The UMCOR Hotline

Note: This edition of the UMCOR Hotline is a special update about the tsunamis catastrophe. For more about UMCOR's current responses, read the hotline for December 28.

December 30, 2004

After Walls of Water, Hope: Relief Shipment Planned

UMCOR has received appeals from its ecumenical partners for several kinds of emergency supplies. UMCOR's rule of thumb is to ship only those relief items that are specifically requested. A large shipment is being assembled now-- and we know that United Methodists will want to help get our partners in the disaster-stricken areas what they need. UMCOR appreciates your generosity! You can help by donating specific goods and/or money.

• Health Kits. Soap is the number one defense against bacterial disease. Prepare the kit according to the specifications or, in lieu of goods, UMCOR can receive donations of $12.00 per kit.
• Layettes. Babies and their mothers will appreciate these items. Prepare the kit according to specifications or a donate of $10 per layette.
• Medicine Boxes. One box of medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter, is enough to care for about 1,000 families for 3 months. Collect over-the-counter products and supplies and raise $375 to cover the costs of prescription medications or donate $425 per box.
• Family Shelters. To be purchased in the stricken regions, these shelters cost $108 each. Each shelter contains a tent, tarp, and ground cloth.

All donations of money for these items may be made to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency. Specifications for health kits and layettes are located at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm. Medicine Box requirements are at the link http://gbgm-umc.org/health/medbox/.

In addition to the shipment, UMCOR is supporting local church partners in the affected regions whose volunteer networks, resources, leadership, and energies are guiding the recovery effort. Initially United Methodist special offerings will help provide food, clean water, shelter, and sanitary services to survivors. Read more about UMCOR's response.

Bulletin Insert--A Worship Resource for Sunday

A special bulletin insert on United Methodist response to the tsunamis disaster in South and Southeast Asia is ready for congregations to download and print locally. "After Walls of Water, Hope in Half a Dozen Countries" provides details on UMCOR's initial activity in disaster-stricken regions.

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.