On Aug. 23, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit central Italy, killing more than 260 people. A series of aftershocks hit the area recently, causing more damage.
Through Lutheran Disaster Response, the ELCA will send $10,000 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy to assist the earthquake victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this earthquake. The ELCA grant is an expression of our solidarity with the Italian people,” said Vitaly Vorona, international program director for Lutheran Disaster Response.
Heiner Bludau of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy said no Lutheran congregations are located in the area affected by the earthquake. The church in Italy is supporting the relief efforts of the Federation of the Protestant Churches in Italy.
“[Our] support is channeled through the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, which offers its facilities and its own technical resources for humanitarian coordination between the Italian evangelical face,” Vorona said. “The primary focus of this coordination is on immediate needs and to alleviate people’s suffering as they emerge from the earthquake. I hope the ELCA donation will facilitate the provision of timely urgent needs to the victims and help them to restore their normal living.”
General, undesignated gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response support this work. Learn more at elca.org/ldr.
