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Date: December 20, 2001 
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has approved two $1 million grants for response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The grants, requested by the United Methodist New York Annual (regional) Conference, were approved by UMCOR directors during a Dec. 19 conference call. Another grant provides $300,000 for work in Afghanistan.
A grant of up to $1.1 million, to be released in quarterly payments, will be applied to a contract with the Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center, which will provide trauma counseling and referral. Blanton-Peale operates two state-licensed counseling centers, eight community counseling centers and a telephone consultation and referral service for denominations and religious institutions. The agency also staffs and maintains the authorized national referral tollfree number for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
As part of the contract, the professional staff at Blanton-Peale would counsel, assess and refer by phone congregants and others referred by United Methodist clergy and UMCOR community workers to pastoral counselors, certified therapists and counseling centers throughout the conference. Besides New York City, the conference area includes Long Island, counties north of the city and part of Connecticut.
UMCOR has approved another $1 million to the New York Conference to encourage local churches to develop programs that respond directly to local needs arising from the aftermath of Sept. 11. An evaluation committee will receive proposals and disperse funds to projects considered appropriate and in keeping with UMCOR's mandate for service.
In October, UMCOR directors approved the release of $400,000 for a project in Afghanistan in partnership with Mercy Corps and UMCOR's NGO (nongovernmental organization) office in Tajikistan. The project, part of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) appeal, involved providing emergency shelter, basic nonfood items and fuel and basic hygiene items to about 4,000 families. Mercy Corps also is working with international coordinating agencies to provide food, water, sanitation and essential medical care to those families.
On Dec. 19, directors approved another $300,000 to help provide winterized tents and plastic tarpaulins for displaced families, assisting about 24,000 people altogether.
The Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR's chief executive, said another $100,000 request for funds for work in Afghanistan was being processed as of that date. "I have no doubt that our response in Afghanistan will continue to grow," he added.
According to a Dec. 18 update from ACT, about half of the UMCOR/Mercy Corps shelter goal will be met by early January as 2,081 shelter kits are distributed to identified beneficiaries in Northern Afghanistan. Also set for a January delivery is the same number of household and hygiene kits. Household sets include kitchen supplies, stoves, fuel, kerosene lamps, water storage cans and other essential items. Hygiene kits include soap, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and washbasins. Mercy Corps was able to set up an office in Taloqan after the Taliban retreat from that area. As warmer weather arrives in Afghanistan in March, ACT expects the focus of the work to shift more from shelter to the emergency delivery of spring seeds and fertilizer.
By late November, more than $10.4 million in gifts had been counted for UMCOR's "Love in the Midst of Tragedy" fund, which provides for the church's response to the Sept. 11 attacks and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Dirdak expects that figure to increase by the end of the year.
UMCOR 9/11 Update September 2004: UMCOR's response to the aftermath of September 11 continues. We thank are thankful for all of contributions that United Methodists and others have so generously given.
| Love in the Midst of Tragedy #901125 Afghanistan Response - U.S.A. Response - Help |
Source: United Methodist News Service.
