Haiti: How You Can Help

A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and the death toll is now above 150,000.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has close ties with the Methodist Church in Haiti and is responding to the devastating earthquake with funding, material resources and prayers. UMCOR has been in Haiti responding with medical attention, food packets, shelter and drinking water for survivors since the day of the earthquake. UMCOR has a 4 STAR rating from Charity Navigator and is one of the only organizations working in Haiti to have an A+ rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

There are a number of ways for individuals and local churches to help in the response, and this page has links to updated news as well as resources to assist local churches in spreading the word about how to best support the relief efforts.

Call for Prayer:

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.

Other Ways to Help:

UMCOR Donations: If you can donate toward relief efforts, please make payment to Peoples UMC with a note in the memo line or envelope: UMCOR Advance # 418325 for Haiti. Or you can give securely online at www.umcor.org 100% of donations go to relief efforts in Haiti, not administration.

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission will be looking for many volunteers to go to Haiti within the next few months. There is required training before joining a team; if interested please speak with the pastors.

UMCOR Health Kits for Haiti are being collected. Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. You may bring any individual items, or place the group of items for one full kit inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. Please place in the boxes provided in the back of the church or in Ellis Hall next to the office.

• 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)

• 1 washcloth

• 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

• 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

• 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

• 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)

• 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

• $2.00 ($1 to purchase toothpaste and $1 for processing/ shipping costs for each kit).

(NOTE: UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

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.

The church is located at 310 Broadway South Portland, ME 04106. Kits can be dropped off Sunday during worship, or weekdays 8am-1pm through the Mussey Street entrance. For questions you may call 799-1413.

Peoples UMC is the drop-off site for the Greater Portland area, and all kits will be collected by UMCOR the first week of March. Carol Bruneau is looking for a team to help assemble the first round of kits after church on February 7. Kits will be collected through the end of February.

Thank you for your prayers and support for our sisters and brothers in Haiti. May Christ's love be revealed to Haiti through the outpouring of prayers, donations and support in the aftermath of this tragedy.