Hurricane Matthew response: What you can do to help
The devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew has been widely reported. Many United Methodists would like to help the people of the Caribbean, especially Haiti, and the southern coastal area of the United States.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – is responding with grants for water, food rations, and other emergency supplies. In Haiti, UMCOR works directly with the Eglise Methodist d’Haiti (Methodist Church of Haiti). In the United States, UMCOR will work directly with the UM Conferences needing assistance.
From the Baltimore-Washington Conference, we can best help by making donations to UMCOR. The Advance number for the International Disaster Response Advance is #982450. The Advance number for Disaster Response in the U.S. is #901670.
Cash contributions are the best and most efficient way to help at this point. Contributions to UMCOR go 100 percent to relief and rebuilding activities as UMCOR is funded separately by apportionments.
As we want also to “do something,” flood buckets and other disaster kits are being deployed and need to be replaced in our warehouses (see the letter from Mission Central Hub Coordinator Jean Norris). This site also has pictures and details about making the kits and where to deliver them.
In time, these areas will put out the request for United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) teams to travel there to help. For now, it is best to wait in place. For example, UMCOR is making grants and delivering supplies in Haiti but advising teams and individuals to wait on travel to Haiti until they have transitioned from the relief phase to the recovery phase.
Financial contributions are combined and coordinated to have the greatest impact. They go the farthest in having an immediate impact for relieving and employing the people of the hard struck areas.
And, as always, we can pray for the people in these areas. As we pray, what does God call you to give?
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Rev. David Graves |
Rev. Joan Carter-Rimbach |