September 4, 2005

Hurricane Relief Update

UMCOR HAS RECEIVED $900,000 IN ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HURRICANE RELIEF

About $900,000 had been contributed by online donors to the Hurricane Katrina appeal of the United Methodist Committee on Relief as of late afternoon Sept. 2. The figure only reflected online giving and not contributions made by mail or telephone. UMCOR is part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. "In any natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina, the people who have the least are the ones who are most vulnerable and need the most help," said Bishop Joel N. Martinez, president of the board. Every dollar that United Methodists give for the hurricane recovery will be used for that purpose, said Sandra Lackore, top staff executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration and treasurer for the church.

LOUISIANA CONFERENCE REQUESTS BOTTLED WATER

Larry Powell of UMCOR says there is an urgent call for bottled water to be delivered to the Louisiana Conference office in Baton Rouge. Please contact beverage bottlers who may be able to make donations in any size containers. Please call to make prior arrangements before shipping water or other items.

The address and contact is: Ms. Rhonda Whitley at the Louisiana Conference Office at 225-346-1646 ext. 221 for direction. The Louisiana Annual Conference Office is located at 527 North Blvd., Baton Rouge , LA 70802. For more information, log on to http://www.la-umc.org/

BLOOMINGTON DISTRICT OFFICE OVERWHELMED BY MEDIA RESPONSES

The Bloomington District Office has been overwhelmed with phone calls and media responses to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The district office is also working to help eight family members of one of the district pastors that have come here from Louisiana for refuge.

CHILDREN'S STORE DONATING CLOTHING TO UMC FOR KATRINA SURVIVORS

Once Upon a Child, in Terre Haute and Bloomington, has offered to donate all of the clothing, regularly given to charity, to the United Methodist Church's collection for Hurricane Katrina relief from now through Sept. 18. They also will be accepting monetary donations, packages of disposable diapers, new receiving blankets, and bottled water. Everyone who makes a donation at one of their stores will receive a 10 percent discount coupon for use on their next purchase. Please pass this information on to your friends, family and co-workers.

GREAT DANE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FROM TEMPLE CHURCH SOUTH

Gene Crowley from Center Point is partnering with Great Dane Trailers to provide semi tractors and trailers to transport items from the Terre Haute District as soon as we can fill a trailer. United Methodist Temple has agreed to be a main storage location for our items. The Terre Haute District UMC Office requests its collection sites and churches to take their donated items to United Methodist Temple in Terre Haute as early in the week as possible. The shipment will leave as soon as the truck is loaded and a destination point s known. For more information, contact the TH district office 812-237-0101.

HOOSIERS REQUESTED TO HOST HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES

The Rev. Anne Kumeh, UMCOR Refugee Services Coordinator for North Indiana Conference, reports that the American Red Cross is coordinating the effort to house hurricane evacuees. Indianapolis based American Red Cross workers plan to meet survivors at the airport, transporting them to a designated shelter, and plan to provide medical care, showers, food and shelter. The Salvation Army and Hope International are coordinating these efforts. Plans for the resettlement of these individuals will follow. Presently, the concern is transporting them here, screening them and meeting their immediate needs. The American Red Cross is coordinating the effort to house these survivors. The Salvation Army plans to meet the evacuees at the Indianapolis International Airport, transport them to assigned shelters and provide medical care, showers and food. Salvation Army and Hope International are coordinating these efforts. Those in Indiana who would like to volunteer with these groups in caring for displaced persons, may contact the agencies at the following phone numbers:

• American Red Cross -- Greater Indianapolis -- 317-684-1441
• Salvation Army -- 317-937-7000 ext. 1017
• Hope International (Jean Hewitt) -- 317-955-0358

Plans for resettlement for these individuals will follow. Evacuees may be in a host's home for at least 30 to 60 days and could be in need of housing up to six months. Currently, getting evacuees here, screened and meeting their immediate needs has a high priority.

UMC KATRINA SPOTS TO AIR ON CNN OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Millions of Americans will see messages of hope from the United Methodist Church as they watch the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on Cable News Network over Labor Day Weekend. The messages will appear in the corner of the TV screen for five or 10 seconds. The wording is simple: "Support hurricane relief efforts at www.MethodistRelief.org.  The People of the United Methodist Church." The messages will begin airing as early as Saturday. CNN is making the spots available as part of the denomination's national advertising and welcoming campaign that invites people to join in a journey of faith. The theme is "Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors." United Methodist Communications is also developing a USA Today ad expected to run Sept. 7 with the theme "Be the Hope." Part of the ad will say, "At this time of great loss, let us commit to a hopeful, compassionate community, now and for the long-term future. Give through whatever means you choose. Volunteer. Be the hope."

DILLARD STUDENTS BEING HOUSED AT COLLEGE IN SHREVEPORT

Emmanuel Galloway carried only clothes as he and some 250 other UM-related Dillard University students fled the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. He watched in horror as one of their buses caught fire, destroying the few belongings those students were taking from New Orleans to UM-related Centenary College in Shreveport. Galloway and other Dillard students and faculty staying at Centenary College said people at the college and in the community had been wonderful. Both schools are United Methodist. An online link to donate directly to Dillard will be posted soon at www.gbhem.org/hurricaneresponse.html.  Contributions can also be mailed to the Dillard Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, Tenn. 37230-0007.

TEXAS CONFERENCE COMMITTED TO MILLION DOLLAR FOOD PROJECT IN HOUSTON

The United Methodist Church's Texas Conference has committed to raising $1 million to feed the thousands of people fleeing to the area for shelter following Hurricane Katri (Jean Hewitt)na. The Texas Conference has issued a plea for money specifically to feed evacuees who have been streaming into the state. Organizing with the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hewlett-Packard Center shelters in Houston, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie said United Methodists would volunteer to serve food in addition to contributing money for the week of Sept. 14-20. Conference volunteers will serve three meals per day and will need 240 trained servers per shift. Providing 75,000 meals a day for the week will cost $1 million.

GULFPORT COUPLE FINALLY MARRIED AT MONTGOMERY UM CHURCH

It wasn't how they imagined spending their honeymoon. Nickie and Maria Simmons of Gulfport, Miss., had planned on getting married during the week of Aug. 29, when Hurricane Katrina intervened, forcing the couple to flee with five of their six children. They ended up at Whitfield United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala., which was offering shelter to evacuees. They arrived on the evening of Aug. 28 with their kids, ranging in age from 7 months to 14 years old. "God was with us and we made it," Nickie said. "We've seen the reports. ? The whole coast was wiped out. There's nothing left." Upon their arrival, the church learned about the couple's marriage plans. The couple asked the Rev. Judd Stinson, pastor, if he would marry them. Other residents of the shelter collected the necessary $40 to buy the marriage license. Whitfield members also arranged for clothing for the wedding, bouquets and a wedding cake for the couple.

Compiled by
Dan Gangler, director of communication
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

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