Telephone:1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
July 19, 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.
Typhoon Chata'an has caused extensive damage on Guam and Chuuk-- which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. Both Guam and Chuuk have been declared disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There is very little electricity and potable water available. Many homes have been destroyed. UMCOR is exploring avenues for assisting with long-term recovery and building typhoon resistant homes. To respond to this disaster, please give to Hurricanes 2002, Advance #901185-6.
Hundreds of homes in the area of Heber and Overgaard were destroyed in the Arizona wildfires. The pastor of the Overgaard United Methodist Church is playing a lead role in organizing the community for recovery. UMCOR has sent a grant which will provide wheelbarrows, picks, and shovels to be used by the Apaches in erosion control. Erosion is a serious concern since the fire has destroyed so much vegetation and monsoon season has arrived in the southwest. In the Black Hills area of South Dakota, United Methodist disaster response consultants are conducting training for pastors on pastoral care for children and adults in the wake of disasters. In Colorado, long-term recovery organizations are forming in the various communities affected by the fires, and UMCOR consultants and annual conference disaster responders are leading training sessions in disaster response and case management. 200 flood buckets filled with cleaning supplies have been sent from the distribution center in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference to people whose homes have been flooded along the Minnesota/North Dakota border. To respond to the fires and floods, please give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670-1.
In Texas, the Northwest Texas, Southwest Texas, and Rio Grande Conferences have all been affected by the flooding. Power washers and 1000 flood buckets arrived in the San Antonio area from the UMCOR Depot in Louisiana. Unfortunately the rain continues and is causing more flooding further south, towards Corpus Christi. UMCOR has sent personnel to help establish a warehouse for disaster response materials and to provide training in volunteer management. Although UMCOR has sent $70,000 to the area, significantly more funds will be needed for recovery. Please give to Texas Floods, Advance #901315-0.
Volunteers are needed in Texas, Minnesota, and North Carolina. Please call (800) 918-3100 for further information.
Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. You can also make a a secure online gift at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ .
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.