February 2023

On February 6, 2023, two powerful earthquakes, one a magnitude 7.8 and the second a magnitude 7.5, hit Turkey and significantly impacted neighboring Syria. The two quakes devastated both countries, killing thousands of people and collapsing thousands of buildings. At this time, financial gifts are the number one need to assist our neighbors who are injured, hungry, and displaced from these quakes.
In response, the Outreach and Servant Ministries Committee decided to send $1,000 from the New Opportunities fund to Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), directed to their Middle East Crisis fund. LDR is already working with organizations in Turkey and Syria to provide immediate aid, and will help coordinate a comprehensive response as the full extent of the impact becomes clearer.

The need is great and most urgent. If you are able, you are encouraged to provide support for these people affected by the quake. You can do that at the Lutheran Disaster Response website at this link: https://community.elca.org/middle-east-crisis or with a check to Saint Andrew’s with “Middle East Earthquake” on the memo line.