FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline:Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world:
US: Peace and Justice Served With Coffee WORLDWIDE: World Malaria Day-April 25 US: Filling a Need DRC: Farmers Produce New Foods SUDAN: Improving Health for ThousandsUS: PEACE AND JUSTICE SERVED WITH COFFEE
Once a month at Powell United Methodist Church in Ohio, Marj and Bob Heffelfinger, an elderly couple in their 80's, prepare a table display with Equal Exchange fair trade coffee, chocolate and other products as part of their Peace and Justice ministry. Sales are quite good—their average monthly intake is about $200.
The ministry, which began by addressing wheelchair accessibility and tobacco issues, took another turn when the Heffelfingers learned about fair trade through an article in United Methodist Women's Response magazine. The article spoke of the hardships small scale farmers endure, which includes not receiving a fair price for their product because they are underrepresented at the market.
"It just seemed like the right thing to do," said Marj. "If someone is not treated fairly or justly you want to give them the opportunity for ownership."
The Heffelfingers donate sales of fair trade products to support other causes like UMCOR's hurricane relief efforts.
You can still participate in UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge by making your purchases today, or give to UMCOR's SA&D Program, UMCOR Advance #982188.
WORLDWIDE: WORLD MALARIA DAY-APRIL 25
Communities near Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Liberia are learning important steps to preventing malaria, a curable and preventable disease that kills a child every 30 seconds in sub-Saharan Africa.
Through UMCOR's Malaria Control Program, group discussions, outreach programs and educational workshops are helping people learn the truth about malaria, its causes and lifesaving prevention techniques.
Observe World Malaria Day on April 25. Use these available resources and share with your local congregation. View Nets and Knowledge, UMCOR's new photo slide show; download World Malaria Day, UMCOR's new church bulletin, or present UMCOR's Help Stop Malaria power point slide to collect a special offering on Sunday.
You can also help by giving to Community-Based Malaria Program, UMCOR Advance #982009.
Every week Eaton, 80, of People's United Methodist Church in Newburyport, Mass., and her two daughters cut and sew fabric to make school bags to help fill the needs of children in developing countries, as reported by The Daily News of Newburyport.
Her goal is to sew 200 tote bags and fill them with school supplies to send to UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La. To help raise money for the fabric, Eaton holds special "Lobster Luncheons" and charges a $10 admission fee that goes towards the bag making.
Each bag is designed differently and is filled with two spiral notebooks, construction paper, crayons, scissors, pencils, a ruler, a small pencil sharpener and an eraser.
"It's a mission project," Eaton said to The Daily News of Newburyport. "We have a lot of fun making them."
Learn more about UMCOR relief supplies by clicking here. You can help UMCOR purchase supplies by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.
DRC: FARMERS PRODUCE NEW FOODS
In Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo, farmers are learning how to process their crops to make new and marketable products by using UMCOR-provided equipment and training.
In collaboration with World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, UMCOR provided five VitaGoats, a non-electric food processing system that allows new food products to be created. VitaGoat has the capability to process soybeans to make soymilk, yogurt, soy butter and coffee; create cereals from corn, wheat and rice; and produce sauces or purees from fruits and vegetables.
These foods have an extended shelf life and may be used in the home or sold in local markets to increase a household's income. An additional benefit to processing is that it makes it easier for vulnerable groups such as weaning toddlers, the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS to consume more nutritious foods. To support this work, please give to DRC Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 198400.
SUDAN: IMPROVING HEALTH FOR THOUSANDS
In south Sudan, UMCOR is improving the lives of 13,000 Congolese refugees and internally displaced people in Lasu Payam, Yei River County by making health care and clean drinking water accessible through rehabilitation projects.
UMCOR is also addressing the lack of safe water by constructing a borehole fitted with hand pumps that will improve the general health of the community and increase the attendance of school girls who are usually tasked with water collection for their families. The borehole will benefit about 1,500 people.
To support projects like these, please give to Sudan Emergency, UMCOR Advance #184385.
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. ]
