You won’t see an infomercial on television prepared by UMCOR. You may not even see the organization listed on a television stations list of “Who to Donate to for Hurricane Harvey.” But we are there!!! Our denomination decided years ago to spend our relief offerings on direct assistance, not on advertising or fundraising.
Before the hurricane struck, UMCOR was working with United Methodist conferences and preparing volunteers to help on the site. Before the hurricane struck the flood buckets and personal dignity kits were on the trucks and off to Texas and Louisiana.
You help each spring when you contribute to the UMCOR special offering. This offering pays all the operational costs for our world-wide relief efforts. This means then that every dollar collected through-out the year goes directly for relief. Charity navigator.com gives the United Methodist Committee on Relief a “four star- rating,” the highest rating available.
You helped this spring when you brought toothpaste and toothbrushes for our collection. These items were delivered by Peggy Literski to annual conference. Your “tooth gifts” joined soap, towels, face cloths, razors and shampoo and collectively became “personal dignity kits.” These items traveled to Chatham, Illinois where they were packaged by volunteers at the United Methodist Midwest Mission Center. Members of other conferences collected items for flood buckets, for babies, and for students. Volunteers from several mid-western states visit the center and work from one-day to one week packing dignity kits, flood buckets, making self-assemble school desks, crating components for school desks, packing school supplies, sewing school bags, and assembly baby layettes.
Children and teachers helped at Vacation Bible School this summer when they collected personal dignity kit items. The items collected by VBS participants were delivered directly to the Midwest Mission Center by Dick and Maylo Hranac at the end of July.
Yes, UMCOR needs more money. This year’s hurricane’s destruction is more widespread than one could ever imagine. But sometimes, some of us don’t have the money right now. The Mission Team appreciates the help you’ve given. If you can give now, here’s a link so you can give directly. If giving would be a hardship for you, then consider setting aside a few cents or dollars each pay period, and be ready to help when we collect again for UMCOR.