The UMCOR Hotline

February 1, 2005

Iraq: New Schools for 3,500 Children
The United Methodist Committee on Relief will assist with rehabilitation of rural schools near Basrah. The largest city in southern Iraq lies near the Euphrates River in a southeastern corner of the country. Some 3,500 children attending the eight primary schools will benefit. Save the Children, an UMCOR partner, is implementing the project. More could be done! You can get involved through your generous donations to UMCOR Advance #623225, Iraq Emergency and downloading and distributing the church bulletin insert, Iraq: Dream of a Safe Future.

Grenada: Children Love Their School Kits-- and More Are Needed!
Another 4,500 school kits are on their way to Grenadan children from UMCOR Sager Brown, the Louisiana depot and mission center that maintains emergency supplies. This week, at least as many children received an earlier shipment of UMCOR kits. Distributing the kits are UMCOR's partners, the Grenada Methodist Church and the Grenada Community Development Agency. UMCOR can use every school kit and health kit your congregation can make! Already, for 2005, we've received requests for nearly 78,000 school kits and 193,000 health kits. Completed kits-- or bulk supplies of kit items-- are high on our priority list. Please visit our web site to find out more. And thank you for your generous support of the ministry to Grenadan school children through UMCOR Advance #982410, Hurricanes 2004.

One Great Hour of Sharing: March 6 Offering Supports UMCOR
Within days of the Indian Ocean disaster, UMCOR provided food, clothing, shelter, and medical help to survivors. But the first weeks of a catastrophic disaster are only the beginning. The agency will deliver aid in the region for years-- rebuilding, returning people home, helping create replacements for lost livelihoods, giving comfort. Such works of recovery and life-changing ministry don't happen without the broad support of congregations and individuals.

One hundred percent of every dollar you donate to a specific UMCOR project goes to that project- not to administrative costs. That's because, once a year during One Great Hour of Sharing, you and your congregation can join other United Methodists worldwide in a special offering to support UMCOR's "cost of doing business." You can help assure that, when catastrophes cause suffering, your church, impelled by Jesus' love and compassion, will be in the lead to ease the pain.

UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments. Offering gifts over and above those used to cover administrative expense are channeled to the most vulnerable people whose need is greatest.

Act now! Order your free One Great Hour of Sharing materials today. Call toll free, 888-346-3862. Then on March 6, receive the offering. Your generosity means UMCOR will be your open hearts and hands in current and future disasters. UMCOR offers additional online resources.

South and Southeast Asia: UMCOR Focuses on the Future
An UMCOR staff member leaves this week to provide short-term logistics aid to the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, and soon another UMCOR aid worker will go to Indonesia on a similar assignment. David Sadoo, international field staff, will relieve Methodist pastors who have been providing emergency assistance in Sri Lanka's eastern coastal areas so they can return to pastoral duties. In his role, Mr. Sadoo will coordinate UMCOR's long-range plans with community and government representatives and local Methodist churches. Top priority of UMCOR's long-term recovery efforts will be the reclamation of livelihoods. UMCOR and its Methodist partners selected the region around the coastal town of Verugal because local leadership trusts the Methodist Church and the area is underserved. The potential for peace building is high because of the mix of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian populations.

UMCOR is at work in India as well. Another grant to Christian Medical Association of India assures the continued delivery of emergency health care there. More than $10 million in gifts (received as of Feb. 1) will help to underwrite rebuilding programs in the region-but more can be done. You can assist in UMCOR's long-term effort in a meaningful way with a contribution to Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency.

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.

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Featured Photos
United Methodist Committee on Relief

Iraqi children like these kids will benefit from a new a new project that will rehabilitate of rural schools in southeastern Iraq. Some 3,500 children attending the eight primary schools will benefit. Credit: Guy Hovey/UMCOR 2003.

The theme for One Great Hour of Sharing for UMCOR, which will be on March 6, 2005 is "Be There." Order your free One Great Hour of Sharing materials today. Call toll free, 1-888-346-3862 and then receive the offering on March 6.

About 700 people who were displaced by the Dec. 26 tsunami are living in this camp in Bateilik, Indonesia. The Methodist Church of Indonesia is helping support programs at the facility. Credit: Mike DuBose/UMNS, January 13, 2005.

More Information About UMCOR's Work

• Indian Ocean Tsunami: UMCOR's Response.
• Church Bulletin Insert: Iraq: Dream of a Safe Future.
• Medicine Boxes: Contents and Instructions.
• One Great Hour of Sharing, March 6.
• Souper Bowl of Caring, Feb. 6
• Sudan Emergency: UMCOR's Response.
• UMCOR Emergency Kits: Health kits, school kits, flood buckets, and more.
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