Lutheran fraternal branches reach out in helping others

The Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood does not take the "Aid" in its name lightly.

The group is rarely in the headlines, but it is behind the scenes comfortably raising money for worthwhile causes or providing services to Missouri families, students, the elderly, ill and less fortunate.

Just recently the Gordonville branch 7275 turned out at town's park to remove debris left by several days of flooding.

"We moved a lot of stuff," said Peggy Medlock.

While they were at it, the dozen or so volunteers planted flowers and completed some fix-up, paint-up work at the park.

Branch 7275 also held a ham and bean dinner to raise funds for a cancer patient.

Each of hundreds of AAL branches in Missouri work with various community programs and projects.

Branch 351 of Cape Girardeau, one of the largest in the area, completed a number of projects during the past year, including donating much-needed school supplies for the Jamaican Christian Ministry, said branch member Joyce Clark. The group is making a difference nationwide and in Missouri.

88,700 state members

The AAL and the Lutheran Brotherhood merged on Jan. 1 to become the largest fraternal benefit society in the United States.

Made up of nearly 3 million members -- more than 88,700 in Missouri -- the organization offers an array of financial products and services, as well as charitable programs, to Lutherans, their families and their communities.

The association provided more than $6.4 million of fraternal assistance to Missouri organizations and residents in 2001, said Jayne Shrader, one of four association representatives in the Southeast Missouri district.

"A lot of people don't realize what Missouri AAL/LB members do," said Shrader.

Statewide, members are organized into 337 volunteer groups, called branches, that meet regularly to carry out volunteer projects, educational programs and fund-raising events.

Members volunteered more than 468,500 hours in Missouri just last year.

This includes branches throughout the immediate area -- Gordonville, Frohna, Pocahontas, Jackson, Friedheim, Altenburg, Sedgewickville and other communities.

More than a half dozen branches are in Cape Girardeau, involving more than 1,600 members who accounted for more than 10,000 volunteer hours a year.

The power of AAL/LB branches everywhere was recognized soon after the organizations announced plans to merge last summer. It was Sept. 11, the day terrorists attacked the U.S. Separate at the time, each organization offered $1 million as part of their matching funds programs.

Using a number of fund-raising events, benefit meals and free-will collections, more than 4,000 branches nationwide raised $8.7 million, bringing the total amount raised for terrorist attack families to $10.7 million.

"Members of the AAL/LB are some of the most caring people in the world," said Fred Ohlde, senior vice president of the association's fraternal operations. "Our members always come through in times of need."

The association works through its branches in Missouri by supplementing local fund-raising efforts by branch members. In 2001, more than $2 million was given to people, congregations and organizations through 1,342 state projects.

Last year, the fraternal benefit society matched more than $1.5 million in gifts made by 16,444 members of state associations through its member matching programs.

$285,000 in scholarships

Because of the generosity of association members, annual gifts of $25 to $100 made to participating Lutheran institutions, such as Lutheran schools, colleges or seminaries, are matched dollar-for-dollar by the association.

More than $285,000 in scholarships was awarded to Missouri students through the organization's scholarship program, one of the largest privately sponsored scholarship programs in the nation.

A Fortune 500 organization, AAL/LB is a fraternal benefit society in the financial services industry, offering life and disability income insurance to its members nationwide, as well as annuities and other retirement plans.