Media Alert
For Immediate Release:  October 7, 2016

Florida’s Largest Human Services Organization Prepares to Offer Relief in Response to Hurricane Matthew

TAMPA, Fla– As Hurricane Matthew makes its way up the Florida coast towards Georgia and South Carolina, Lutheran Services Florida (LSF), a statewide non-profit organization headquartered in Tampa, is on standby to offer immediate relief to people in need throughout the state. LSF serves as a local community partner for international disaster relief ministries, including several Lutheran Disaster Response organizations that have been actively responding to the needs of victims throughout the Caribbean who have already felt the full impact of Hurricane Matthew.

With offices and programs in more than half of the 67 counties in Florida, LSF is poised to respond quickly and generously to help victims who are in immediate need. Since many of LSF’s offices and locations were also in the path of Hurricane Matthew, the organization has already been working on the ground to ensure that the people it serves throughout the state along with staff members were prepared, evacuated, and placed into safe locations.

As a local community partner leading disaster relief efforts in the state, LSF will coordinate recovery efforts, assist people in a holistic and compassionate way by meeting their varied needs (including mental health services and trauma informed care), and help provide long-term recovery care by addressing unmet needs in the months and years following this natural disaster.

The CEO of LSF, Sam Sipes, said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who’ve had to deal with this dangerous and historic storm. Drawing on our longstanding experience with disaster relief and recovery, LSF is committed to helping those in need.” Sam has led previous disaster response efforts in the Southeast during Hurricane Katrina in Texas and Louisiana, and is available for interviews to share how LSF plans to assist those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

Media Contact:
Canaan McCaslin, Associate V.P. of Communications
canaan.mccaslin@lsfnet.org
813-802-8790

About Lutheran Services Florida
Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) is a nationally recognized non-profit organization transforming individuals and families by providing healing, hope and help through effective human services. Founded in 1982, LSF currently touches the lives of 1 in 50 Floridians every year through various programs, including early education, youth shelters, foster care and adoption, charter schools, refugee and resettlement services, substance abuse mental health services, and adult guardianship. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, LSF has more than 60 programs around the State of Florida and approximately 1,300 dedicated employees.
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