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The UMCOR Hotline

September 13, 2005

In Today's Hotline:
Hurricane Katrina: United Methodist Churches Respond
With Love: From Liberia’s Children to Louisiana’s
Georgia: Providing Medical Care to Those Who Need it Most
Hurricane Volunteers: Plan Ahead!

HURRICANE KATRINA: UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES RESPOND

Churches throughout the US are responding to help the nearly one million people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. “It’s going to take everybody in this country doing something,” said Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR domestic disaster response executive, to the Disaster News Network. “This whole country is affected by what’s happened. I don’t know of a single church that’s not doing something. They’re all involved.”

United Methodists are stepping up to the challenge and ministering to many people who are in crisis. Approximately 56 United Methodist churches in Mississippi and Louisiana alone are acting as shelters for displaced people and relief workers. Dozens more churches are supporting local shelters by providing food, transportation, Internet and phone usage, as well as meeting other needs.

Find out more about how you can help relieve suffering in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath by visiting UMCOR’s homepage.

WITH LOVE: FROM LIBERIA’S CHILDREN TO LOUISANA’S

When Hurricane Katrina struck, Kathy Gilbert, a United Methodist News Service writer, was visiting Liberia. On Sunday she worshipped at Reeves United Methodist Church in Monrovia, Liberia, where the children outnumber the adults. Liberia is a nation ravaged by 14 years of war. Basic infrastructures like electricity, phone lines, and paved roads are hard to come by. In short, life is hard for most Liberians.

Out of this seemingly bleak situation comes a gift of hope. The children at Reeves UMC pooled their resources for a gift of $20 to help children in Louisiana. Gilbert was asked to carry this gift back to the US enfolded by a church bulletin with these words written on the front: “Donation of US $20 from the children of Reeves Memorial United Methodist Church to the children of Louisiana, USA, in solidarity with their plight in the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.”

In addition to this heartfelt gift from Reeves UMC, the Liberian Annual Conference sent $500 to support UMCOR’s hurricane relief efforts. Their gifts, like yours, will go 100% to hurricane relief. Please give generously to UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005, Global. Write “Hurricane Katrina” to designate your gift specifically to those affected by this storm.

You can give online at www.methodistrelief.org/

GEORGIA: PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST

Finding affordable and quality healthcare is difficult for many people living in the Republic of Georgia. About three-fourths of the population does not have access to quality healthcare and lifesaving medicine. UMCOR Georgia is seeking to help alleviate this problem through the Medical Distribution Project. UMCOR Georgia gives free medications and medical supplies to partner outpatient clinics and hospitals for the most vulnerable members of the population. They also provide free training to health practitioners on how to use the medicines.

This is just one of UMCOR Georgia’s programs that bring better health to thousands of Georgians. You can support this important work through your generous gifts to UMCOR Advance #250305, Georgia Emergency.

HURRICANE VOLUNTEERS: PLAN AHEAD!

The evening news is filled with compelling images of people in need. You may have the time, energy, and desire to pitch in and help out, which is great! However, advance planning is required. For example, hotels and shelters in many of the affected areas are completely booked. So, before you make your own plans to volunteer your time and skills to assist in Hurricane Katrina recovery, give your Jurisdictional United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) coordinator a call. The jurisdictional coordinators are each responsible for a region of the US. You can find a list of coordinators with their contact information at http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/vimcoords.htm. Deciding to volunteer on your own without coordinating with an organization can lead to personal harm as well as hinder the work of others.

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

Man carrying belongings

Volunteers unloading flood buckets at Zirlott Road UMC in Alabama. Credit: Rev. Jabe Fincher

UMCOR SagerBrown

Children far outnumber adults at Reeves Memorial UMC in Monrovia, Liberia. The children of the church sent a gift to the children of Louisiana, in a show of support following Hurricane Katrina. Credit: Kathy L. Gilbert/UMNS

Man carrying belongings

Two of the many children UMCOR Georgia assists through its programs. Credit: Katie Heneman/UMCOR.

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