UMCOR is sending grants totaling nearly $900,000 to North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, the Bahamas, and Oklahoma to assist with ongoing rebuilding and recovery work from last year's hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. Your gifts to the Churchwide Appeal for Major Storm Devastation, #982460-1 will ensure that UMCOR can provide assistance as long as it is needed.

   UMCOR will respond to the famine in Ethiopia through our ecumenical partner ACT (Action by Churches Together, the relief and development arm of the World Council of Churches). ACT partners will provide food and agricultural assistance for 750,000 people. To join in this response, please give to Advance #101250-4 "Ethiopia Famine Relief."

   UMCOR staff members have returned from Mozambique having developed plans for continued flood recovery assistance. Together with the United Methodist Church in Mozambique, UMCOR will continue to provide clean water and assist with rebuilding work. UMCOR will also provide training to enable church members in Mozambique to implement ongoing relief and recovery work. Please give generously to the Churchwide Appeal for Flood Recovery in Mozambique and Neighboring Countries, Advance #156500-0.

   The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico conducted disaster response training for 100 people last week. These newly trained church members will provide leadership for disaster response and recovery in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean. With the beginning of hurricane season less than two months away, they are a valuable and timely resource.

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.)

    Please pray for all who suffer from natural and human-made disasters, hunger, and poverty.