November 2, 2004
United States: A Million Volunteer Hours and Counting
Volunteers have put in more than a million hours in recovery projects in the regions of the United States pummeled by multiple hurricanes and tropical storms earlier this fall. In Florida alone, up to 1,000 new volunteers have signed up with the United Methodist Storm Recovery Center for work details over the next year.
In Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, UMCOR grants are assisting cleanup after heavy flooding and high winds swept north, damaging homes and businesses and displacing people in their wake. The United Methodist annual conferences of these states have shown great leadership in mobilizing volunteers to help clean up, secure roofs, and begin the long process of rebuilding.
UMCOR expresses its profound thanks to all volunteers! Generous donations to UMCOR Advance #982410, Hurricanes 2004, will continue the long-term efforts in all these regions.
United States: Heavy Floods Strike Six Counties in Minnesota
In Minnesota an UMCOR grant is at work in a six-county area overrun by heavy floods. The flooding occurred in September, but because of the proximity to extensive media coverage in the Southeast, most outside Minnesota ignored the story. Flooding from the Cedar River hit the towns of Austin and Blooming Prairie hard. Red Cross officials estimated that 350 Austin houses or apartments sustained damage, among the 3,200 houses or apartments affected in the six-county area. At least two deaths in the area were attributed to the disaster. Donors may specify "Minnesota Floods" on their gifts to UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response.
Hands-on Mission: Flood Buckets Urgently Sought!
UMCOR continues its urgent call for flood buckets, the supplies volunteers use to clean up post-hurricane debris and water. Flood bucket assembly is a great hands-on mission project for your congregation or church school class. Specifications are online. Donations to UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resources, will enable volunteers at the UMCOR Sager Brown mission center and depot to assemble these kits.
Haiti and Grenada: Quick Impact Initiatives Aim Toward Recovery
A team of United Methodist relief specialists just back from Haiti and Grenada is recommending new quick impact initiatives to help both island nations recover from devastating hurricanes in recent weeks. Urgent needs in Haiti include a speed-up of food distribution and reconstruction of homes, according to the two-member team representing UMCOR. Grenada needs help restoring its nutmeg industry and in rebuilding community centers that substitute for local government agencies. Recommendations also include strengthening partnerships with the Methodist Church there. Your prayers for the people of Haiti and Grenada, and your generous contributions to UMCOR Advance #982410, Hurricanes 2004, will assist in a meaningful way. Donors may designate their gifts toward either nation or both.
Resources: UMCOR Will Reissue "A Generation of Hope" to Observe World AIDS Day
"A Generation of Hope" highlights the resilience of children whose parents have died of AIDS. It is an inspiring story of how Zimbabwe's children fight to keep their families together and struggle to make a future for themselves. UMCOR is reissuing the 2001 movie in DVD format and has developed a new leader's guide for group viewing and reflection. The movie and guide will be available free. Watch for more details in UMCOR Hotline. Generous gifts to UMCOR Advance #982345, Global AIDS Fund, underwrite AIDS ministries around the global church.
Resources: UMCOR Posts Annual Report
For the first time on the web-- UMCOR's 2003 Annual Report! Read and share it with others. The report describes the work of UMCOR with beneficiaries in nearly 100 countries around the globe. Impelled by the compassion of Jesus, UMCOR transforms, comforts, restores hope, and builds trust. Thank you for engaging in these miracles of connection with us.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
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.