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September 12, 2005 Hurricane Relief UpdateCURRENT NEEDS LISTED FOR UMCOR'S SAGER BROWN DEPOTGwen Redding, executive director of UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., has published this list of current needs at the center in order of priority.
Volunteers also are needed to load and unload trucks; tolerate standing and waiting part of the time while arrangements are being determined about the dispatch of the truck on its return; and stay at Sager Brown for at least three or four days. Sager Brown will provide room and meals. For more information contact: Gwen E. Redding, executive director, UMCOR Sager Brown, P.O. Box 850, Baldwin, LA 70514, Phone 337-923-6238, e-mail gredding@sagerbrown.org. SAGER BROWN FILLING RAPIDLY, OTHER SITES AVAILABLEUMCOR's Executive Director Tom Hazelwood, gave this information to United Methodist Jurisdictional Volunteer in Mission coordinators this weekend. UMCOR Sager Brown is filling rapidly and may not be able to accept all goods at this time. Hazelwood asks churches and conference disaster coordinators to please call Sager Brown first at 800-818-8765 to see if they can handle your shipment. If not, then contact one of these three multi-agency warehouses that UMCOR has suggested using. Call them before arriving with your donated goods:
VINCENNES COUPLE DELIVER FIRST TRUCKLOAD OF RELIEF SUPPLIES TO CHURCHAccording to this morning's Vincennes Sun-Commercial Web site, Dale Wagoner described the scene around Wiggins, Miss., as one in which there had been a tornado all over. "It was like that everywhere, trees down, power lines down, houses with roofs blown off," said the retired truck driver from Vincennes who, along with his wife, Shirley, hauled a semi load of much needed supplies collected by the Community United Methodist Church to the little town about 60 miles north of Gulfport, Miss. The Wagoners' destination was the H.A. Brown United Methodist Church, in Wiggins, which they reached this past Thursday morning, but not without difficulties, some totally unforeseen by even such an experienced trucker as Dale. For one thing, the further south they drove, and the closer to the severely storm-damaged areas they got, there were no roads signs to guide them. At the predominantly African American church, the Wagoners encountered something of the breakdown in the government's efforts to get needed supplies to the victims. "When we got to the church we were waiting for some of the members to come and unload, and we had people coming up asking if they could have something, anything really, of what we had," Shirley said. "And we kept telling them that as soon as the church got things unloaded we were sure they could come in and get what they needed. They were met by the pastor and a crew to unload the truck. Neither Wagoner said they ever really feared for their safety while on the trip. "No, I don't think we ever were scared or worried about what might happen to us," Shirley said. "Dale, he just kept saying, 'Everything's going to be OK.'" For the next two weeks, Community United Methodist Church will be collecting items for Health Kits to take to Hurricane Katrina victims. Later this afternoon, Andy Kinsey said he had already received a thank you letter from the H.A. Brown congregation. He also said the Community UMC is in the process of organizing a mission trip to Mississippi. For more information contact the church at 812-882-2220. SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE COORDINATING PICK-UPS IN SOUTH INDIANAPlease help the South Indiana Conference in coordinating pick-up of BOTTLED WATER, HEALTH KITS, and BLANKETS (Flood Buckets and Clothing will be later). Conference disaster response leaders are requesting local churches to take their collected items to one of the designated conference collection sites (Hazelton UMC, Lawrence UMC, Vincennes Community UMC, Evansville Centenary UMC, Union Chapel UMC, Bill Estes Ford in Brownsburg, and Bill Estes Chevrolet in Indianapolis and Community UMC at Sunman in the Columbus District. See below). If the churches need assistance, they are asked to contact Duane Fleener, home 317-718-0710, cell 317-319-4887, or email dandpfleener@cs.com. If you have names of people willing to drive and pick up items and deliver them to the collection sites, please forward them to Duane Fleener. In other relief news, Carolyn Ellis, SIC VIM coordinators reports that another VIM team will be leaving for Gulfport Tuesday or Wednesday to continue feeding evacuees. She also asks that churches continue to collect but hold clothing at the present time. She said space is limited in shelters and there is not room to store clothing. Clothing will begin to be transported in two to three weeks. COLUMBUS DISTRICT CHURCH DESIGNATED AS ONE OF RELIEF COLLECTION SITESCommunity United Methodist Church in the Columbus District also has been designated as a collection site for the Hurricane Relief supplies. Community is located on State Highway 48 and Possum Ridge in Dearborn County (8930 N. St. Rd. 101, Sunman, IN 47041). Hours: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, Sunday Morning 9 to 11 a.m. (Times listed are EDT.) Those needing special hours can call the Rev. Duane Loos at 812-623-2382 to make arrangements. BLOOMINGTON-HOUSED EVACUEES NEED PERSONAL ITEMSThe South Indiana Conference Center is collecting for evacuees housed in Bloomington these items: toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, plastic cups and silverware, paper plates, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, health kits, diapers, feminine products, shampoo, blankets and towels. Conference Center hours are M-F 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. If you have any questions please call Jessica Lindsey, Bloomington District Office, United Methodist Church, 1520 S. Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403 812-339-1445. DYER CHURCH COLLECTING ITEMS FOR EVACUEES TO BE HOUSED IN NW INDIANADyer United Methodist Church is collecting items for families from the Gulf Coast who are/will be living in Northwest Indiana. Galleria Properties has donated retail space for the next few months to serve as a collection point/distribution point. Local printers have donated copy services to distribute flyers. There are currently 75 families in the area and that number is expected shortly to exceed 200. No clothing items are needed at this time, however CLEAN winter coats/boots in good condition will be accepted. Various items will be collected before/after each Sunday service and at specified other times. For more information, call Nancy Gray, Outreach Chairperson, Dyer UMC at 219-322-2387. For a list of items needed, please visit the church Web site at www.dyerumc.org. KOKOMO CHURCHES APPEAL TO COMMUNITY FOR RELIEF SUPPORTBud Probasco, pastor of Shiloh UMC in Kokomo sends this update from Mississippi. He says, to date, along with Jeff Cardwell, a friend in Indianapolis, John Randall and I have sent six trucks of supplies to New Orleans and one M.A.S.H unit to assist. We have set up a portable hospital with medical doctors, nurses and basic equipment. We have managed to care for several thousand people and have sent five trucks loaded with supplies to Mississippi. They have gone to d'Iberville (Biloxi), Vancleave, Laurel and Ocean Springs. Friday one truck went to Gulfport, and three went to Jackson. In the next two weeks we will have one more truck going from St. Luke's UMC in Kokomo, and then for the next two weeks Chrysler employees (all 10,000) will be collecting supplies and donating funds that will go to all UMCOR related areas for distribution. Grace, St. Luke's and Shiloh congregations in Kokomo will have collected more than $23,000 for the relief effort and more money is coming in. $10,000 of those funds have gone to UMCOR and the rest has been used, or will be used to purchase supplies for Mississippi and fuel for transportation. MISSISSIPPI UNITED METHODISTS RISING, SHINING IN STORM-TORN AREASWorshipping beside the ruins of Mississippi City United Methodist Church in Gulfport, the Rev. Rod Dickson-Rishel led the Great Thanksgiving. As we responded, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again, a lovely yellow butterfly fluttered over the bread and cup. God's signs of promise, of new life, of strong tomorrows, of eternal life are with us. The entire Mississippi Gulf Coast has experienced catastrophic damage. Our United Methodist presence in these communities is strong. Historic Gulfside Assembly was washed away, Seashore Assembly and Seashore Mission were destroyed, churches and parsonages were destroyed, flooded, damaged. There has been loss of life as persons seeking shelter in our churches perished in the storm. In the midst of this, we know that God is with us. Out of the standing churches and ministry facilities and in parking lots, distribution of gifts lovingly offered is continuous. Thousands are sheltered and fed. In this time of grief and loss, we give thanks for the community of United Methodist people. We welcome your thoughts, prayers, gifts, and presence with us in the weeks and years of rebuilding to come. -- Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Mississippi Area OKLAHOMA INDIANA MISSIONARY CONFERENCE RESPONDS WITH CAMP SITEUnited Methodist churches, annual (regional) conferences, agencies and individuals are responding in many ways to the crisis left behind by Hurricane Katrina, which struck Louisiana and Mississippi Aug. 29. For example, the church's Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference is working to assist Hurricane Katrina survivors both within that state and in the Gulf region. The conference's first work team, about a dozen people, left Sept. 7 for the Biloxi, Miss., area, according to Phillis McCarty, conference disaster coordinator. "We felt like we wanted to do something to help," she said. "We've got at least two work teams lined up and maybe more." Conference members also are "playing a huge role" in providing services at Camp Gruber, a former military facility near Muskogee, where more than 1,400 people displaced by Hurricane Katrina are being housed, according to the Rev. David Wilson, conference superintendent. State Rep. Barbara Staggs, D-Muskogee, told the Muskogee Phoenix that the evacuees, who arrived Sept. 3, could be there as long as a year. Some 272 school-age children will attend area schools. Eight pastors were providing support at the camp, including counseling services. The Rev. Anita Phillips, pastor of Fife Memorial United Methodist Church and dean of students at Bacone College in Muskogee, is leading that response. Wilson also has met with residents of small towns in southeast Oklahoma that are receiving more displaced persons and who may use United Methodist sites for evacuees. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference works among Native Americans in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas and includes 39 tribes and 89 local churches. PENSION BOARD ARRANGES CRISIS HOTLINEThe United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits said it had arranged with United Behavioral Health to provide free access to a toll-free, 24-hour crisis hotline to anyone affected by the hurricane. The number is 866-615-8700. Callers can speak with counselors for help with emotional issues they may be experiencing and to receive referrals from a national database of community resources covering a range of concerns, including financial and legal issues. Callers who have suffered physical trauma will be transferred to a nurse who will be able to provide health information and decision support regarding the need for medical treatment. United Behavioral Health is also offering resources and information on disaster relief assistance on www.liveandworkwell.com. The board also is allowing participants in the affected areas who are in the Personal Investment Plan to obtain a hardship withdrawal or loan for disaster-related expenses. Affected participants can contact the board at 800-851-2201 for details. The agency has arranged through its pharmacy provider, Medco, to waive the prescription drug mail-order refill requirement for HealthFlex participants in the affected areas. Participants can get a supply of their prescriptions from a local retail pharmacy without paying the usual co-payment. For information, call 800-841-2806. STORM CENTER TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBERS NOW AVAILABLEPeople interested in contacting the Louisiana United Methodist Storm Center can now call toll-free at 888- 677-7111. This number was scheduled to be operating today. In neighboring United Methodist conferences, toll-free numbers are already operational for church storm centers. For the Mississippi storm center, call 866-647-7486. For Alabama-West Florida, call 866-340-1956. HOW TO HELP THROUGH UMCORAs of Sept. 8, UMCOR had received just more than $2 million in online and telephone contributions for Hurricane Katrina relief. That figure did not include donations made by mail or through offerings given to local churches. Donations to support the United Methodist hurricane response can be made online at www.methodistrelief.org and by phone at 800-554-8583. Checks can be written to UMCOR, designated for "Hurricanes 2005 Global," Advance No. 982523, and left in offering plates or mailed to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Information on health kits and school kits can be found on the UMCOR Web site, http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/kits/. Other information on packing and shipping can be found at that site or by calling the Sager Brown Depot at 800-814-8765. For daily updates of what is happening in the South with relief efforts, log on to www.umcor.org. For updates from the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama-West Florida Conferences, log on to For continuous news stories about relief efforts, log on to www.umns.org. Compiled by # # # If you know someone who has yet to sign up for e-HUM, they simply need to send a blank e-mail from their preferred e-mail account to add@inareaumc.org. e-HUM Alert copyright 2005 by Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
