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Children helping children recover in Louisiana

Nov. 23, 2005

NOTE: Photograph is available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Betty Backstrom*

BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS)- Children around the country have an opportunity
to help rebuild Sunday school classrooms destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
using construction paper, glue and some unbroken crayons.

"Kids Helping Kids-Sharing God's Love," a new ministry started by the
Christian education office of the Louisiana Annual Conference, is a way
for children to get involved in the recovery efforts.

Construction paper, glue, notebook paper, markers, crayons, stickers,
and all the typical supplies needed to operate a children's Sunday
school class are now being collected by the Louisiana conference.

"These supplies will be broken into start-up kits and distributed to
churches as they begin offering Sunday school programs again," said the
Rev. John Edd Harper, director of Christian Education for the
conference.

The "Kids Helping Kids" outreach also includes the donation and receipt
of church nursery supplies. "We'll accept anything from cribs and
mattresses to disposable diapers and nursery toys," he added.

Harper got the idea for the outreach initiative after receiving numerous
calls from churches and individuals throughout the connection looking
for significant ways for children to become involved in the response
efforts.

"The silver lining behind the cloud of loss and sadness is the strong
desire among United Methodists to help each other," he said. "It is
especially heartwarming to see this stirring in the hearts of our young
people."

Harper's hope is that this ministry will expand into serving residents
of the FEMA trailer communities, which are providing temporary housing
to displaced persons from both storms. "We hope ultimately to be allowed
into these sites to distribute new clothes, shoes, school supplies and
toys for children," said Harper.

Even in the churches that were not completely flooded, there are still
many needs. "Many Christian educators in local churches have said that
their budgets have been cut to bare bones, which makes the purchase of
new and additional Sunday school supplies very difficult. Those churches
have needs right now," he added.

A total of six storm relief stations are being set up in affected areas
with the help of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Donated
supplies will be shipped directly to the station where items will be
unpacked, sorted, repacked and delivered to churches in need. Some
supplies will be stored until more severely damaged churches are
reopened.

"We plan to invite area children to play a role in this distribution
process," Harper said. "Hands-on participation in packing and delivering
these donated supplies will help the children of Louisiana recognize
that their brothers and sisters in Christ truly love and care about
them."

Anyone interested in participating in "Kids Helping Kids" can contact
the individual centers listed on the conference Web site at
www.la-umc.org to obtain information on where to send supplies. A list
of suggested supplies is also available. Questions should be directed to
Harper at (225) 346-1646.

*Backstrom is editor of Louisiana Now!, the newspaper of the United
Methodist Church's Louisiana Annual Conference.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

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

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