News Briefs
Back to Weekly News Briefs...March 4, 2010
- CLWR accepting donations for Chilean earthquake relief efforts
- BC Shipment aids Mauritania
- An Update on Haiti
CLWR accepting donations for Chilean earthquake relief efforts
Concepcion, a city the size of Winnipeg, and surrounding coastal regions have been severely damaged by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. The quake, which occurred in the early morning hours of February 27, has killed over 700 people and left over two million people homeless.Reports indicate the situation in the city is chaotic, with much destruction. Some affected families are housed in church buildings and have lost everything. Many people are staying on the streets because their houses are partially destroyed or they fear new aftershocks.
While CLWR does not anticipate engaging strongly in response to the Chilean disaster (as it has with Haiti), donations are welcome. Currently, Lutheran Church–Canada, through a partner church in Chile, is assessing needs and working to identify a project for Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to support.
The ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together), an international ecumenical coalition of church-based development agencies, has members present in Chile providing emergency assistance in the form of food, water and shelter. As a member of ACT, CLWR provides Canadians with a means to support these efforts by making a donation directly to CLWR or through their local congregation. Direct donations can be made online at www.clwr.org, by sending a cheque payable to CLWR to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 or by calling 1.800.661.2597.
BC Shipment aids Mauritania
A shipment of commodities collected, packed and shipped by Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) supporters in British Columbia in May 2009 benefited more than 11,000 people in Mauritania according to a report received from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Once arriving in Mauritania last summer, the goods were stored in a central warehouse in the capital city of Nouakchott, and then distributed through local NGOs in smaller communities. These commodities greatly improved the operational capacity of smaller groups/programs that are generally poorly equipped. A small quantity of goods was dispersed to the needy from individual applications. Targeted groups included individuals living with HIV and AIDS, children and female headed households, prisons and impoverished rural communities. A quantity of goods were kept as a central buffer stock for emergencies, which proved to be very valuable in response to a tornado and subsequent flooding in the town of Nbeika on July 14th (2009). The storm left 110 families homeless and CLWR goods were used to assist 354 of the most affected individuals (226 of which were children) in meeting their most basic needs. Amongst them was El Haemal Mint Yahya who said: “I am a woman head of family over 50 years, poor and abandoned, living in Nbeika, I have received relief goods from LWF via ODZASAM. That helped a lot, thanks to the donor who was willing to share with us in this sad event.”
CLWR supporters in British Columbia are gearing up for another BC Baling Day to be held in Abbotsford on May 17-18. LWF Mauritania will be the beneficiary again this year. For more information, call 1.800.661.2597 and ask for Patrick.
An Update on Haiti
Just over $1.07 million has now been received for the CLWR Appeal for Haiti. This includes donations given by individuals, groups and congregations. It also includes a $25,000 contribution made by Faith Life Financial as part of a matching funds program it promoted through its congregational branches.
CLWR and other members of Canadian Churches in Action is waiting for a decision on the application submitted to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on February 16 for $1.9 million in matching funds.
Back to Weekly News Briefs...
Concepcion, a city the size of Winnipeg, and surrounding coastal regions have been severely damaged by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. The quake, which occurred in the early morning hours of February 27, has killed over 700 people and left over two million people homeless.Reports indicate the situation in the city is chaotic, with much destruction. Some affected families are housed in church buildings and have lost everything. Many people are staying on the streets because their houses are partially destroyed or they fear new aftershocks.
While CLWR does not anticipate engaging strongly in response to the Chilean disaster (as it has with Haiti), donations are welcome. Currently, Lutheran Church–Canada, through a partner church in Chile, is assessing needs and working to identify a project for Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to support.
The ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together), an international ecumenical coalition of church-based development agencies, has members present in Chile providing emergency assistance in the form of food, water and shelter. As a member of ACT, CLWR provides Canadians with a means to support these efforts by making a donation directly to CLWR or through their local congregation. Direct donations can be made online at www.clwr.org, by sending a cheque payable to CLWR to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6 or by calling 1.800.661.2597.
BC Shipment aids Mauritania
A shipment of commodities collected, packed and shipped by Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) supporters in British Columbia in May 2009 benefited more than 11,000 people in Mauritania according to a report received from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Once arriving in Mauritania last summer, the goods were stored in a central warehouse in the capital city of Nouakchott, and then distributed through local NGOs in smaller communities. These commodities greatly improved the operational capacity of smaller groups/programs that are generally poorly equipped. A small quantity of goods was dispersed to the needy from individual applications. Targeted groups included individuals living with HIV and AIDS, children and female headed households, prisons and impoverished rural communities. A quantity of goods were kept as a central buffer stock for emergencies, which proved to be very valuable in response to a tornado and subsequent flooding in the town of Nbeika on July 14th (2009). The storm left 110 families homeless and CLWR goods were used to assist 354 of the most affected individuals (226 of which were children) in meeting their most basic needs. Amongst them was El Haemal Mint Yahya who said: “I am a woman head of family over 50 years, poor and abandoned, living in Nbeika, I have received relief goods from LWF via ODZASAM. That helped a lot, thanks to the donor who was willing to share with us in this sad event.”
CLWR supporters in British Columbia are gearing up for another BC Baling Day to be held in Abbotsford on May 17-18. LWF Mauritania will be the beneficiary again this year. For more information, call 1.800.661.2597 and ask for Patrick.
An Update on Haiti
Just over $1.07 million has now been received for the CLWR Appeal for Haiti. This includes donations given by individuals, groups and congregations. It also includes a $25,000 contribution made by Faith Life Financial as part of a matching funds program it promoted through its congregational branches.
CLWR and other members of Canadian Churches in Action is waiting for a decision on the application submitted to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on February 16 for $1.9 million in matching funds.
