Again during this year's Annual Conference, folks will have the chance to participate in a hands-on mission assembling United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) health kits.

The goal is to assemble 1,000 health kits between Thursday and lunchtime on Saturday. The assembly station will be open each day at 8 a.m. beginning Thursday until the kits are completed. The health kit assembly area will be in the same location as last year, outside of Salons A and D at the Radisson.

See the schedule and register to help

We also need volunteer supervisors to facilitate the process and monitor donations at the UMCOR trailer. Learn more

Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Health kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition, and cooking classes.

Items included are:

• hand towel
• washcloth
• comb
• metal nail file or nail clippers
• bath-size soap
• toothbrush
• adhesive bandages
• plastic bag
• Toothpaste (added right before shipping)

Learn more about how to make kits.

All the materials for the kits will be provided. People can stop by as they are able to build one kit or as many as they have time to complete. No experience necessary; our UMCOR-trained HUB leaders will be on hand to guide the assembly process.

The Annual Conference registration form will include the option of making a donation of $4 (or more) to cover the cost of kit supplies, toothpaste and shipping. In addition to the other supplies, this donation helps purchase toothpaste that will be added to the kits right before shipping and cover the cost of shipping the entire kit.

As he has for several years, John Blackadar will have a trailer at the Radisson Hotel to collect completed Relief Supply kits. The trailer will be parked in the back employee parking lot around the right side of the Radisson as you face the front of the building (same location as 2016). Drop-off hours will be announced. At other times, completed kits can be dropped off at the Health Kit assembly area.

Barbara Burnside, Conference Disaster ERT & Mission Coordinator, is organizing the effort. In addition to encouraging everyone at Annual Conference to pitch in and assemble a kit, Burnside asked for prayers "for those who have been displaced by a disaster or conflict as well as the many volunteers worldwide who minister to them."

If you have questions, contact Burnside at baburnside@neumc.org