The UMCOR Hotline
October 4, 2005
In Today's Hotline:
US: UMCOR Continues Gulf Coast Aid
Democratic Republic Of Congo: Samuteb Hospital Repair
Africa: All Africa Famine Relief
US: UMCOR CONTINUES GULF COAST AID Widespread losses over the 90,000 square mile area devastated by Hurricane Katrina are impelling a widespread response from UMCOR. Workers have fanned out through the four-state area, working with a dozen highly skilled volunteers who have extensive experience in disaster response. They are “multi-tasking”—training volunteers at storm call centers, assisting with case management, and mobilizing church members in the disaster zone. In Louisiana, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission joined UMCOR officials to tour affected parishes. Their assessments will feed into long-term recovery plans. In Mississippi, churches have responded to Red Cross requests and opened their church houses to evacuees. In a side yard St. Paul United Methodist Church members in Ocean Springs have pitched tents that house up to 200 people. In Alabama-West Florida, United Methodist volunteers are distributing health kits, cleaning supplies, mosquito netting and lunches to families in south Mobile County. In Texas, UMCOR is opening new relief centers. The centers will stock and distribute supplies from other depots.
Read more about hurricane recovery in UMCOR’s newest report to donors, available now to download and share with others. [ UMCOR invites United Methodists to continue their generosity in giving. Disasters of this scope will require years of recovery and investment. "Cash is the best gift right now," say agency officials. You can give to Hurricane Katrina relief, UMCOR Advance # 982523, or Hurricane Rita recovery, Advance #901323. UMCOR does not accept clothing or food because they take up valuable space that is needed for critical emergency supplies. A list of most-needed supplies is available here. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: SAMUTEB HOSPITAL REPAIR A United Methodist hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo will receive a face lift with UMCOR funds. Directly benefiting from the repairs at Samuteb are impoverished women and children living in an area about the size of Indiana, who rely on the hospital’s mobile x-ray machine, 50 nurses, and four physicians. Metal roof panels, plumbing, and cracked flooring—all damaged in a four-year war in the Kapanga region—will be replaced. The repair of Samuteb Hospital is an example of how generous gifts to UMCOR Advance #982450, International Disaster Response, can reduce the incidence of disease in remote locations. Read more about UMCOR’s international relief efforts in a new bulletin insert you can download and share at church or with friends.[UMCOR Bulletin Insert] AFRICA: ALL AFRICA FAMINE RELIEF Every 30 seconds an African child dies of hunger. UMCOR is working to relieve the suffering caused by droughts and famines throughout Africa either through UMCOR field offices in countries like Sudan, or through partner organizations such as HEKS, a Swiss aid agency, in Niger. UMCOR has also provided a grant to assist with efforts to tackle rural poverty in Zimbabwe through nutrition programs, food distribution and self-supporting activities such as gardening. Save lives through giving to UMCOR Advance #101250, All Africa Drought and Famine Relief. 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.
Report to Donors]
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