a closing weekend retreat at Koinonia's wilderness setting in cabin housing. Koinonia NYC will work with your group to create an event that will suit your group's interest and needs. Koinonia NYC is a ministry of Koinonia and works in partnership with Lutheran Social Services Lutheran Disaster Response of New York), and New York City Lutheran congregations to coordinate a meaningful broad-based experience. Housing options are available throughout Manhattan and the greater New York area, depending on group needs. Servant events can also be arranged with Koinonia NYC throughout the year as a week-long event, an extended weekend, or a weekend. For additional information contact the Koinonia NYC office at 212-669-6131 or KoinoniaNYC@yahoo.com. Additional information can also be found at www.KoinoniaNY.org or www.LDRNY.org.
Want to be a docent for Ground Zero tours?
The 9/11 Families Association is training volunteer docents to lead tours of Ground Zero. There are training dates in November in December. You can download an application at http://www.ldrny.org/GroundZero/GroundZero4.asp> or visit http://tributenyc.org/
Take a planned Faith Walk around Ground Zero
LDRNY partner Koinonia NYC invites you to take a Faith Walk around Ground Zero. Faith Walks are inspirational and educational tours of Ground Zero and surrounding landmarks, encouraging healing and hope in the face of despair. If you’re planning a trip to New York City, or want to read more about others’ experiences, go to www.LDRNY.org. Participants always report back that they liked the Faith Walk. Here is a comment from one person: "It was informative, very moving, and certainly uplifting. In your very kind and thoughtful manner, you put us all at ease. Your friendly way made us all able to participate and enjoy this opportunity."
Make a gift to LDRNY
LDRNY is grateful for the gifts it receives. If you’d like to make a donation to honor or memorialize someone, send a check to LDRNY at the address below. Tell us who should be notified of the gift, and please provide an address. Thrivent members will have their gift matched.
You may now make a gift to support the work of LDRNY among the hidden victims of Sept. 11 online, thanks to Lutheran Community Foundation’s Charity Finder. Go to
http://www.thelcf.org/donors/charityfinder_details.asp?charity_id=145
Events, programs and training on www.LDRNY.org <http://www.LDRNY.org/>
You’re reminded to check the LDRNY.org website often for a complete listing of events taking place around Ground Zero and in lower Manhattan, and for programs and training relating to 9/11. They’re listed here: http://www.ldrny.org/comfort/comfort3.asp
Helpful sites you may want to visit
• Lifenet www.9-11MentalHealth.org 1-800-LIFENET.
LDRNY contact info
To contact LDRNY, call 1-866-864-1600, or send an email to Mikki@ldrny.org Visit the website for information on any of our programs – www.LDRNY.org.
LDRNY
22 Cortlandt St. 10007
New York, NY
1-866-864-1600
212-406-9736
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