FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs around the world:
MYANMAR: HELPING REFUGEES RESOURCES: WORLD REFUGEE DAY, JUNE 20 US: UMC CONFERENCE ATTENDEES GO GREEN UMCOR: NEW RELIEF SUPPLIES NEWSLETTER JFON: PROTECTING VULNERABLE WOMEN AND CHILDRENThe number of displaced people in the northern part of Karen State in Myanmar (Burma) continues to grow. Many have fled to Thailand from Myanmar where military presence, land confiscations and threats of violence continue.
UMCOR is assisting Church World Service partners to provide emergency food relief for families temporarily residing in the Ee Htu Hta camp for the displaced. Approximately 4,200 people, including 560 children, will benefit from the distribution of rice and salt and other emergency food items. Additional assistance from US Agency for International Development will help carry this project for one full year.
You can support this effort with your gifts to International Disaster Response, Advance #982450
RESOURCES: WORLD REFUGEE DAY, JUNE 20
According to UMCOR's partner Church World Service, nearly 40 million people around the world are uprooted from their homes and communities by persecution and armed conflict. Many refugees arrive at camps for the displaced and receive relief aid until they are resettled in other countries, including the US.
World Refugee Day is June 20. Use the available World Refugee Day resources and share with your local congregation to help increase awareness about the plight of refugees everywhere. Learn how United Methodist churches are helping newcomers feel at home in the US and help support refugee ministry.
Download UMCOR's new church bulletin or present UMCOR's World Refugee Day Power Point Slide to your congregation to collect a special offering. You can also learn about refugee ministry through UMCOR's new Refugee Ministry Newsletter, a publication highlighting the work of UM churches involved in welcoming newcomers into the US, or give to New Hope for Newcomers, UMCOR Advance #901779.
US: UMC CONFERENCE ATTENDEES GO GREEN
Earlier this month, the Wyoming Annual Conference encouraged its members to go green for its 158th Annual Conference Session in Scranton, Penn. Conference attendees were told to wear green t-shirts and to bring their coffee mugs in support of UMCOR's Coffee Project and to help cut down on disposable cup waste.
A table display of UMCOR's Coffee Project at the conference carried Equal Exchange coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks for purchase.
Go green by supporting the livelihood of farmers engaged in sustainable and environmentally-sound farming practices by purchasing fair trade products through the UMCOR Coffee Project and Equal Exchange. Your purchases help small-scale farmers receive fair wages for their labor. Give to UMCOR-SA&D, UMCOR Advance #982188.
UMCOR: NEW RELIEF SUPPLIES NEWSLETTER
UMCOR Sager Brown shipped more than $2,000,000 worth of relief supplies in the first five months of 2009— 80,000 were health kits, the most requested relief kit item. Empty school bags are also in need.
Keep up to date with information like this by subscribing to UMCOR's new Relief Supply Newsletter, a quarterly email publication capturing the highlights of UMCOR Sager Brown and UMCOR West ministry activities.
Click here the read UMCOR's Relief Supplies Newsletter and learn more about how church groups are coming together in kit ministry to help transform lives all around the world. You may also sign up here to receive the quarterly newsletter directly to your email, or submit your story on how your congregation or local group is working to deliver hope to those in need.
Please support this ministry by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440 or visit UMCOR's Relief Supplies web page.
JFON: PROTECTING VULNERABLE WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Rosa* came to the US from El Salvador leaving her young daughter Martha* in the care of family members. Rosa qualified for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and was able to legally reside in the US, find employment and send money back to her family.
Martha later traveled to the US to reunite with her mother. When they consulted with a Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON) attorney, JFON discovered that they both fled El Salvador to escape severe domestic violence. JFON filed an asylum application based on this information for their protection. Once the application is approved, Rosa and Martha can reside in the US permanently and apply for US citizenship.
JFON clinics help clients understand legal matters like TPS, which grants temporary protection to people experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other harsh conditions that prevent them from returning home. Support this ministry by giving to JFON, UMCOR Advance #901285.
*Not their real names.
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. ]
Refugees & displacement
Myanmar (formerly Burma)
United States of America
