wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 3101

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3195 notes).

Note 3195 by UMNS on Sept. 27, 1996 at 17:00 Eastern (3668 characters).

CONTACTProduced by United Methodist News Service, official news
agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville,
Tenn., New York, and Washington.

: Thomas S. McAnally                       481(10-21-30-71B){3195}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470            Sept. 30, 1996

UMCOR licensed to ship aid to North Korea;
appealing for relief boxes, money to buy rice

     NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Committee on Relief
(UMCOR) has received a license from the U.S. Department of
Commerce to ship food to North Korea and is appealing to local
churches to send relief boxes and money to purchase rice.
     "This is another Russia Food Lift," said UMCOR staff member
Wendy Whiteside, referring to thousands of boxes boxes sent by
United Methodists to Russia in 1992.
     UMCOR's goal is to send 100,000 relief boxes and 3,000 tons
of bulk rice to the people of North Korea. One box will provide a
week's worth of food for a five-member family.
     "North Korea is so isolated that the media hasn't been able
to tell how bad it really is," Whiteside said. "Just recently some
journalists were allowed in and their reports indicate that people
are literally starving to death and winter hasn't even begun."
     Harvests in North Korea declined between 1989 and 1994
because of economic, environmental, and weather-related
conditions.  Crops in the summer of 1995 were drastically reduced
because of floods and a typhoon.  The summer of 1996 saw more
flooding.
     Because of these conditions, North Korea for the first time
appealed for assistance from the United Nations and the world
community.
     In the spring of 1996, UMCOR received a license from the U.S.
Department of Commerce to ship $100,000 worth of rice, powdered
milk, blankets and boots to areas of the country that were
suffering most.
     Another license was issued to UMCOR this month to ship bulk
rice and relief boxes containing food and hand gardening tools.
     "By responding generously and quickly we will be making a
really important difference in the lives of people," said
Whiteside.  "Not only have we not known much about the people of
North Korea but they know little about the outside world. What a
wonderful opportunity for us to witness through action,
particularly as Christians. We will be showing them that we think
they are worthy as children of God."
     Size and content of relief boxes are restricted by the U.S.
license, Whiteside explained.  Each box must contain  certain
amounts of rice, powered milk, canned  meats, shortening, candy,
and other items.
     For instruction on how and what to mail, call 1-800-814-8765. 
For instruction in Korean language, call 1-800-636-0905.
     Boxes, labeled "North Korea Emergency", are to be sent to the
UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, La.  For each box, $20 must be sent to
cover the cost of shipping from the depot to Korea.
     Donors are asked to enclose a postcard with their return
address for the recipent of each parcel.  UMCOR will add a
postcard, in Korean, exlplaining how the food and other items were
acquired and that the prayers and best wishes of the United
Methodist Church accompany the box.
     UMCOR is also asking that persons contribute to a North Korea
Emergency Advance Fund (226435-0) to help purchase bulk rice which
will be shipped.  Be sure to write the Advance Code #226435-0 and
"North Korea Emergency" on each check.
     The bulk rice, combined with the rice in the food box, will
provide each family with enough rice for one month.  UMCOR can
purchase rice by the ton, which means that 25 cents will buy one
pound of rice.
                              #  #  #

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