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July 12, 2002: The Council of Bishops has called for a Churchwide Appeal for Southern Africa Famine. Churches are asked to take three special offerings for famine relief, choosing one Sunday each in July, August, and September. Nearly 13 million people in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe are facing famine. Thousands of the most vulnerable-children, older adults, pregnant women, and those who are ill-have already died. UMCOR has sent grants to help provide food in Malawi and Zimbabwe, but much more is needed. In addition to emergency food assistance, UMCOR will support local organizations in the distribution process, help meet the needs of people infected with HIV and children who have been orphaned by AIDS, and support new agricultural development and educational programs to reduce the risk of recurring famine. Please give generously to Advance #101250-4, Southern Africa Famine.
Wildfires and floods have affected many areas of the United States, and United Methodists are busy responding. In Colorado, a team of UMCOR consultants and annual conference disaster response workers are playing a lead role in the ecumenical response to the wildfires. This coming week, United Methodists will be leading workshops for clergy and laity of all faiths on basic disaster response and recovery, with a special focus on responding to the fires. Over 300 homes have burned in the Colorado fires and many of them were uninsured.
Ecumenical teams have already formed to address unmet needs in the affected areas. Disaster response workers from the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference are in Arizona working with the Apaches in disaster response. The Apaches have lost their sources of income in the fire and many families do not have enough food. They are also working to mitigate against erosion that will occur when the summer monsoons begin. Several hundred homes have burned in Arizona.
From the Dakotas conference, Bishop Coyner reports that the fires in the Black Hills burned over 10,000 acres and nearly burned the towns of Deadwood and Lead, which were saved by the efforts of volunteer fire departments. United Methodists worked closely with the Salvation Army to feed firefighters and evacuees, distributed health kits, and are addressing pastoral care issues, especially with children to deal with their fears about the fire. United Methodists continue to respond to the floods along the Minnesota/North Dakota border as well. To provide financial support for these response efforts, give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670-1. If you can volunteer for cleanup or rebuilding, please call (800) 918-3100.
In Texas, the Red Cross reports that more than 48,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in the flooding. UMCOR has sent power washers and 1000 flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies from the Depot. UMCOR has also sent emergency grants totaling $70,000 to the Rio Grande and Southwest Texas Conferences. Many of the people who led the response to the 1998 floods are still in place and able to provide leadership in this response. A special Advance has been established for the Texas floods. To support this response, please give to Texas Floods, Advance #901315-0.
Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)
UMCOR is providing emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ .
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
