April 19--As the Kosovar crisis heightens and refugees flee to surrounding countries, relief agencies struggle to meet the needs of families displaced by the war and violence.
The UMCOR depot, at Women's Division-owned Sager Brown, plays an important role in reaching out to these refugees and meeting their needs, according to Wendy Whiteside, an UMCOR executive who led a workshop for the Women's Division finance committee on material resource giving at the semi-annual division meeting on April 17.
It was the United Methodist Women's Assembly and units' collections of material resources around the United States that gave the depot recognition and helped get churches involved in its mission. Now the depot, which is the size of two football fields, is filled and responding to constant needs and disasters around the world like that in Kosovo.
United Methodist Women and churches around the country compile kits of relief supplies and other aid that are sent to disaster areas where there is need. These needs and circumstances change quickly in situations like Kosovar, so UMCOR needs to be alert and in constant communication with the field staff. And United Methodists need to gather information and react quickly to be effective.
Ms. Whiteside gave directors seven recommendations for responding to disasters through the UMCOR depot.
To contact the UMCOR depot, call 1-800-814-8765.
The Women's Division represents United Methodist Women, a one-million member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.