wfn.org | FW: [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 423-Web link allows online hurricane

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

Web link allows online hurricane donations 

Sep. 17, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Green * (615) 7425470* 
Nashville {423} 

NOTE: NOTE: A photograph of the Rev. Larry Hollon is available at
http://umns.umc.org. 

Linda Green 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-A new Web link enables people to support United
Methodist hurricane relief by making financial contributions online.

United Methodist Communications has created www.UnitedMethodistRelief.org to
direct donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The new Web
feature allows financial contributions to be made safely and quickly.

"UMCOR has already made it possible to receive donations by telephone to
support the Advance, and this Web link is an extension of that ability by
taking the response online," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at
United Methodist Communications. The Advance for Christ and His Church is a
United Methodist giving program that supports relief efforts and other
ministries worldwide.

"In light of the urgent human need that results from these hurricanes, we are
providing a link which enables people to contribute to UMCOR hurricane relief
online in a manner that is identical to the methods that they can use by
making a telephone call," he said. "It's an incredible opportunity for the
church to make it possible for people to provide humanitarian assistance to
victims of the hurricane."

United Methodist Communications manages the denomination's Web ministry by
hosting the church's official site at UMC.org. The hurricane relief link
informs people that the church is actively ministering to human need, Hollon
said.

Gifts of money are critical to ensure UMCOR's continued readiness as more
hurricanes threaten, according to the relief agency's Web site.

The new Web address is being promoted through Google.com, the online search
engine, so finding the hurricane relief link is easy for anyone wanting to
provide aid. The Google relationship will enable the church to reach new
audiences outside the denomination. The link can be found by typing in
keywords such as "hurricane," "United Methodists," "hurricane relief" and
"Ivan." The visitor is taken to a page that explains what the church is doing
in hurricane relief. The link also includes information on how to make a
financial contribution or participate as a volunteer.

"We've made it as easy as possible to support the ministry of the church,"
Hollon said.   "We are pleased that people are seeing the link and are making
use of it."

People can support the relief work at a variety of levels. A donation of $5
provides a blanket to a flood victim; $45 supports a bucket of cleanup
supplies; $100 pays for counseling to a family that lost all of its
possessions; and $500 will help buy rebuilding materials for an uninsured
homeowner. 

"We are enabling people to provide gifts of hope," Hollon said. 

According to the United Methodist Committee on Relief hotline, officials have
begun initial damage assessments in Mobile, Ala., which was hit hard by
Hurricane Ivan Sept. 16. The storm cut a 300-mile track across the
Alabama-West Florida Annual (regional) Conference, and UMCOR will assist in
cleanup and recovery as soon as the damage assessment is completed. 

In addition, the agency is helping in Florida, which was ravaged by
Hurricanes Charley and Frances, and weighing options for a response in Puerto
Rico, which was hit by Tropical Storm Jeanne.

Besides online contributions, people can make donations in traditional ways.
Checks should be written to UMCOR and earmarked for "Hurricanes 2004," UMCOR
Advance No. 982410. Checks can be placed in church offering plates or mailed
directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, N.Y. 10115.
Credit-card donations can be made by calling, toll free, (800) 554-8583.

The agency continues to call for donations of cleaning supplies.
Specifications can be found at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor online at the "UMCOR
Kits" link. 

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer in Nashville, Tenn. 

News media contact: Linda Green, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org. 

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