Outpouring of assistance

By Sherri Richards srichards@forumcomm.com

Published in the Fargo Forum Metro/State - 10/20/2006

Church organizations are working together to walk alongside North Dakotans affected by drought.

Hands Across North Dakota hopes to offer counseling, case management and couples retreats for farmers, ranchers and their families.

This summer's drought conditions affected 27 North Dakota counties, most of them in the southwest corner of the state.

The total direct loss farmers will feel due to drought is estimated to be more than $140 million, said Duane Hauck, North Dakota State University Extension Service director. That figure includes increased costs to feed livestock and loss of crop income after insurance payments.

"When it became apparent that drought was impacting the communities where our churches are located so dramatically, we said we have to do something," said the Rev. Charles "Chuck" Traylor, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of the Northern Plains.

This coalition of church organizations has met several times during disasters since the 1997 flooding of the Red River Valley. The group also gets farm agencies and political leaders involved.

Traylor expects to receive $31,000 from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, a national program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Methodists in North and South Dakota are being asked by their bishop to give a Thanksgiving offering for drought aid in both states.

Even a man from Kenya pledged $80 to help drought victims. David Mbae is headmaster of a primary school in Chogoria, a sister presbytery to the Northern Plains Presbytery.

Mbae used the donation as a lesson to show his students that they can always give something to others in need, said Sharon Secor, a member of Fargo's First Presbyterian Church, who received the donation from Mbae while in Kenya this summer. The students now pray for the North Dakota farmers during daily assembly.

The five church organizations involved are on track to collect $70,000, Traylor said.

"Really, that's nothing in the grand scheme of things," Traylor said.

That's why Hands Across North Dakota also wants to help support emotional needs.

The group is working with the 211 telephone system to connect farmers and ranchers with the services they need. Members are collecting donations of hay, fence mate rials and other farm supplies. And Methodist mission teams have been replacing fencing where fires destroyed the posts.

"It's not about a specific denomination. It's about the faith community walking with these folks," said Bonnie Turner, director of Lutheran Disaster Response of North Dakota.

She lifts up North Dakota as a model of collaboration for disaster relief when talking in other states.

"We're called to reach out," Turner said. "To me, this just seems so natural when there's crisis or a disaster."

But the group recognizes that its efforts are more of a symbolic gesture of support, rather than returning things to the way they were. "It's just a lot more than we can do," Traylor said, adding that members of the group are praying a lot more than they might otherwise. "Lord, this one's on you."