Ontario-based Lutheran agency increases relief to Haiti

ST. CATHARINES — The Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS) has sent a total of US $15,000 to the Lutheran Church of Haiti (LCH) for earthquake relief.

In addition to $5000 wired soon after the earthquake, an addition $10,000 was approved by the organization at its annual meeting at Resurrection Lutheran Church January 24. The initial money purchased emergency supplies of water, food, medicines, clothing, blankets and tents.

On January 28, a team of Lutherans from Gonaives, north of Port-au-Prince took with two truckloads of these supplies to distribute to Lutheran churches. Distribution of two more loads of supplies are scheduled in the following weeks.

The HLMS, a listed service organization of Lutheran Church–Canada, also plans to send a 12-metre container of clothing and other goods to the Lutheran church in Gonaives in April.

Donations to the HLMS designated “earthquake” are eligible for matching grants from the federal government. They can be sent to 400 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines, Ont., L2T 3L2.

On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean island, killing hundreds of thousands of people and destroying 60 Lutheran churches. At the time, Howard and Wally Bogusat, members of the HLMS, and Lynn Tobin, of AIDS Niagara, were in Haiti.

All three recently returned to Southern Ontario. Read about their experiences at http://infodigest.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/mission-trip-to-haiti-a-trip-of-firsts/.

They also attended the January 24 annual meeting at which members re-elected Rev. Dr. John Wilch chairman. Gerald Higenell will serve as vice-chairman, Erna McBride as secretary, and Macklem Sherman, treasurer. Ten people will serve on the board.

Print this article