FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline:
The rains continue to add to the already devastating flood situation in Mozambique and eastern parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. UMCOR is at work with Action by Churches Together and the Mozambique Annual Conference to address the immediate humanitarian concerns.
UMCOR is providing seeds and necessary mosquito nets as the threat of malaria outbreaks arises. More rain is expected to fall in February and March, months that are the peak of the rainy season. Thousands have been left homeless and many are struggling to build shelters, obtain food and clean water.
Please continue to keep Mozambique in your prayers. You can help by sending gifts to Mozambique Emergency, UMCOR Advance #156500.
SUDAN: MEDICINES FOR MOBILE CLINICS
UMCOR is providing Medicine Boxes to Fountain City United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., to provide medical care to thousands in Yei, Sudan. By invitation of the East Africa Annual Conference, Fountain City UMC will be setting up mobile clinics in March. One site will be a primary school where 1,000 students are enrolled. About 3,000 people are expected to receive care, including treatment for malaria and worms.
A Medicine Box contains 18 essential drugs and medical supplies. The supplies are usually sufficient to provide a community of about 1,000 people with basic medicines and supplies for three months. Help make programs like these successful by participating in The Medicine Box program. Read how you and your community can make a huge difference and give to The Medicine Box program, UMCOR Advance 982630.
INDONESIA: HOPE AFTER THE TSUNAMI
In the three years since the devastating tsunami swept across Indonesia, UMCOR has been busy reconstructing homes, schools, communities and other facilities in Aceh Province on the island of Sumatra.
One of these projects included the rebuilding of a school that serves 450 students in Sekolah Dasar Negeri 3a project completed in June, 2007. UMCOR donated chairs, desks, office, educational and playground equipment to help fully equip and improve the educational environment for the children. With vividly painted schools and new visible houses springing up, hope lives on for those whose lives are still adversely affected by the tsunami.
Your gifts to programs like these are helping to erase a tragic memory. Continue to support these rebuilding efforts by giving to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #982450.
As the Giants claimed victory over the New England Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday, food banks, soup kitchens and thousands of other charities were the big winners of the Souper Bowl of Caring.
Over 17,000 groups around the country agreed to use Souper Bowl of Caring as a resource to fight hunger and poverty. Among the total were more than 3,250 United Methodist congregations.
If your congregation collected cash or cans on or near Super Bowl Sunday, please report your contributions at www.souperbowl.org or by calling 800-358-SOUP(7687). Thanks for your participation and your generous support to those in need of a meal. Each participating church can give 100% of their donation to the charity of their choice. United Methodist Churches are encouraged to give a portion of the collected offerings to a local charity and to UMCOR's World Hunger/Poverty Program through Advance #982920.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org
UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
