FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline:
US: LOCAL UMC CHURCHES HELP IKE SURVIVORS
More than 40 local United Methodist churches are helping Hurricane Ike survivors in Texas by distributing flood buckets, helping in clean-up, hosting volunteers and more. UMCOR is working with the Texas Annual Conference to organize the relief and response phase for affected communities.
League City UMC, just 25 miles from Galveston is distributing 1,300 flood buckets from UMCOR's partner Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Illinois. The church is hosting work groups and is expanding their outreach ministry to help those most in need. Aldersgate UMC near Sante Fe is hosting UMCOR Emergency Response Teams that are helping with clean-up in places hardest hit as well as in Bayou City where many of the residents are elderly. The Texas conference sent tools, supplies, generators, fans and nine emergency vehicles to affected areas.
Flood Buckets are urgently needed. Please help replenish the cleaning supplies contained in each flood bucket and view the contents here. You can also assist in recovery by giving to Hurricanes 2008, UMCOR Advance # 3019695.
UMCOR training helped farmer Bindu Dolo rebuild her life after the Liberian war caused her to lose everything - except hope.
Dolo participated in trainings provided by UMCOR's Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program (SA&D). She learned how to obtain the best yields in her vegetable garden, grow Moringa trees and learn beekeeping. She also earns additional income by selling Moringa leaves that she takes from her 300-tree farm.
UMCOR's SA&D programs are giving hope to communities by helping them use inexpensive, locally-available products to grow their crops. Observe the upcoming World Food Day on Oct. 16 by downloading and sharing UMCOR's latest bulletin to collect a special offering. You can also help farmers support themselves by giving to UMCOR's Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program, UMCOR Advance #982188.
US: UMCOR CONTINUES AID FOR MIDWEST RECOVERY
UMCOR is continues to help the Kansas West Annual Conference and the South Georgia Annual Conference recover from damaging tornadoes that struck in May.
Multiple tornadoes struck nine Georgia counties causing severe damage to homes and businesses. With UMCOR's help, the South Georgia Conference is working with the Central Georgia Long Term Recovery Committee to provide counseling and case management for affected families. UMCOR Consultant Barbara Tripp is working with the conference to provide training to its leadership and case managers.
UMCOR is also helping Kansas West conference get relief from tornadoes that caused state-wide damage and widespread flooding, especially in Greensburg, Trousdale and Bennington areas. UMCOR is helping the conference with case management and volunteer management. You can help the work continue by giving to Midwest Emergencies, UMCOR Advance #901680.
Mariana* from Holland, Mich., was abandoned by her father at a young age and brought to the US from Guatemala by her mother. She was sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend and later placed in foster care. Because she was not a US citizen and as a juvenile did not have resources available to her to seek lawful residence on her own, Justice For Our Neighbors stepped in and represented Mariana in an application for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Mariana is now a lawful permanent US resident - able to work and pursue a higher education and pursue US citizenship.
JFON provides free, professional legal services to immigrants and asylum seekers, helping them understand their rights and the laws that affect their lives in the US. Support JFON ministry by giving to Justice for Our Neighbors, UMCOR Advance #901285.
*Not her real name.
Leah Wadjiru lived in Kibera, Nairobi most of her life. When violence broke out during the December 2007 elections, Wadjiru was chased out of her home and lost the store she owned. Her offenders took over her residence, made themselves at home and used her personal belongings. Wadjiru now relies on assistance she receives from UMCOR-supported Methodist Church of Kenya in the Ngong community for internally displaced persons.
UMCOR is helping thousands of internally displaced people in Kenya like Wadjiru. UMCOR distributes much-needed medical supplies, blankets, dry food goods and school supplies - working with the Methodist Church in Kenya and US Agency for International Development to bring relief to those most in need.
Your gifts help rebuild the lives of those in Kenya who have not been able to return home. Please give generously to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #982450.
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. ]
