wfn.org | UMNS# 482-United Methodist relief agency raises $570,

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United Methodist relief agency raises $570,000 in initial response

Sep. 1, 2005

NEW YORK (UMNS) - Some $570,000 had been contributed by online donors to
the Hurricane Katrina appeal of the United Methodist Committee on Relief
as of late afternoon Sept. 1.

Roland Fernandes, treasurer of the agency, stressed that the figure only
reflected online giving. He said it was too early to have a sense of the
contributions being made by mail or telephone.

UMCOR is part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Fernandes is general treasurer of the international organization and of
UMCOR.

"In any natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina, the people who have
the least are the ones who are most vulnerable and need the most help,"
said Bishop Joel N. Martinez, president of the board.

"The mission calling of the General Board of Global Ministries is to
reach out and especially to serve the least of God's children," Martinez
said. "We pledge to make every effort to bring the resources and hope of
the United Methodist connection to those suffering the effects of
Hurricane Katrina."

Every dollar that United Methodists give for the hurricane recovery will
be used for that purpose, said Sandra Lackore, top staff executive of
the General Council on Finance and Administration and treasurer for the
church. She said none of the donations would be used for administrative
costs, which come from other sources.

"The Internet has changed the way people can contribute," Lackore said,
noting the strong online giving response that the church received to the
Dec. 26 tsunami. But, she added, that doesn't take the place of giving
to local church offerings, which is still a "powerful" way for people to
respond.

United Methodists overseas were also responding to the disaster.

The United Methodist mission agency of Germany donated EUR5,000 to UMCOR
hurricane relief areas.

"In the TV we see pictures of the damages; people in New Orleans and
along the Gulf coast have to mourn while struggling against Hurricane
Katrina," said Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of the Frankfurt, Germany area in
a letter to her colleagues affected by the storm.

"We pray for the victims and their families, for those who lost their
houses and belongings and for all those who work hard to help the people
in that area," Wenner said.

Donations to UMCOR's relief efforts can be made online at
http://methodistrelief.org, through local church collections and by mail
to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10015. Designate
checks to UMCOR for Advance No. 982523 and "Hurricanes 2005 Global."
Credit-card donations may be made by calling (800) 554-8583.

The relief agency also issued an emergency appeal Aug. 31 for health
kits, water and blankets. Information is available at
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org