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04/23/2013

New Partnership Extends the Reach of LWR Quilts and Kits

Through a new partnership with the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), Lutheran World Relief plans to position Quilts and Kits near disaster-prone areas for timely distribution following an emergency.

The UNHRD brings together United Nations and international governmental and non-governmental organizations to stockpile material resources like LWR’s Quilts and Kits in strategically located hubs around the world.

Pre-stocking of LWR resources in a Philippines warehouse has allowed for quick dispersal following recent emergencies in Southeast Asia. Through the UNHRD network, LWR would be able to store materials in up to five additional UNHRD hubs located in Italy, Malaysia, Ghana, the United Arab Emirates and Spain.

“I’m very excited about this new partnership. It immediately increases our capacity to respond to global emergencies, and affirms our commitment to good stewardship by working with partners to deliver aid quickly and efficiently in even more places around the world,” says Tim McCully, LWR’s vice president for international programs.

In addition, LWR will be connected to more than 50 member agencies in the UNHRD network for additional resources when needed. Conversely, LWR’s material resources will be listed in the same database for fellow UNHRD agencies to see and request as needed, further expanding the reach of these gifts of love from Lutherans in the U.S.

“Working with this global network of U.N., NGO and faith-based organizations allows us to multiply our own resources to reach more people in need” says McCully.

The UNHRD was established by the United Nations in 2000 to meet its goal of having the capacity to respond to concurrent disasters around the world. The hubs are managed by the World Food Program.

LWR accepts donations of Quilts and Kits in the U.S. year-round. Quilt and Kit donations help to stock LWR’s own warehouses, and now also UNHRD hubs, to respond to emergencies while still fulfilling ongoing requests from our global partners. In 2013, LWR is challenging Lutherans across the U.S. to donate 500,000 Quilts to send around the world to people in need.

To learn more about donating Quilts and Kits, please visit lwr.org/getinvolved.

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945. For more information, please visit lwr.org.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of U.S. Lutherans, serving communities living in poverty overseas.