With historically unmatched snowfall totals and dangerous blizzard conditions forecasted to blanket the Northeast, threatening the elderly, the isolated and the homeless, Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is delivering a Winter Storm Communal Bulletin calling on all Synod parishes to engage senior citizens and others who may be isolated, alone and at risk as a result of the severe weather.
“If projected snowfall totals and weather conditions are anywhere near being accurate, the level of disruption will be more than a handful for the typical family who is prepared and ready to hunker down. For the elderly, those living alone or those without a place to even call home, this weather has the potential to be an insurmountable and deadly catastrophe waiting to happen and we must do all we can to help our neighbors who may be literally trapped in their homes or worse,” warned Bishop Rimbo.
“I call on all pastors and lay leaders to use social media, phone outreach and other means to engage the elderly, frail and other neighbors in our communities who might be isolated and make sure that they are safe during the storm.
“As Lutherans, we are committed to serving the community and doing God’s work here on earth. Key to meeting that commitment is being a good neighbor and helping those who are less fortunate or in need of aid and this unprecedented storm is set to place many in a position of vulnerability.
“I can think of no greater service that we can provide at this time than making it clear to those in need that they are not alone, that our Pastors, lay leaders and concerned congregants are standing by to provide any assistance which they may need,” he concluded.
Bishop Rimbo’s request was delivered to the Synod’s nearly 200 parishes across all five boroughs of New York City, all of Long Island and seven upstate counties (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester).