February 27, 2009

CHICAGO – About 400 college and university students, student leaders and campus pastors are planning a special alternative spring break called "What a Relief!" The program, which begins in March, is sponsored by Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and the Lutheran Student Movement-USA (LSM-USA).

LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. LSM-USA brings together Lutheran college and university students to promote cooperation among campus ministries.

"The whole concept of alternative spring break has really just taken off over the (past) several years," said Michael Nevergall, assistant director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.

"Alternative spring break is such a unique opportunity because it gives college students, who oftentimes get a bad rap for just wanting to go and lie on the beach and party for a week, an opportunity to give back," Nevergall said.

Participants will travel to Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas and other areas to help rebuild communities devastated by natural disasters.

Volunteers who work in disaster-affected areas make a huge impact among people who need help rebuilding their homes and communities, Nevergall said. "For people to know that people still think about them, care for them, and want to come and help them can really be life-changing," he said. "It gives them a sense of hope that they've otherwise lost."

Much of the recovery work in areas struck by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 "has fallen off the radar altogether," Nevergall said.

Students from 24 college and universities are participating, Nevergall said. Four of the ELCA's 28 colleges and universities are involved: Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., Finlandia University, Hancock, Mich., and Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio.

What a Relief! started in spring 2006 with recovery work along the U.S. Gulf Coast following the 2005 hurricane season. It has grown to include disaster response work in other parts of the country ravaged by tornadoes and other storms.

Information about ELCA disaster response is at http://tinyurl.com/cf2ubm/, on the church's Web.

ELCA News Service