Wider Church Ministries
Katrina Updates
In addition to the generosity of our congregations in sending a total of over $31,000 through the Conference to support the work of Church World Service on the Gulf Shore, we have received word that the following congregations are preparing Health Kits, School Kits and Clean up Kits to send; Virginia Highland Church, Atlanta, GA, and First United Church of Christ, Cookeville, TN.
Report from Will Rabert, Southeast Conference Disaster Relief Coordinator headquartered in Montgomery, AL and working in the area surrounding Mobile:- He writes that there is too much clothing being sent and an insufficient number of volunteers to sort it, so that the clothing is mildewed and unusable.
- The immediate need is for food, furniture, kits of sheets and linens, hygiene kits and school kits.
- The best way to respond to need at this time is to send money through the Southeast Conference
- Will is developing letters of instructions for pastors on how to help evacuees
- He is organizing a Long Term Recovery Committee in the Birmingham area.
- Alabama is overlooked by the media, and therefore has not had the assistance available to Mississippi and Louisiana.
The Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta is working on long term solution for evacuees. They are seeking congregations to sponsor families for periods of three months, assisting with rent, utilities, furniture, transportation employment spiritual and emotional support, and other services as needed. RRISA will provide training, please contact Sarah Miller or Gina Sims, at (404) 622-2235x239 or email at katrinahelp@rrisa.org
The United Church of Christ has organized a "Covenant of Compassion" a network of concerned churches and individuals who resolve to pray and work over the next three years to support people affected by natural and human disasters. See further information on the UCC web site (www.ucc.org).
The South Central Conference of the UCC is organizing a network of support for congregations affected by the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. By having these congregations adopted by other congregations they hope to provide support for the church's budget, funds for the repairs of church buildings and homes of members, to begin to develop work camps to be on site, and to support the ministries and people of these congregation in prayer. To establish a partnership with an affected congregation contact the interim conference minister Bill Royster at bgroyster@earthlink.net or call Bill at (512) 459-7607.
The Southeast Conference has established a fund in the amount of $15,000 with support from One Great Hour of Sharing to assist evacuees who are settling in the Southeast Conference area. We have distributed $8,000 of that money, $6,000 to the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry Program in Atlanta which committed to house a large number of evacuees. A number of our congregations (see below) are hosting evacuees, and may be drawing on this fund.
Many of you have asked about updates about Back Bay Mission, located in Biloxi, MS. There are regular reports on the UCC website available. The summary is that the campus of Back Bay Mission has been devastated, but the staff is safe, and preparing to work again shortly. They are receiving contributions through Wider Church Ministries, and checks can be sent clearly designated to Back Bay Mission. (Wider Church Ministries, 700 Prospect Avenue, E, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100, memo: Back Bay Mission)
- The Heifer International Catalog
- Service, Fall 2005, a publication of Church World Service Listing of UCC affiliated schools and colleges
- Whose Child Left Behind? Why? The final report of the United Church of Christ Public Education Task Force
- Hurricane Evacuee Relocation, a handbook on how to assist evacuees resettle
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