United Methodist relief agency raises $570,000 in initial response
|
Bishop Joel Martinez |
Sept. 1, 2005
NEW YORK (UMNS) — Some $570,000 had been contributed by online donors to
the Hurricane Katrina appeal of the United Methodist Committee on
Relief as of late afternoon Sept. 1.
Roland Fernandes, treasurer of the agency, stressed that the figure only
reflected online giving. He said it was too early to have a sense of
the contributions being made by mail or telephone.
UMCOR is part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Fernandes is general treasurer of the international organization and of
UMCOR.
“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.
|
Sandra Lackore |
“The mission calling of the General Board of Global Ministries is to
reach out and especially to serve the least of God’s children,” Martinez
said. “We pledge to make every effort to bring the resources and hope
of the United Methodist connection to those suffering the effects of
Hurricane Katrina.”
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. She said none of the donations would be used for administrative
costs, which come from other sources.
“The Internet has changed the way people can contribute,” Lackore said,
noting the strong online giving response that the church received to the
Dec. 26 tsunami. But, she added, that doesn’t take the place of giving
to local church offerings, which is still a “powerful” way for people to
respond.
United Methodists overseas were also responding to the disaster.
|
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner |
The United Methodist mission agency of Germany donated EUR5,000 to UMCOR hurricane relief areas.
“In the TV we see pictures of the damages; people in New Orleans and
along the Gulf coast have to mourn while struggling against Hurricane
Katrina,” said Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of the Frankfurt, Germany area in
a letter to her colleagues affected by the storm.
“We pray for the victims and their families, for those who lost their
houses and belongings and for all those who work hard to help the people
in that area,” Wenner said.
Donations to support the United Methodist response to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy 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
church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New
York, NY 10087-9068.
The relief agency also issued an emergency appeal Aug. 31 for health kits, water and blankets. Information is available at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm.
Donate Now
2005 Hurricane Response: United Methodist Committee on Relief
Video Interview with Sandra Lackore
“Hands-on efforts are needed.”
“The Internet has changed giving.”
Related Article
United Methodists plan relief, open doors to refugees
Resources
UMCOR: Hurricanes 2005
Hurricane Relief Resources
|