ERD Continues Work with Gulf Coast      
     Communities Devastated by Hurricanes
In partnership with the Dioceses of Mississippi and Louisiana, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) continues working with Gulf Coast communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. ERD's partnerships with the Office of Disaster Response in the Diocese of Louisiana and Lutheran Episcopal Disaster Response, a program of Lutheran Episcopal Services in the Diocese of Mississippi, are serving affected people and communities. Currently in Phase II of a multi-year, long-term rehabilitation, ERD's partnerships are providing immediate assistance such as food, clothes, water, as well as supporting cleanup work and health care services in Louisiana and Mississippi.
    ERD's partnership with the Diocese of Mississippi and Lutheran Episcopal Disaster Response (LEDR), under the direction of Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi, is supplying critical assistance throughout the state.
     This past weekend, "Camp Coast Care," one of LEDR's main relief and supply operations located at Coast Episcopal School in Long Beach, served 1,928 people in the distribution center and another 140 in the clinic.  Increasing numbers of people are passing through "Camp Coast Care" on a daily basis as some of the large shelters have recently closed.  Some of the supplies being distributed include canned foods, juices, blankets, clothes, cleaning supplies, and gift cards to local stores.  As the relief phase ends and early rehabilitation work begins, ERD remains in affected communities as many relief agencies begin leaving.
LEDR currently has six other staging areas in Mississippi; three are based at Episcopal churches. St. John's Church in Ocean Springs is organizing work crews for minor repairs and cleanup. St. John's Church in Pascagoula is housing and tasking work crews. St. Thomas Church in Diamondhead is distributing clothes and using mobile units to offer health services. Three Lutheran churches in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and Long Beach are being utilized to EDR Continued...
shelter evacuees and distribute needed supplies.
Please visit the Hurricane Response Center at www.er-d.org for updated information on ERD's relief and long-term rehabilitation program in the Gulf Coast region.
    St. Paul’s is involved with hurricane relief through our member Don Lagrand.  Don recently returned to the Gulf Coast for the second time as a Red Cross volunteer.  Robin Denney (St. Luke’s) has also returned to the Gulf Coast, this time with LEDR!  Another St. Luke's member, Leann Brooks, has joined Robin in Mississippi..  They tell us that although much has already been accomplished there is still so much more to be done.  The devastation is much worse than we can possibly imagine.  Please keep the people of the Gulf Coast, both residents and relief workers, in your prayers.