• Report and Photos from the Retreat and Parish Pilgrimage Tour of the New Orleans Area, April 4-6, 2008  

• 2008 Lutheran World Relief Shipment

• LWR Listed as a Top 100 Charity

• Stamporee

LWR SHIPMENT—2008

The 2008 Lutheran World Relief shipment was collected March 24th at St. John Lutheran Church, Rutersville and Zion Lutheran Church, Zionsville from local areas.  The shipment was taken to Houston by Rev. Lee and Marlene Eschberger of Paige.  This was the 22nd year that they had hauled the projects.

A total of 12,788 pounds in 915 boxes was collected.  In Houston, a total of 32,197 pounds in 1,889 boxes was collected.  This total was a little larger than last year.

The expenditures for fuel and a rental truck amounted to $207, with part of the truck rental donated by U-Hal of LaGrange.  A total of $600 was collected from congregations that contributed projects.  The $393 that was collected in excess of the expenditures was sent to LWR’s Project Comfort to help carry on their work.  Also, checks totaling $190 for LWR or Project Comfort was sent to LWR.

 Please Note:  health kits should not contain toothpaste because it can be dated before use.  Paper in school kits should not be loose sheets but packaged or tablets.  If blankets are sent, they should be 60 by 80 inches or larger in good, clean condition. 

A special thank you to everyone who contributed money, items, assembled projects, made quilts, packed and brought them to the collections points, and helped load them on the U-Haul truck.  The same items are still needed by LWR.  You are encouraged to start working on projects for next year’s collection.

Suggestion:  Please use boxes no larger than necessary.  If you have a box too large, please cut it down to size.  This allows more boxes to be hauled on the U-Haul as well as on the freight truck.  This helps cut down on shipping cost from Houston to New Windsor, Maryland.  At Houston, it was suggested that the boxes be packed tight enough to be sat upon without crushing. It is also good to have some small boxes which will fit in small places between boxes.

Rev. Lee and Marlene Eschberger plan to take the projects again next year to a central collection point.  If you need more information, you may write to call them at P. O. Box 126, Paige, TX 78659 or 512-253-0246.  Also, they are authorized by LWR to give presentations on the work of LWR.  There is no cost.

Submitted by Rev. Lee and Marlene Eschberger

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LWR LISTED AS A TOP 100 CHARITY

 Lutheran World Relief made the grade in the eyes of Givespot.com, which  listed LWR

as one of the top 100 highly rated charities.  In order to qualify the charity must dedicate

75 percent or more of its annual budget to program services and must operate both 

efficiently and transparently.

“We are blessed and honored to be on the top 100 list.  Good stewardship of our gifts

is a hallmark of LWR's work, and we have always been committed to efficiency and 

ransparency,” said John Nunes, president of LWR.  “We are grateful that this commitment 

is being recognized by Givespot.com.”

LWR spends 92.5 percent of its annual expenses on programs in international relief 

and development in 35 countries.  LWR's commitment to efficiency and transparency 

has earned it high ratings from other organizations as well.

LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and has worked in international 

development and relief since 1945.

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STAMPOREE

The Texas District of LWML is conducting a “Stamporee” to support Lutheran World 

Relief's Project Comfort.  Project Comfort  provides funding for the shipping of quilts, 

kits, and other items to those in need around the world.  Anyone can contribute to the 

Stamporee by sending their used envelopes containing cancelled stamps to Sara Frank, 

P. O. Box 1354, Kyle, TX 78640, Stamp Chairman.

Stamps need not be trimmed or removed from the envelopes.  If trimming from 

envelopes leave at least 1/4 inch around the stamp.  Sorting into categories or weighting
is not necessary.  DO NOT SOAK OFF! Damaged stamps are those that are torn or the 

perforations have been destroyed. If in doubt, send them to the stamp chairman 

to be assessed.

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