FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world:
ZIMBABWE: Food Relief for Students and Teachers WORLDWIDE: Support Needed for International Disaster Fund US: Restoring Homes US: Pastor Ordination UMCOR: Thank You for 100-Ton SupportZIMBABWE: FOOD RELIEF FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
In response to the current food shortages and economic crisis in Zimbabwe, UMCOR is providing two grants to ZOE Ministry, a program of the North Carolina Annual Conference, to provide one meal a day for three months to 10,000 students and teachers in Zimbabwe.
ZOE Ministry is procuring 48 metric tons of grain and 16.5 tons of mahewu (maize) from local sources for students. Distributing food throughout the school year encourages students to stay in school and provides hunger relief until harvest season. The schools will send food home with children during its season breaks so there will be no gap in the assistance they receive.
UMCOR is responding to the Zimbabwe crisis with a targeted plan that includes providing medical treatment, clean water programs, food distribution and educational incentives to reopen schools. UMCOR also supports three hospitals in Zimbabwe which remain open while other hospitals in the country are closed. Continue to support Zimbabwe Emergency, UMCOR Advance #199456.
WORLDWIDE: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR INTERNATIONAL DISASTER FUND
In the past month, UMCOR sent more that $250,000 to support disaster response efforts around the globe. Nearly half of that sum went to assist people displaced by the fighting in Swat, Pakistan -- a need that continues to grow.
The International Disaster Response Advance allows UMCOR to provide financial support to disasters when it is needed. Please help keep the Advance funded so that UMCOR can continue to quickly respond to those left vulnerable when a disaster happens.
Please prayerfully give to allow UMCOR to respond immediately and comprehensively to upcoming disasters in our world. Give to International Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #982450.
In January more than 30,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to massive flooding in Western state of Washington. Dozens of highways were closed and shelters were opened to house those in need. Nearly 4,000 families registered for federal assistance for home repair.
UMCOR is assisting the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in their disaster response ministry. UMCOR is supplying building materials, financing homes, replacing lost household appliances, as well as providing emotional and spiritual care to those coping with their loss.
You can help Washington residents recover by giving to U.S. Disaster Response, Advance # 901670.
On June 13, the Rev. Elke Shama, who is deaf herself and serves the Deaf Faith Community in Jackson, Ill., for the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, will be ordained as an Elder in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Rev. Sharma will officially take on her new role of service after being commissioned and successfully completing the requirements for ordination.
Rev. Sharma is currently serving her second year as Secretary of UMCOR's United Methodist Committee for Ministries with Deaf, Late-deafened, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-blind People. The ministry supports leadership development for lay and ordained people through seminary or professional training events in Deaf-related ministry.
Rev. Sharma is married and has one son. Her mother Carol Carter is also an ordained UM clergy for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Learn more about this ministry or visit UMCOR's web page on Deaf Ministries here.
UMCOR: THANK YOU FOR 100-TON SUPPORT
UMCOR and its partner Equal Exchange thanks United Methodists everywhere who participated in UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge by purchasing fairly traded products through UMCOR's Coffee Project.
United Methodists purchased 82.4 tons (or over 164,000 pounds) of fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks through Equal Exchange and 448 churches joined the UMCOR Coffee Project.
Crossroads Urban Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and partner with the new UMCOR West Depot, was the largest account, buying over $15,000 worth of fair trade product for its food co-op. First United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa, Calif., was the largest church purchaser, buying more than $8,000 worth of fairly traded goods.
Despite the weakening US economy and slowing sales growth in many sectors nationwide, fair trade product sales rose nearly 20 percent from the previous year as a result of the Challenge, totaling over $1.3 million. Continue to support small-scale farmers by giving to UMCOR-SA&D Program, UMCOR Advance #982188.
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. ]
