wfn.org | United Methodists issue churchwide appeal for Floyd victims

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Oct. 4, 1999 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212) 870-3803*New York
10-71B{505}

NEW YORK (UMNS) -- United Methodists issued a churchwide appeal Oct. 4 for
funds to assist victims of Hurricane Floyd.

The appeal - approved by the denomination's Council of Bishops and General
Council on Finance and Administration - also will cover victims of tornado
damage last May in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Donations should still be designated to Hurricanes '99, UMCOR Advance No.
982460-1, and placed in church collection plates or mailed directly to 475
Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donations can be
made by calling (800) 554-8583.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is estimating it will need
at least $5 million to help the residents of North Carolina, Virginia, New
Jersey, New York and other states affected by Hurricane Floyd. About 60,000
pounds of cleaning supplies already are being distributed through local
churches in North Carolina, where heavy rain caused additional flooding.
Supplies also have been shipped to New Jersey.

In southeastern Virginia, Hurricane Floyd caused flood-related damage at
Sanford, Calvary, Memorial, High Street, Woodland and Ebenezer United
Methodist churches. Richmond Area Bishop Joe E. Pennel Jr. and other pastors
have toured the area to assess needs and prepare a church response. United
Methodist volunteers also are assisting flood victims in a variety of ways,
and a permanent relief center is to be established at High Street church in
Franklin.

Trenton (N.C.) United Methodist Church received water damage, but not enough
to put it out of commission. "We've got the largest food pantry in Trenton,"
said the Rev. Billy Olsen. "We have turned part of the church into a command
center for the community. People needing assistance are calling and we're
attempting to send teams out."

Seven Springs (N.C.) United Methodist Church has served as town headquarters
since the storm. The Rev. Jim Humphries and his wife, Lisa, have directed
volunteer teams and overseen various cleanup tasks, despite being forced
from their own parsonage because of flooding. 

Volunteer teams are needed in North Carolina to assist in the cleanup and
rebuilding of churches, parsonages and some of the more than 33,000 homes
that received water damage. Teams also are needed in other states.
Volunteers can call (800) 918-3100 for details.

Because of demands from Hurricane Floyd, the UMCOR Sager-Brown Depot in
Baldwin, La., is completely out of cleaning supplies. Flood bucket kits --
individual cleaning agents, brooms, mops, sponges and buckets - are needed.
More information is available by calling (800) 814-8765.

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