wfn.org | Disciples Week of Compassion helps tornado survivors

["Communication Ministries" <wshuffit@cm.disciples.org>]

receive medical supplies
Date: June 28, 2002
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Melinda Mains
Phone: 317-713-2496
E-mail: mmains@cm.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

NEW WINDSOR, Md., June 26, 2002 -- In response to the
devastation caused by the tornado that passed through two
Maryland counties on April 28, Interchurch Medical
Assistance in New Windsor shipped a variety of vitally
needed disaster relief products to the tornado site. 

The tornado caused five deaths, destroyed more than 860
homes, and produced an estimated $120 million in damage in
Charles and Calvert Counties.

Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) supported shipping costs for the medical supplies
to tornado survivors. Christ Episcopal Church, a local La
Plata congregation, coordinated distribution of the donated
products.

Six cartons of basic medical supplies and personal care
items, previously donated by Johnson & Johnson, were
distributed to 200 families that were severely affected by
the tornado. Some of the donated products were used to
re-supply the local Hospice, which lost everything. The
Johnson & Johnson products were originally donated for
inclusion in IMA's programs to provide hospitals and
clinics in developing countries with essential medicines
and medical supplies.  Johnson & Johnson will replace the
redirected inventory at no charge to maintain IMA's
overseas medical programs.

The joint effort is the result of a longstanding
partnership between IMA and Johnson & Johnson. "Though our
mission focuses on international relief and development, an
available inventory of Johnson & Johnson-donated products
in our warehouse -- and our proximity to the disaster site
-- put IMA in a unique position to provide immediate and
substantial assistance," said Paul Derstine, IMA president.
					

In related news, Week of Compassion recently approved a
$15,000 to grant to IMA for its disease eradication work in
Tanzania and is also supporting a major initiative through
IMA to immunize more than 300,000 children in Honduras
against mumps, measles and rubella.

Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc., is an association of
American Protestant relief and development agencies with
offices located in New Windsor, Md. The organization has a
41-year history of delivering medicines and medical
supplies to faith-based and other hospitals and health care
programs overseas. It also is involved in international
disease control programs related to the parasitic diseases
River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis, assisting
families providing palliative care to HIV/AIDS patients in
southern Africa, and disaster relief worldwide. 

                                            -- end --
 

Contact: Johnny Wray, executive director
Week  of Compassion
(317) 713-2450
johnnywray@ecunet.org

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