  |
|
August 10, 2001
UMCOR has received a request from the Shepherd Society in Bethlehem to provide assistance to Palestinians who are suffering severe economic hardship because of the ongoing violence and the closures. Funds will be used to provide food, medicine, utility subsidies, children's school tuition, and trauma counseling. Please support these efforts by giving to UMCOR's Middle East Emergency, Advance #601740, and please pray for peace and wisdom in the midst of the escalating violence.
UMCOR has sent emergency grants to the West Virginia, Virginia, and Holston conferences as they respond to damage from repeated flooding. The most recent flooding affected the mountains of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee. UMCOR staff are contacting the Kentucky and Red Bird conferences and anticipate that funds will be needed there as well. The recurring flooding in the Appalachian area is affecting areas of extreme poverty and many people will need assistance in repairing and rebuilding their homes. UMCOR is expecting requests for significant funding as the rebuilding gets underway. Please join in these relief and recovery efforts by giving to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.
The UMCOR Depot urgently needs health kits, flood buckets and other material resources. For further information and instructions on assembling and shipping kits, please call the Depot at (800) 814-8765. Instructions are also available on the UMCOR web pages.
UMCOR continues to support African famine relief efforts in Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. The most recent grant will help Eritreans who have suffered from both war and drought rebuild their lives after returning home. Please give to Africa Famine Relief, Advance #101250. UMCOR is also sending funds to provide famine relief for people in Afghanistan, and for Afghani refugees in Pakistan who are suffering from both hunger and the recent flooding. To support these efforts, please give to International Disaster Response, Advance #982450.
The amount of damage in the Houston area from Tropical Storm Allison is overwhelming. More than 100,000 individuals and families have requested federal assistance. United Methodists are an active part of the interfaith recovery organization. Disaster response volunteers and staff are assisting families in the process of seeking assistance and repairing their homes. UMCOR is responding to a request from the Texas Conference for $90,000 for recovery work. Work teams are still needed. To join in relief efforts, give to UMCOR's Hurricanes 2001, Advance #982350. For volunteer information, call (800) 918-3100. Thankfully, Tropical Storm Barry moved through quickly and has not left significant wind or water damage in its wake.
Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)
UMCOR is providing emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.
Please pray for those who suffer from hunger, poverty, natural and human-made disasters.
Africa Famine Relief
Floods in West Virginia and Virginia
Hurricanes 2001
Middle East Emergency
.
