Cedar Rapids congregations to host Camp Noah

Iowa Lutheran Disaster Relief Funds Working in Iowa

Lutheran Disaster relief funds will be used to finance Camp Noah in Cedar Rapids this coming August to help children impacted by the derecho which devastated large parts of the Cedar Rapids area in August of 2020. Camp Noah is a nationally acclaimed program where children in communities impacted by disaster can experience the power of hope and healing through a proven resiliency curriculum that includes creative activities and play. The “Executive Committee” for the Lutheran Disaster Relief, comprised of representatives from all three Iowa ELCA synods and Lutheran Services in Iowa met to discuss the distribution of funds to cover the cost of the camp and voted unanimously to fund the camp program.

“Camp Noah has a great reputation and a history of success helping children overcome the severe trauma that can happen by experiencing life-threatening events,” said John Twardos CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa. “We are delighted to bring this camp to Cedar Rapids.”  Lutheran Disaster relief also funded Camp Noah in 2019 after the Marshalltown tornado.

Congregations in Cedar Rapids worked together to bring the program to Cedar Rapids and will host 50 children from the Cedar Rapids community on August, 8-12 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Pastor Trish Decker said; “it’s very meaningful for our congregation to host this camp as our building was damaged during the derecho along with many other homes and buildings in this community. We experienced a huge amount of damage to the point that we were unable to have services in our building from the time of the Derecho until June 20, 2021. It is with great joy that we can once again open our church to the children of this community during the week of the second anniversary of the derecho.  We value this partnership and generosity. It takes the whole community, and we appreciate St. Stephens, First Lutheran, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church who are part of this endeavor as well.  It is the witness to our God of abundance and grace.”