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The UMCOR Hotline

September 1, 2005

In Today's Hotline:
Prayers from Sudan--and the World
Hurricane Katrina Bulletin Insert
UMCOR Sager Brown Responds to Local Needs, Requests Supplies
Hotline Correction

PRAYERS FROM SUDAN-AND THE WORLD

When Hurricane Katrina struck, Paul Dirdak, executive director of UMCOR, was traveling with UMCOR staff in a war-torn area of Sudan. He reports that when news reached their group people stopped their work to pray for the thousands of people affected by Hurricane Katrina. He noted that since they heard about the hurricane, conversations in Darfur centered around the suffering so many in the US are experiencing.

A disaster of this size can cause those affected to feel isolated and alone. "The people of the world are praying in their many languages for those who feel very much alone," said Dirdak to Katrina's survivors. "We in the church will seek out the loneliest and walk with you during the months and years of your recovery."

Please give generously to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina through UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global. You can also give online at www.methodistrelief.org.

HURRICANE KATRINA BULLETIN INSERT

In these days of uncertainty following the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, we are called to be living examples of God’s love and to provide a source of hope for so many experiencing seemingly hopeless situations.

Use this new bulletin insert "Finding Hope in the Midst of Despair" to share how UMCOR is responding to Hurricane Katrina and what you can do to help.

UMCOR SAGER BROWN RESPONDS TO LOCAL NEEDS, REQUESTS SUPPLIES

Early this week, the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA, boarded up its windows in preparation for Hurricane Katrina. Gwen Redding, Sager Brown’s executive director, reported that there was no damage to the facility beyond downed tree branches. The Depot is now up and running and reaching out to the approximately 900 displaced people in the Baldwin area by distributing health kits and responding to community needs as they are able.

Many people evacuated other parts of Louisiana thinking they’d be in Baldwin for just a few days. Now that those days may be extended into weeks, they need basic necessities. UMCOR Sager Brown has issued an urgent call for health kits, blankets, and bottled water for the many displaced people in areas throughout the Gulf States. “We need as many health kits as we can get,” said Redding.

Health kits are easy to assemble and can introduce even young children to the satisfaction of hands-on mission. Visit the UMCOR website at umcor.org for information about how to assemble and ship health kits. Please consider these in-kind gifts as expressions of your care for the thousands affected by Hurricane Katrina. You can also donate towards purchasing the materials for health kits by giving to UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resource Ministry, Health Kits.

HOTLINE CORRECTION

In the August 30, 2005, Hotline the Advance number for Material Resource Ministry was incorrect. UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resource Ministry is the correct number.

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

A man measures the depth of the water

A man measures the depth of the flooded Treme area of New Orleans that is lying under several feet of water after Hurricane Katrina hit August 29, 2005. Credit: REUTERS/Rick Wilking. Courtesy: www.alertnet.org

UMCOR SagerBrown

UMCOR Sager Brown Depot Credit: UMCOR

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