The UMCOR Hotline for February 6, 2013

In Today's Hotline: Read how UMCOR is responding to needs all over the world.

NEWS: RELIEF-SUPPLY NETWORK REACHES MULTITUDES
PRAYER: JANUARY STORM SURVIVORS
MEDIA: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
RESOURCE: HAITI FAIR TRADE GIFT SET FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

NEWS: RELIEF-SUPPLY NETWORK REACHES MULTITUDES

The sheer numbers of relief supply kits that the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) delivers annually is evidence of a caring, connected United Methodist Church that is determined to deliver relief at the crucial hour of need.

The Relief-Supply Network is headquartered at UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana. There, Kathy Kraiza, executive director of UMCOR’s Material Resources Ministry, coordinates the distribution of hundreds of thousands of kits, operating with all the grace and complexity of a dance choreographer.

In some ways, the impressive statistics tell the story. In 2012, the UMCOR Relief-Supply Network shipped more than $6 million worth of goods and materials to people in need worldwide. Nearly $2 million worth of goods went to 18 different US states. Read more.

Given the amount of kits being distributed, what does the network need most? Health kits, schools kits, and cleaning buckets, said Kraiza, though every kind of kit will be used by someone who is truly in need. Read more.

There are many ways you can help. You can assemble kits with your local congregation or community and send them to any of the depots in the UMCOR Relief-Supply Network. Or volunteer to assemble and inspect kits at UMCOR Sager Brown Depot or UMCOR West Office and Depot.

Your gift to Material Resources Ministry, UMCOR Advance #901440, will help purchase supplies and replenish stocks of kits. You can also give to Contain Your Joy, UMCOR Advance #982730, to support shipments of kits to people in need.

PRAYER: JANUARY STORM SURVIVORS

Pray for all those who were impacted by severe weather on January 30, particularly in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

MEDIA: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

One Great Hour of Sharing is March 10. Learn how your contribution helps UMCOR meet needs and alleviate suffering around the world by watching and sharing UMCOR’s new video about this special offering. Order your One Great Hour of Sharing offering materials today.

If you would like an UMCOR representative to speak at your church about One Great Hour of Sharing, contact Landon Taylor.

RESOURCE: HAITI FAIR TRADE GIFT SET FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Hope for Haiti Coffee and Candle Set is a new fair trade gift set that promises to warm the heart of a loved one on Valentine’s Day while supporting artisans in Haiti.

The gift set is offered by UMCOR partner Prosperity Candle, through sister organization Prosperity Catalyst, which is launching a candle-making business in Haiti.

The set includes an UMCOR-Prosperity Candle travel tin; Hope's Blend, UMCOR’s fellowship coffee in partnership with Equal Exchange; and a special hand-carved river stone heart made by women artisans in Haiti. The set represents our hopes for Haiti, a country close to many of our hearts. Each set costs $32.00, with 10 percent going toward UMCOR programs. Purchase your set today!

UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online by clicking any of the "DONATE" links or make a $10 donation anytime by texting “UMCOR” to 80888. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.

And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.

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United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 1520, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@umcor.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org/
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twitter.com/umc_umcor