United Church of Christ Hurricane Response
The United Church of Christ continues to respond through dollars and works to the suffering and enormous need in the Gulf Coast and expects to be there for the long haul. Given the magnitude of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the UCC projects a response that will last 5 to 10 years. Through the UCC's Hope Shall Bloom - Hurricane Recovery Fund, more than $4 million has been raised to date to support hurricane recovery.
Susan Sanders, UCC minister for the global sharing of resources, reports that the UCC has trained Disaster Network Coordinators and Church World Service staff to work with devastated communities to identify and meet the unmet needs in their neighborhoods - to catch the folks who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
Representatives from the UCC Wider Church Ministries staff have traveled to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast regularly since the hurricanes. Volunteer work groups have been arriving in New Orleans since December and will continue into next fall and beyond.
The Rev. Alan Coe, recently named minister for disaster recovery in the UCC South Central Conference, is coordinating the volunteers in New Orleans. Coe reports that volunteers are bringing hope to the community, but while the generosity flows, the emotions are still raw, "The congregations and community are stressed and still grieving," said Coe. "People are pretty anxious throughout the city. After the holidays, the anxiety increased. People have a difficult time doing anything."
The Rev. Gary Arndt, pastor of Good Shepherd UCC, is still making repairs to his own church building while housing volunteers in two portable buildings. Arndt said the housing was made available in October and the volunteers have been a godsend to the church and community. "They give us the courage to continue to move forward," Arndt said.
Arndt and Coe worry about how many families will not return, with Arndt estimating that Good Shepherd has lost at least 20 percent of its membership to other cities. Both say they are working their hardest to bring hope to the remaining families. Arndt said he speaks regularly about God offering everyone strength and possibilities. Coe said he continues recruiting volunteers. "We're just trying to get everyone back to a sense of being normal again," said Arndt.
UCC National Disaster Ministries recently reported on its "Phase One of Relief and Recovery" for the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Funds disbursed through Jan. 31, 2006 include:
$25,000 - Church World Service, (Hurricane Katrina) to support distribution of blankets, health kits, and deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons
$209,800 - UCC South Central Conference to meet emergency needs; provide grants to UCC clergy families who have been displaced and lost homes & income sources; long term recovery disaster response coordination [two long term volunteers]. Additionally, Rev. Alan Coe has been called by the South Central Conference to coordinate disaster recovery and work camp groups in the New Orleans Association.
$110,000 - Community of Faith Church of Houston (UCC/Disciple) - Amistad Resettlement Project, to assist in paying resettlement costs (two months housing; food and clothing allowance) for 78 evacuated families who have been identified to participate in long-term resettlement project.
$50,000 - Church World Service - Relocation Program for Displaced Americans, relocation of families in various sites across U.S.
$15,000 - UCC Southeast Conference to meet emergency needs; feeding evacuees in Atlanta through the Hosea Williams Feeding Program (at the request of Ambassador Andrew Young).
$20,000 - UCC Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi to re-establish mission site for emergency relief and long-term recovery and rebuilding.
$5,000 - Purchase of two Iridium satellite phones and service for use by Back Bay Mission staff as long as normal land-line and cell phone communications are disrupted.
$40,000 - UCC related Dillard University, New Orleans to repair damage to campus and restore operations.
$5,000 - UCC related Olivet College, Michigan, to help cover costs of feeding and sheltering 18 evacuees.
$10,000 - Farm Worker Association of Florida to assist migrant farm workers unemployed when the crops were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
$53,800 - Good Shepherd UCC, Metairie, Louisiana to prepare church building(repaired damages, remove mold) to serve as site for evacuee/returnee housing/hospitality and long-term mission trip base camp.
$10,500 - Church World Service - (Hurricane Rita) to support distribution of blankets, health kits, and deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons.
$2,400 - Back Bay Mission, support for WCM Volunteer to serve as mission trip coordinator (6 months).
$4,500 - Plymouth Congregational UCC, Beaumont, TX (Hurricane Rita) to assist the community with relief and recovery needs.
$10,000 - Old First Church, Springfield, MA - support for books for Gulf Coast schools (k-8); church is working with school districts to replace books through an ongoing book program.
$15,000 - New York Disaster Interfaith Services - support for resettlement of evacuees in New York City.
$30,000 - Louisiana Environmental Action Network to assist with direct relief efforts for residents - providing "Re-entry Protection Kits" that contain protective clothing and eye wear, gloves, biohazard bags, and particulate respirators, as well as more bleach, and hopefully, if we can find them in time, buckets and detergents.
$50,000 - Into Afrika Exodus Ministries - UCC Ministers for Racial,& Economic Justice - to facilitate radio town hall meetings for the Diaspora, to receive critical information and have a voice in plans for how to rebuild their communities.
$20,000 - UCC South Central Conference - support for new church start in Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Malcolm Richard, pastor.
$25,000 - Disaster Recovery Services of George County, Mississippi - interfaith support to buy materials to repair and rebuild homes for persons who are under insured; or, have no insurance. Volunteer work groups will provide the labor.
Recovery and Rehabilitation Phase Part I
Mar. 1, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2006 projected funding:
$100,000 - UCC National Disaster Ministries and Church World Service for work with partners in local communities on the technology-caused issues (environmental hazards) related to Hurricane Katrina
$500,000 - Partnerships with local organizations for advocacy in relation to environment, affordable housing, re-entry assistance for residents, job re-training
$90,000 - Support for recovery efforts of nine UCC congregations in New Orleans Association
$200,000 - Church World Service to develop long term recovery organizations; spiritual care for persons affected directly and indirectly; care for the care-givers; support for local community organizations related to vulnerable populations
$1,000,000 - Ecumenical home reconstruction program - Long Term Recovery and Interfaith Committees.
Since October, UCC National Disaster Ministries also has teamed with Justice and Witness Ministries and its Justice and Peace Action Network asking UCC members to contact their congressional representatives to pass critical aid packages for hurricane victims and protection programs for disaster responders.
In a letter to UCC members in the immediate aftermath of the Gulf Coast hurricanes, the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, wrote: "We have been reminded by Hurricane Katrina that Christian compassion is not an occasional activity, but a spiritual discipline that seeks each day to bear the burdens of others. Prayer, financial generosity, hands on volunteer work, witnessing for justice are all part of a demanding discipline called forth by the urgency of human need in the face of disaster and by the constancy of love we see in the Cross. Compassion is a demanding discipline."
The major role of the church in this disaster, as in all disasters, is long-term recovery, said Susan Sanders. "The UCC promises to walk with disastered communities on the long, long road to restoration," Sanders said.
To learn more about the UCC's Hope Shall Bloom - Hurricane Recovery Fund:
Hurricane resources and updates
Give to the Hope Shall Bloom - UCC Hurricane Recovery Fund
About the 'Hope Shall Bloom' Covenant of Compassion
Hurricane recovery volunteer opportunities
*********************************************
Daniel Hazard Web Design Editor Proclamation, Identity and Communication Team United Church of Christ 216-736-2186 http://www.ucc.org