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 UMCOR is part of the General Board of Global Ministries.

girl playing with toy.United Methodists Reach Out to Evacuees in Houston

By Michelle Scott

Posted: September 7, 2005 Click to Visit Global News.

Hurricane evacuee Ikeya Hoker of New Orleans picks out stuffed toys in a shelter at the Houston Astrodome building. Hoker was at the shelter with her grandmother. Credit: John Gordon/UMNS

The United Methodist Committee on Relief will play an advisory role for federal disaster management planners as they mount efforts to host as many as a million displaced people.

From International Coasts to Gulf Coast, Transferring Skills

UMCOR's experience in managing large migrations of displaced people in developing countries led to the invitation from FEMA's Mississippi office. The Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR executive director, in Jackson, MS, over the weekend, said that techniques used internationally in hosting people in transit are transferrable to the situation in the Gulf Coast region.

Jackson, right outside the disaster zone, is the site of one of FEMA's disaster operations centers. Rev. Dirdak was there with other UMCOR workers to participate in planning meetings.

Transitional Housing a Priority

"We've got a lot of sorrow," said Rev. Dirdak, "yet everywhere I look I see church people looking out for the missing and the most vulnerable." Mississippi alone is hosting thousands of evacuees chased from their homes by Hurricane Katrina. Transitional housing for people is a top priority for UMCOR as it works with FEMA officials and ecumenical agencies to scope out a long-term plan.

Cash gifts will help UMCOR continue to support annual conferences and interfaith response efforts in the Gulf Coast disaster area as well as other vulnerable regions of the world. Checks can be mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including the Hurricane Relief/Katrina appeal, UMCOR Advance #982523, goes to support recovery efforts in the disaster-stricken regions.

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News and Resources

 

Urgent Need: Health Kits and Flood Buckets

There is an urgent need for both health kits and flood buckets. These collections of everyday items help families recover during the early days after a major disaster. The health kits contain items such as a toothbrush, wash cloth, and soap. The flood buckets contain items like gloves, household cleaners, and bleach to help people clean their homes to make them livable again.

For information on how to assemble and send these important items, please visit UMCOR’s website: gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/kits

To donate money toward purchasing the items in these kits you can give to UMCOR Advance #901440, Material Resource Ministry.

How You Can Help

Give:

Your generous gift to UMCOR Advance #982523, Hurricanes 2005 Global, will help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. You can give online at www.methodistrelief.org, at your church, over the phone at 1-800-554-8583, or by mailing a check directly to: UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Checks should be written to UMCOR with the Advance number and name written on the memo line of your check. If you would prefer that your funds to go to recovery in a specific region, please note that on your donation.

Send:

There is an urgent need for both health kits and school kits. These collections of everyday items will help families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The health kits contain items such as a toothbrush, wash cloth, and soap. The school kits contain items like paper, pencils, and items to help children start school. For assembly and shipping instructions, call UMCOR Sager Brown at 1-800-814-8765 or visit the UMCOR website. You may also give a financial donation to to UMCOR's Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440 to purchase kit supplies that the Depot staff and volunteers will use to assemble health kits and school kits.

Go:

Volunteers will be needed to help in Hurricane Katrina recovery. To find out how you can help with hurricane cleanup, contact your United Methodist Volunteers in Mission jurisdictional and annual conference coordinators. A list of these coordinators is available on the web at http://gbgm-umc.org/vim/vimcoords.htm or write Mission Volunteers at voluntrs@gbgm-umc.org for contact information. They will provide details on creating and training a team as well as scheduling details. For information on what disaster sites are currently scheduling volunteers, call the Volunteer Hotline at 800-918-3100.