The Church Responds

3/16/2010

As of March 11, 2010:

● $14.5 Million has been received for UMCOR Haiti Relief — $212,068 from churches and individuals in the Central Texas Conference

● Please remember that 100% of your gifts to the Haiti Emergency will support the people in Haiti. UMCOR can do this because overhead costs are covered through the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). This year’s OGHS offering was March 14.

From the Field

UMCOR has begun implementation of a five-year work plan that contemplates three phases of assistance to Haiti: emergency, recovery and rehabilitation.

This week’s highlights include:

● Following the earthquake in Haiti many Haitians requiring medical care were evacuated to the U.S. Evacuees and those accompanying them have been granted humanitarian parole for 12 months, which may be extended. UMCOR Refugee Ministries is working with resettlement affiliates in Atlanta, Tampa, Philadelphia, New York and Boston to identify and offer temporary housing for those released from medical facilities.

● Bahamas Methodist Habitat, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, has been using its mission aircraft transportation services to support relief efforts in Haiti. Working with UMCOR Sager Brown, Bahamas Methodist Habitat transported health kits into Haiti.

● Anthony Jones, Emergency Consultant for UMCOR Haiti is attending UN cluster meetings and reports that farmers in the high impact quake zone have lost an estimated $50 million in homes, seeds, tools and equipment. According to Jones, “the reports provided by farmers indicate a clear picture of serious deterioration:

+ The quality of meals has deteriorated – families have less to eat at meals or they are eating less frequently

+ While few reported losing livestock in the quake, 30% have sold livestock since then

+ 65% rural and 50% in urban communities reported being in debt

+ The majority of large importers have lost storage capacity

U.S. Mission in Action

● UMCOR Health hosted “Haiti Health: Moving toward a Long-Term Strategy,” a web cast meeting of long-time UMCOR partners that included, IMA World Health, Global Health Action, Curamericas Global, and Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince. Representatives of Methodist Hospital Systems in Houston, Tex.; Ohio Health in Columbus, Ohio; and Methodist Health Care in Memphis, Tenn., participated, as well as representatives of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.

● UMCOR Haiti has identified a need for layette kits and birthing kits to address the basic needs of babies born in displaced persons camps in Haiti. Volunteers have been preparing kits to send to Haiti.

Partner Spotlight

● The Rocky Mountain Conference has responded to the Western Jurisdiction “Operation Resurrection 2010” challenge by raising more than $400,000 for UMCOR Haiti relief efforts and sending more than 10,000 health kits to UMCOR West.

● Jerika Manning, a member of the Mooers United Methodist Church Youth Group Café, Mooers, New York, and her brother assembled 20 health kits for UMCOR Haiti relief after reading a bulletin insert on ways to help the people of Haiti. Mooers UMC’s pastor told the congregation about Manning’s interest to help, and the church responded instantly with donations to purchase supplies.

● Lake Junaluska Ministry with Young People through St. Mathews UMC in South Carolina raised $5,500 for UMCOR Haiti relief during its THAW 2010 ski event.

● Susan Weed-Alvarado posted on UMCOR’s Facebook fan page, “I love the way God set it up. People need help; other people help. Those that need it are blessed by the help, and those that help are blessed by helping. And to God goes the glory. Pretty cool.”

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world