The UMCOR Hotline

December 27, 2005

In Today's Hotline:
Niger: Food for the Future
Pakistan/Kashmir: A Place to Call Home
Sierra Leone: Rebuilding Kissy Center
UMCOR Calendar: Get Yours Today!

NIGER: FOOD FOR THE FUTURE

Although this year’s harvest in Niger was plentiful, many people sold their crops in advance to make it through the lean times earlier in the year. This means many people will face another food shortage in spite of good yields.

UMCOR supports ACT International partners Lutheran World Relief and HEKS. They are working to end this cycle by establishing community grain banks and encouraging community participation in planning for the future.

Bring an end to hunger, give to UMCOR Advance #101250, All Africa Famine Relief.

PAKISTAN/KASHMIR: A PLACE TO CALL HOME

A recent survey by UN agencies noted that there is still a need for some 2.4 million more blankets, 170,000 plastic sheets, and 200,000 tarpaulins to provide adequate winter shelter for earthquake survivors. These were just a few of the material needs identified in the survey results. Nutritional, medical, and psychological needs were also recognized.

UMCOR partner, Church World Service is working to alleviate suffering by working in tent communities of survivors, providing shelter, psychosocial care, and food.

Your gifts to UMCOR Advance #232000, Pakistan Earthquake, will support their efforts.

SIERRA LEONE: REBUILDING KISSY CENTER

United Methodist Health and Maternity Center, Kissy is the only hospital in this area of Sierra Leone that treats patients regardless of their ability to pay. These services are vital in this overpopulated and impoverished community. In addition to its regular medical work, the hospital also provides community education through the Maternity Center, Nutrition Center, and Friend’s Unit (HIV/AIDS). To improve the quality of care, Kissy Center has been undergoing renovation, including the most recent addition of a post op ward to be completed this month.

Your gifts to UMCOR Advance #982168, Hospital Revitalization helps improve the services Kissy Center and other United Methodist hospitals provide to their patients and communities. To learn more about the United Methodist Health and Maternity Center, Kissy, visit its website here.

UMCOR CALENDAR: GET YOURS TODAY!

It’s not too late to order your 2006 UMCOR Calendar, Harvest of Hope. Make 2006 a year of hope by ordering this inspirational collection of rich images from around the world along with vignettes about UMCOR programs in each location. It comes with a CD containing a screensaver and additional resources.

Call the GBGM Service Center to order at 1-800-305-9857 or order online at the GBGM E-Store.

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.