A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, causing widespread death and destruction. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and continues to respond with funding, material resources and prayers. There are a number of ways for individuals and local churches to help in the response - see below for updated news as well as resources to assist local churches in spreading the word about how to best support the relief efforts.
News Stories
April 2010 - Video about the work of Partners in Development, Inc. (PID) in Haiti.
Partners In Development, Inc. (PID) strives to help the extreme poor attain independence and whole life improvement. PID combines a variety of programs to achieve community transformation in places where hope is often lost in the cycle of poverty. Click below to see the April 2010 story of their work in Haiti following the 7.0 disastrous earthquake in January of 2010, courtesy of Church on the Cape UMC in Cape Porpoise, ME, a longtime partner and supporter of PID.
UMCOR partnership gives Haitians keys to clean water
The United Methodist Committee on Relief, working with GlobalMedic, is helping to bring life-saving water to Haitian communities. Read more>>
United Methodists reach out to Haiti in numerous ways
While volunteers are being discouraged from traveling to Haiti until the first-response groups have a chance to make the area more secure, United Methodists are finding plenty of other ways to provide relief now. Read more>>
Mission leader Clint Rabb celebrated for making a difference
A mission leader who died serving one of the world’s poorest nations was remembered as a friend and advocate for the most vulnerable of God’s children. More than 700 friends, family and mission workers from throughout the world packed University United Methodist Church Jan. 23 to celebrate the life of the Rev. Clinton Rabb, 60, who died from injuries received in the rubble of the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12. Read more>>
Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England Annual Conference is calling all New England United Methodists to prayer for the people of Haiti in the wake of this devastating earthquake. Please pray for all of the people affected by the earthquake. Thank you for your faithful support for all of God’s children.
Volunteers-in-Mission
Those wishing to volunteer should contact their conference or jurisdictional VIM coordinator for Volunteers-in-Mission opportunities to Haiti.
Gifts to support UMCOR's Haiti Relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325. Checks can be made to UMCOR, with Advance #418325 Haiti Emergency in the memo line. Checks can be put in the church's offering plate or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. 100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.
Health and Layette Kits
UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available here: Health Kit Contents.
Kits should be complete. The $1.00 to cover the cost of toothpaste for health kits, and $1.00 to help with transportation costs should not be placed in the indivdual kits. Please place the money in a seperate envelope inside the shipping box (a check made out to UMCOR would be preferrable).
Also needed are Layette Kits. With babies being born in temporary shelters among the rubble left by the earthquake, there is a need for clean swaddling clothing to wrap the newborns. Click here for instructions for assembling Layette Kits.
As we continue to collect Health Kits throughout New England, here is some essential information for our collection and shipment to Mission Central.
Important Kit Assembly Information
All items included in kits must be NEW items.
All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.
Packing Kits
Box Weight. Each packed box cannot exceed 66 pounds.
Resources for Local Churches
Download a Bulletin Insert for use in local churches for Sunday offerings.
Missing mission executive seen entering destroyed hotel - Officials were still holding out hope that UMCOR’s Sam Dixon, Clinton Rabb of Mission Volunteers and consultant Jim Gulley are somehow still alive.
Concerns mount for missing UMCOR workers - No one has been able to reach the three men and communications with Haiti have been difficult. Read more
'Dire situation' calls for generous giving - Donations are already coming in and there are multiple ways to give, including online donations and Special Sunday collections. Read more
United Methodists respond with prayer, aid for Haiti - Mission workers were in Port-au-Prince when the worst quake in 200 years struck. Read more
United Methodists in Haiti before quake hit - Hundreds from the U.S. are in Haiti now and more have plans to go to the poverty-stricken country. Read more
