Telephone: 1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
October 18, 2002: Mexico, Cuba and Louisiana continue to clean-up and repair from recent hurricane damage. In the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, over 590,000 people are recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Isidore's 200 mph winds. The entire corn and bean crops plus 40,000 hectares (98,765 acres) of fruit trees have been lost. People in the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Chiapas were also affected. There is great need for more humanitarian response in Cuba also. That island has been hit by three tropical storms in one month.
UMCOR has sent an initial grant to the Louisiana Annual Conference for clean-up from Isidore and Lili. UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, continues to serve as a center for meal distribution and has been issuing flood buckets and bedding kits. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already received 80,000 registrations for help and expects to have more than 100,000. FEMA estimates that nearly ten percent of those helped with federal funds will need additional casework to fully recover and rebuild. Louisiana United Methodists and UMCOR disaster response staff are working to put together a long term recovery plan.
Even though the destruction caused by Isidore and Lili has made news, UMCOR's hurricanes fund has had minimal support this year. Please give to Advance #901185-6, Hurricanes 2002. Flood buckets are also needed. Detailed instructions for flood buckets and other kits are available at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm.
The drought in Zimbabwe is an example of just one country's experience of conditions that have caused the famine in Africa. The threat of starvation hangs over millions of people in wide areas of the southern part of the continent. While many United Methodists have given to the Churchwide Appeal for Southern Africa Famine, more help is urgently needed. Please give through your church to Advance #101250-4.An initial grant has been sent to the Yellowstone Annual Conference in response to a flood that happened some weeks ago in Kaycee, Wyoming. There was considerable property damage; some homes were completely destroyed. Since no federal disaster declaration was made, organizations like UMCOR will be essential resources. You can help by sending your gifts to the Domestic Disaster Response Advance #901670-1.
As a result of a drought, a request has come to UMCOR from Central America for food, yet funds are not available to support all the requests like this one. Even a small amount of resources can provide a great deal of relief to those who need help. Please help replenish International Disaster Response, Advance #982450-8.
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/ .
Please pray for those who suffer from hunger, poverty, natural and human-made disasters, including the staff of the General Board of Global Ministries and others who live in the Washington, D.C. area. People are trying to cope with the impact of the recent sniper attacks. Children are especially suffering from fear and trauma.