November 22, 2002:
Detailed assessment for long-term recovery plans are being made even as cleanup continues in the storm-ravaged areas of the southeastern U.S. United
Methodist Disaster Recovery leaders in the Holston Conference of Tennessee,
and the North Alabama and Louisiana Conferences are meeting today with
other voluntary agencies active in disasters. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) now has 150,000 registrations for review in Louisiana alone. Many
of these are persons with low incomes and the need for aid is likely to be widespread.
Contributions in three categories are needed:
1) Financial. Give to the Domestic Disaster Response Advance, #901670-1;
2) Volunteer some time to help cleanup by calling the UMCOR Volunteer
Line, 1-800-918-3100, or
3) Send kits to the Sager Brown Depot, especially flood cleanup kits. Kit
information can be obtained by calling 1-800-554-8583, or visit the kits web
site: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm.
In Ethiopia there is a deepening famine due to drought. The short rain season determines the food supply for July to December and this year's season varied from a partial to a total failure. Since 85% of the population is engaged in agriculture and this sector contributes a significant portion of the economy, the lack of rain has had disastrous effects. The Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Commission says more than five and one-half million people need immediate assistance and nearly two million need close monitoring. It is estimated that more that 557,000 metric tons of assorted foods are needed. You can help by giving to UMCOR Advance #101250-4 "Ethiopia Famine."
HIV/AIDS has devastated the lives of millions. You can help respond by giving to the Global HIV/AIDS Program Development Advance #982345-7 and observing World AIDS Day on December 1, 2002. Kofi Annan, the United Nations' Secretary-General, says, "On this World AIDS Day, let us resolve to replace stigma with support, fear with hope, silence with solidarity." Background material and worship resources for United Methodists are available at: http://gbgm-umc.org/health/wad02/ .
The "Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?" booklet by Alternatives for Simple Living is a great resource for those persons and congregations who are searching for ways of expressing the deeper meaning of Advent and Christmas. Up to 20 copies of the booklet (Stock #5254) are free, except for postage and handling. Order from the Service Center by calling 1-800-305-9857. More information is available on UMCOR's website at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/whose.stm.
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.
