CHICAGO (ELCA) - In times of disaster, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have a history of responding quickly and generously. So when an ELCA pastor from Iowa learned about the plight of farmers and ranchers in drought-stricken Texas, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work on a solution that's helping to restore these communities in need. The drought and wildfires across Texas this year have destroyed hay crops used to feed livestock. With no feed available for purchase, many farmers and ranchers in the state are selling their cattle out of desperation. "Our area has been declared a federal disaster," said the Rev. Diane M. Eggemeyer, pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Miles, Texas. "We are desperate, we are hurting." The Rev. Harold R. McMillin, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, Iowa, learned about the plight of Texas farmers and ranchers at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly held Aug. 15-19 in Orlando, Fla. Unlike Texas, the farmers and ranchers in McMillin's community in northeast Iowa produced an abundant hay crop -- enough to sustain livestock this winter with extra to spare. So McMillin put two-and-two together. Upon his return home from the assembly, he found himself helping to organize a cross-country hay lift to help ranchers and farmers in Texas. "On the Sunday after the assembly, I told my congregation about the need in Texas. By Monday evening, we had four loads of hay committed for donation," said McMillin. One farmer at St. John donated about 55 bales of hay, which is enough to fill one flatbed semi-truck. At a hay auction, one bale can fetch between $60 and $70. The word about the need continued to spread, and offers for contributions of hay and financial gifts came from as far as Minnesota. "The response has blown me away," said McMillin. "It says something about the ELCA, particularly about the heart of ELCA members who are responding very generously." ELCA Disaster Response has provided an initial $25,000 to support the hay lift. "We're proud to help get 'Operation Hay Lift' started, and we're hoping that the connections between Iowa and Texas can continue," said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, program director of ELCA Disaster Response. "We hope that other faith partners will help. We know that the need for hay in Texas is vast and desperate," he said. Thousands of dollars have also been pledged from ELCA members in the Midwest "who heard about it and want to help," said McMillian. While funds and hay have been contributed, McMillin faces one major problem --transportation. Finding truckers and trucking companies to haul hay from Iowa to Texas has been difficult. "But we are a people who live in hope," said McMillin, who's been in communication with government agencies to arrange for permits and other items necessary for the hay lift. "My big hope, dream really, is that the U.S. National Guard can help. But that depends on being able to get the fires in Texas under control and having the loads of hay on the ground and ready to go so that the National Guard can intervene," he said. McMillin's frustration about the lack of transportation is more keenly felt by Eggemeyer. "We need help. We need truckers or trucking companies who are willing to haul the hay," said Eggemeyer, who estimates that at least 15,000 bales of hay is needed to meet the needs of not only ELCA farmers and ranchers but whole communities in Texas. "I have had people in and surrounding Miles coming to the church for help," she said. "I'm not just fighting for Lutherans but for the community, since many have no other options." The need for hay also includes Eggemeyer's household. "My husband is a life-long farmer, so we've been personally affected by this, too. We don't have any bales of hay left. We are now down to 30 cattle after having 150. This week, we may be down to five." A few shipments of hay from Iowa and Texas have been made. "When the hay arrived, it was like Christmas," said Eggemeyer. "I just want to go to Iowa and give everyone there a big hug. Our congregation is writing a letter of thank you, enclosing a picture, to the congregations in Iowa. We also hugged the truck driver who delivered the hay and sent him home with a bag of cookies." Eggemeyer said she desperately hopes that more trucking companies will step in to haul the much-needed hay. She is also working to rally her congressional representatives for their intervention to provide transportation. "I'm a woman of faith," she said. "God started it, God is in the midst of it, and God will bring it to fruition." "It's a marvelous connection among members of our church who are assisting one another in a time of need," said the Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod. He said Iowa farmers and ranchers, who know well what fellow farmers are experiencing in Texas, have "responded generously and with their hearts," and "we trust and pray that the possibility of transportation can happen, that people will come forward." "It's been a very spontaneous and spirit-filled project, which has drawn on the generous hearts of this church," said Ullestad. - - - For more information, visit the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod here and the ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod here.
