UMCOR Relief Efforts Report in Haiti
Written by Karla Abernethy-Thetford Friday, 19 March 2010 11:12
The Church Responds
More than two months after the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated Haiti, UMCOR continues to receive gifts from churches, individuals and organizations to support the people in Haiti.
Please continue to be in prayer with the people of Haiti as they grieve their losses and strive to meet their day to day needs.
As of March 18, 2010:
$15 Million has been received for UMCOR Haiti Relief
From the Field
UMCOR is implementing a five-year work plan that contemplates three phases of assistance to Haiti: emergency, recovery and rehabilitation.
This week’s highlights include:
23,520 Health Kits were transported via free shipping to Catholic partners in Haiti
UMCOR is in the final stages of hire for a Head of Mission for the office in Haiti and has hired a Haiti Desk
Officer to work in the New York City headquarters office. The position for Haiti Church Liaison is posted. Local staff in Haiti now include:
2 Drivers
1 Office Manager
1 Administrative Assistant
1 Logistics Assistant
1 Program Officer
Anthony Jones, Emergency Consultant for UMCOR Haiti continues to attend UN cluster meetings to strategically map out UMCOR’s work in partnership with other organizations.
Azim Akhtar, Operations Coordinator forUMCOR Haiti arrived into Santa Domingo, DR on March 14 and has been coordinating related operational logistics and will soon be going into Haiti to provide over-all operational leadership for UMCOR Haiti.
US Mission in Action
UMCOR Health met with a dozen longtime partners in the field of health in Haiti to begin to address the need for a long-term health strategy in post-earthquake Haiti. The priorities they identified include the development of a comprehensive, integrated health strategy in which the represented agencies, US-based Methodist hospitals, United Methodist volunteers and UMCOR would participate.
UMVIM Jurisdictional Coordinators met with UMCOR following a successful reconnaissance trip to Haiti. They proposed an ambitious three-year proposal to facilitate the work of volunteer teams for projects identified as priority by the Methodist Church in Haiti.
Layette kits and birthing kits, equipped for mothers and infants, are in great demand as Haitians begin to rebuild their lives. Please consider assembling layette kits and birthing kits to address the basic needs of babies born in displaced persons camps in Haiti. Contact your conference or district office to find out if a designated drop-off point has been established for a cost effective way to transport your supplies to either of the two UMCOR depots.
Partner Spotlight
Hoosier United Methodists gave $455,684 for Haiti earthquake relief and recovery during the months of January and February. Indiana United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner said, “I am very proud but not surprised by this generous response. Our Indiana United Methodist people are generous and passionate about missions and helping those in need. I thank God for these gifts.”
Courtenay Budd Caramico of Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church raised funds for UMCOR’s Haiti relief with her CD “Sleep is Behind the Door - Lullibies for Disaster Relief.” In a letter to UMCOR, shewrites, “The music on this CD was meant to comfort. Please receive it in that spirit, as well as enclosed checks totaling $855.68. . . We also recently donated $711.00 online in memory of Reverends Dixon and Rabb.
Students and staffers at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware gave up 400 meals --purchased through campus meal plans - and turned them into donations of $1,055.55 for UMCOR. "We are really proud the way the student body has come out and shown their support," said Amanda Kinkade, assistant director of residence life and housing for Wesley, who organized the effort. "They're giving up a meal and hopefully making the connecting that there are people in Haiti who don't have a choice."
Anton Petrescu de Perrella and J. F. Jung of Tzell Travels, the agency that coordinates most of the travel for UMCOR and other units of Global Ministries, both made contributions to UMCOR’s Haiti relief efforts in memory of The Rev. Clint Rabb and The Rev. Sam Dixon, Global Ministries staff members who died from injuries sustained in the January 12 Haitian earthquake. Anton wrote: "They will be sorely missed, as they truly devoted their lives to the needs of the poor and desperate worldwide."
