Haiti Relief

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http://www.umc.org/haiti

United Methodist Communications continues to provide news coverage of the situation in Haiti, including how the church is responding, at http://www.umc.org/haiti.  

Volunteers and Health Kits

According to UMCOR (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ovLYL8MRLmK3LnI&s=9gKNI2PBLeKSKWPBJtG&m=...) (United Methodist Committee on Relief), there will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis is past, but it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti at the present. However, UMCOR's two relief supply warehouses are asking United Methodists to provide health kits that will be sent to Haiti. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available here (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=krKQJWOCIaLMIbI&s=9gKNI2PBLeKSKWPBJtG&m=...).

Health Kits are something tangible that you can do to offer some relief for the people in Haiti. Please follow the directions exactly. Include all items; do not add items that are not on the lists. Extra gifts, though given with the best of intentions, render a kit unusable and must be removed. Note: All items sent must be new!

• 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
• 1 washcloth
• 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
• 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
• 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
• 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
• 1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 oz or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment to UMCOR Sager Brown, No child-size brushes)
• 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

Value: $12 per kit.

In a separate envelope, please send a check written to UMCOR Sager Brown for at least $1.00 for each kit to help with the costs of processing and shipping kits around the world. Important: Please do not include any religious, political or patriotic notes or emblems in any kit.

You may drop these by the office or bring them to church on Sundays and we will take care of shipping them.

Donations

We are grateful that donations continue to come in online (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jgLOITNyHaINKaJ&s=9gKNI2PBLeKSKWPBJtG&m=...).Donors may also contribute by placing a check in the offering plate at a local church or by mailing it to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Checks should indicate "Advance #418325" in the memo line. United Methodist Communications is creating a special bulletin insert for churches' use, which will be available Friday at www.umc.org/haiti.

Ministry Resources

Following the Asian tsunami, United Methodist Communications produced a video and study guide titled "God, Why?" to help people cope with the spiritual and emotional impact of disasters. The resource, available from EcuFilm (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=khKQJWOCIeLMI7I&s=9gKNI2PBLeKSKWPBJtG&m=...), explores why such tragedies happen and God's role in them. The study guide provides a basis for group study and discussion.

During this time of pain and suffering, let us take comfort in the promise of Psalm 46:1, NRSV: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

United Methodist Communications
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