Donate items for Gulf Coast mission

Members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee need help gathering much needed items for their Gulf Coast mission trip to New Orleans.

On Jan. 11, 20 members and friends of Immanuel are traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild homes located in New Orleans Ninth Ward.

The disastrous flooding after Hurricane Katrina, followed by damaging winds during Hurricane Rita destroyed much of the city of New Orleans.

The Rev. Phillip Baerwolf, Immanuel's associate pastor, said, "The magnitude of the destruction and the response for reconstruction needs our attention as brothers and sisters of Christ. We will be contributing our time, labor, and resources along with members of other area Lutheran churches to rebuild homes in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. We are asking for the community to assist us by donating food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies that will be donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank."

The population of Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capitol and nearest city to New Orleans, doubled during the crisis time and continues to offer services to those in need. The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is serving as many as 7,500 each day and are in need of the following items: dry cereal and breakfast food, canned meats, canned fruit and canned vegetables, hearty canned soups, dry beans/pasta, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies.

People can drop off donated items this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee.

Drive-through drop-off points will be marked so that contributors need not exit their cars. On Sunday, drop-offs will be located on the east side of Immanuel's school building from 9 to 10 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m. Volunteers will be available to take the food donations from your car.

"We are prepared to transport more than 9,000 pounds of collected items," said Lark Sanders, member of Immanuel and a Barrington firefighter.

In addition to food items, Immanuel is accepting cash donations to support the mission trip. During their week in New Orleans, the mission team will live at Camp Restore on the east side of New Orleans. The camp was Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and School campus which suspended operation after most of its membership was evacuated.

Upon return from the mission trip, Immanuel will host an information sharing gathering for those interested. The date for that meeting will be determined after the members return. For information, call the church office at (847) 428-4477. For details on the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, visit www.brfoodbank.org.