Katrina Relief |
The United Church of Christ's Disaster Response Ministry has worked in the days following Hurricane Katrina's landfall to develop long-term for the devasted region of American's Gulf Coast. As of mid-September, these occasions for ministry and assistance are in operation:
It is still vital to encourage people to offer monetary donations to the "Hope Shall Bloom" Hurricane Katrina fund. Donations to this fund are used in their entirety to respond to immediate needs through UCC churches and partners in the region as well as making the commitment to long-term recovery possible.
100% of each gift goes to hurricane recovery programming. This is possible because gifts to Our Church's Wider Mission basic support provide for the infrastructure necessary to make the UCC disaster response possible.
Many individuals, congregations and conferences have written and phoned with offers to provide housing and hospitality for evacuees from the affected region. As many displaced Americans are now arriving in various states, there is an opportunity to respond to people in local communities. Please be in contact with your local government officials, your local American Red Cross office, and your State Emergency Management Agency to connect with local possibilities.
The UCC Disaster Response Ministry is moving forward on a program through Church World Service to provide long-term hospitality for displaced Americans using the expertise of the Refugee Ministries offices of various denominations. The Ministry will provide more concrete ways to be part of this CWS program called "Katrina Hospitality Connections for the Displaced" as soon as it is in place.
The need for volunteer service in light of this disaster is certain. Eventually there will be possibilities for groups to offer their service. Systems are not yet in place for the rebuilding effort which will follow the relief and recovery stages of disaster response. That effort will be long-term and will need many hands, hearts and resources. In the immediate response, please research what volunteer service is needed in your local community. Seek evacuees coming into your community and work with local organizations to provide the hands-on service needed. Remember, there were people in need of service in each community across our country prior to Hurricane Katrina.
Another immediate response people can make to disaster ministry is to organize a group or volunteer service as an individual with the UCC Florida Conference Disaster Response Ministry, which is helping people rebuild homes lost in the 2004 hurricane season. Disaster response is a long-term commitment to minister with people for several years following the initial trauma. Recovery efforts from last year's hurricanes still see 43,000 homes yet to be repaired. Systems are in place and the Florida Conference Team is ready to receive volunteers. Contact Candy Shoop at the Florida Conference office. Her e-mail address is: casucc250@yahoo.com and the office phone is: (407) 835-7501.
In an effort to try to connect people with specific skills in helping professions, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has established a special program. They are currently looking for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and relief personnel with expertise in a variety of areas. Access this resource on-line: https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/
Individuals seeking volunteer opportunities may contact the National Emergency Resource Registry: 1-800-440-6728; www.swern.gov.
A common desire for disaster response is to offer material goods. Those with experience in disaster response often caution "appropriate gifts at the appropriate time."
Adventist Community Service Disaster Response multi-agency warehouses have opened in the affected region. To donate goods, call the warehouse PRIOR to collecting materials, see what they need and where needed items may be sent:
Please also respond within your local community. Arriving evacuees may have specific needs. Local homeless shelters and food pantries have on-going needs for donated items and foodstuffs.
People may also respond by collecting "Gift of the Heart Kits" for distribution through Church World Service. The most applicable kits in this time are School Kits, Kids' Kits, and Health Kits. Information on the contents of these kits, guidelines for packing and instructions for sending those kits are available at the Church World Service website: http://www.churchworldservice.org/kits/index.html.
A UCC Covenant of Compassion was launched on September 12th on the UCC web site: www.ucc.org This is an opportunity for us to commit ourselves as individuals and in partnership with thousands of UCC members to concrete steps during the next three years to help alleviate suffering. It is a way to act immediately and to commit ourselves to some of the concrete opportunities suggested above as well as others that will emerge. It will help us to act in a way that responds to the urgency of the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina and that nurtures compassion as a spiritual discipline.
