Churches provide help to storm victims

Aug. 27, 2004

A UMNS Report

By Kathy Gilbert*

A UMNS photo courtesy Michael Wacht Hundreds of volunteers are distributing water and ice to those affected by recent hurricanes.

"We served communion as a reminder of God’s hope and help, and then we gave out bottles of water and asked them to pray about becoming hope and help to the world," said the Rev. Jorge Acevedo, pastor of Grace.

"We are living in two worlds," he said. "We are recovering ourselves, but we are also out helping other people. We walk a fine line; we have to make sure we are taking care of our community and our neighbors and loving them in Christ’s name."

Hurricane Charley made landfall along the west coast of Florida Aug. 13, hitting just north of Charlotte County, about 20 miles from Grace United Methodist Church. The hurricane then tracked west of Orlando and exited Florida’s east coast near Daytona Beach. It left behind 16 people dead and billions of dollars in damage.

A UMNS file photo by Michael Wacht In 2004, hurricanes damaged more than 200,000 structures across Florida.

UMCOR has sent 3,000 flood buckets, or cleanup kits, from its Sager Brown Depot in Louisiana and North Carolina MERCI, Hazelwood wrote in an update on relief efforts.

The United Methodist agency also is calling for flood cleanup supplies to replenish the thousands of flood buckets sent to Florida. Donors can find a list of supplies and instructions for shipping online at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/kits/. A special worship resource, "Hurricanes 2004," is available at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/print/bulletininserts/hurricanes2004.cfm.

"For the most part, we have gone from emergency work and emergency ministry to relief and recovery ministry," said Acevedo. "There are still large portions of Charlotte County that are without electricity and are still in emergency mode."

Grace Church sent more than 400 volunteers during the week of Aug. 16 to help with the relief and recovery effort and will send out more than 300 on Aug. 28, Acevedo said. The church is also hosting UMCOR, Red Cross and other teams from around the country.

"We were very fortunate," Acevedo said. "The hurricane came through on Friday afternoon, and by Saturday, we had air conditioning. We were able to do services that first Sunday, Aug. 15."

Though attendance that day was down by half, it was back up to about 1,700 the following Sunday, Aug. 22.

"Interestingly enough - I think it is a God thing - our giving was one of the best we have had all year."

Florida Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker and the conference disaster response team leaders met with UMCOR representatives Aug. 16. The "Florida Storm Recovery Fund" Conference Special #605 was created to help victims. It will provide grants directly to families and individuals, pay for supplies and equipment, and pay a staff to oversee recovery efforts, according to a letter sent by Whitaker to conference clergy and laity Aug. 17.

"It is our hope that the Florida Storm Recovery Fund will provide much of the money that will be needed to assist people in our communities," Whitaker wrote. "UMCOR will assist this effort by making additional funds available from its general appeal, known as ‘Hurricanes 2004,’ Advance #982410."

Donations to UMCOR should be earmarked for that appeal. Checks can be placed in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583.

The Florida Conference Disaster Response established a call center (800-282-8011) to help volunteer teams, Hazelwood said. More than 1,000 volunteers have been sent to more than 35 sites across the disaster area.

"Volunteers are distributing food, water and ice as well as working in the communities to make homes safe, sanitary and secure," Hazelwood said. "Spiritual care is being provided in three primary areas: care of pastoral leadership; care of congregations; and care and outreach to communities."

A task force will address the needs of migrant farm workers and the low-income elderly. Plans for long-term recovery and case management are also emerging, he said.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Suggested Articles Florida United Methodists establish special fund for hurricane relief United Methodists to help with Charley relief Relief agency calls for response to churchwide appeal

Suggested Resources The Florida Conference UMCOR Hurricanes 2004 To Sustain Everyday Life: UMCOR Kits Are Another Way to Give UMCOR Sager Brown: A Place of Mission for United Methodists Disaster News Network Hurricane search slowed by power outages