DISASTER RELIEF DISPATCH – July 2024

DISASTER RELIEF DISPATCH – July 2024

Dear disaster relief volunteer,

Welcome to the Disaster Relief Dispatch! This blog will be published six times each year and is intended to keep our volunteers informed about disaster relief news, opportunities, and best practices.

This month we’d like to discuss background checks. When you signed up to be a WELS disaster relief volunteer you were asked to submit to a background check. Why do we do this?

First, it’s about protection. Background checks help to protect our volunteers, congregations, and WELS Christian Aid and Relief enabling us to work safely as we enjoy the respect of the communities where we deploy.

Second, and even more importantly, it’s about love. Background checks help protect the hurting people we serve. Disasters bring stress and trauma into the lives of the people who have experienced them. Background checks help to take one more worry off their plates. Often, we deploy to areas where there are schools. We work with families where children are present. We help people to retrieve their valuables, family heirlooms, and precious memories from the field into which a tornado has scattered them. Background checks help to assure the people we serve that the volunteers who are clearing debris from their yard and sifting through their personal possessions to see what can be saved are safe. They have been checked and vetted. Many come to disaster areas to take advantage of others. They come to steal, loot, and perpetrate fraud. They are there to take advantage of people during a time of weakness. Background checks help us to assure the people we serve that they can trust us. We have come to help.

It should be noted that we are not alone in requiring background checks. Just about every disaster relief organization requires them, including FEMA, Team Rubicon, Samaritan’s Purse, LCMS Disaster Response, and many others.

Thanks for reading! Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, or suggested topics. And, as always, thanks for your willingness to serve those impacted by disaster.

In Christ our compassionate Savior,

Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief
daniel.sims@wels.net