Aid for Alaskans
Diocesan Press Service. April 7, 1964 [XX-A]
In the aftermath of the Alaskan earthquake the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief stands ready to help.
On April 1, Bishop Bentley, director of the Overseas Department received the following telegram from Bishop Gordon, Missionary Bishop of Alaska. "No injury to any church personnel in Alaska. Only property damage at Valdez. Estimate $60,000 loss to church, parish hall, and rectory. Morale high and we are determined to press forward with God's help. Grateful for prayers and support of whole church."
In a telegram sent on Easter Monday to Bishop Gordon, Presiding Bishop Lichtenberger stated: "Five thousand dollars immediately available from the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief for your discretion. You and all your people are in our prayers. " A wire and offer of assistance went the same day to Bishop Haden of Northern California where tidal wave- damaged Crescent City is located.
The Rev. Canon Almon Pepper, director of the department of Christian Social Relations, who administers the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, urges all Episcopalians to increase their contributions to the fund for the Alaskan earthquake relief and other emergencies. A message is going to all diocesan supply chairmen of the Episcopal Church Women urging special contributions to the Presiding Bishop's Fund marked Alaskan relief.
After a telephone conversation on Monday afternoon with Mrs. Gordon, Bishop Bentley was able to report the following about churches in the area.
The two churches in Anchorage received minor damage and both the Rev. Norman H.V. Elliot and the Rev. Alexander C. Zabriskie, Jr. and their families are safe. Although the Church of the Epiphany in Valdez is a total loss and the Rev. Dennis Walker and his family have had to leave their home, they were uninjured.
While no direct word has come from the Rev. Donald M. Bullock in Kodiak it is assumed that they, too, are safe, Bishop Bentley said. "Planes are landing in Kodiak and the only help which they have asked for has been for food." He added that Seward apparently was not as badly damaged as reported. "The fire there seems to have been contained in the industrial area ... The Civil Defense people in Seward say that they do not need doctors or nurses at this time."
Just before the earthquake and the resulting tidal wave struck on Good Friday, Bishop Gordon left Fairbanks to spend Easter at Anvik, Shageluk and Holikachuk in the lower Yukon Valley.
Dr. Pepper, who is also chairman of the Executive Committee of Church World Service, said that Church World Service presently has no plans to send food, clothing or supplies to Alaska. The Red Cross and the U.S. Army are caring for all needs. Church World Service, however, has placed all its facilities in Alaska at the beck and call of the Red Cross and Army relief forces.