wfn.org | Strong response: UCC's online giving for Haiti surpasses all previous records

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Strong response: UCC's online giving for Haiti surpasses all previous  records

> Written by J. Bennett Guess
> January 19, 2010

Giving to the UCC's Haiti earthquake response is shattering previous
online giving rates, indicating a generous outpouring from across the
United Church of Christ, church leaders say.

Within six days of the disaster, a total of $250,603 has been received
from 2,366 online donors. That far exceeds a previous online giving
record set in early 2005 when $112,000 was raised at ucc.org over 23
days from a little more than 1,000 donors to aid victims of the Indian
Ocean tsunami.

"It's no surprise that UCC people are being very generous in reaching
out to our sisters and brothers in Haiti," says Susan M. Sanders, the
UCC's minister for global sharing of resources. "But this
unprecedented outpouring also shows that people are remembering to
give through the UCC in times of disaster, and demonstrates that we
are getting more comfortable with offering our gifts through online  methods."

The UCC's online tally has more than doubled during the past 72 hours,
and Sanders expects giving to remain strong for several days, if not weeks.

The totals, at this point, do not account for off-line ? or mailed in
? gifts, which are just starting to arrive at the UCC's Church House
in Cleveland. "Just this morning, we received a call from the
Financial Development office asking for our assistance with opening
the mail, because the response has been so great," Sanders says.

Sanders also has heard accounts of incredible generosity among local
churches.  "I'm just now starting to get reports of congregational
offerings, and they appear to be very, very strong," she says.

Trinity UCC in Chicago received $90,000 in special Haiti offerings
taken at the congregation's three services on January 18.  Peace
Congregational UCC in Clemson, S.C., a small new church start in the
UCC's Southeast Conference, gave its entire $700 weekend offering to
support Haiti relief.

UCC funds are already flowing to mission partners in Haiti, including
support for relief kits organized by Church World Service and funds
for medicine and supplies for area clinics provided by Interchurch
Medical Assistance. Funds have also been shared with Global Ministries
for support of partners, the National Spiritual Council of Churches of
Haiti (CONASPEH) and House of Hope. Additional distributions are being
made as relief and recovery efforts continue.

"Our first task is to pray, then to donate to relief efforts already
underway," Sanders told United Church News last week. In response to
the many who have inquired about volunteer opportunities in Haiti,
Sanders recommends, at this point, a financial contribution to the
Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund or volunteering in rebuilding efforts
still underway in New Orleans.

"The logistics of getting into Haiti and finding an effective relief
activity are very difficult," Sanders says. "World governments,
humanitarian agencies and mission groups already stationed in Haiti
are responding to needs as quickly as possible, and managing
volunteers would only add to the complexity of their efforts."

Sanders reminds UCC supporters that while the church responds
immediately at times of natural disasters, its commitment to recovery
and rebuilding is long-term. "The UCC will be working in Haiti for
many years to come, long after the media spotlight has turned
elsewhere," she says.