The Church Wide Appeal for Hurricanes '98 has been issued by the Council of Bishops. Each United Methodist Congregation is asked to receive a special offering during October or the first week of November. UMCOR field staff report that the damage in the Dominican Republic is catastrophic; the worst they have ever seen. Because of the size of this disaster and the number of places needing assistance, the most effective way to respond is by making a financial gift to Hurricanes '98, UMCOR Advance #982515-0. Funds will be used to provide humanitarian relief throughout the affected islands in the Caribbean and the eastern Gulf states.

UMCOR has delivered $75,000 worth of material resources, including power washers, generators and cleaning supplies, to the Florida, Alabama/West Florida and Mississippi Conferences. UMCOR has also shipped 15,000 lbs of food to the Dominican Republic. Four large generators are being sent to Puerto Rico. They will go to a nursing home and the three camps of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. The camps will then serve as Red Cross feeding and shelter stations. Shipment of medical supplies are being arranged as well. In addition to material resources, UMCOR has sent grants to the affected conferences, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

If you would like to provide material resources, call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765. The Depot's shelves need to be restocked with cleaning supplies. Although food may be sent to the Depot, it is more effective to give a financial gift so that food may be purchased in bulk quantities and shipped directly to the disaster areas.

More than 250 homes in Mississippi were destroyed and thousands received major or minor damage. There is an urgent need for volunteers in Mississippi to help with clean-up and debris removal. Persons with more technical skills for repair and rebuilding work will be needed later on. Call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100 for further information.

Please pray for those who continue to suffer from the devastation of Hurricane Georges.

UMCOR Hotline:
Phone: 1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
E-mail: umcor@gbgm-umc.org