What We Have Done So Far
1. By giving to One Great Hour of Sharing during Lent 2009, we provided emergency funds that are immediately being sent to Church World Service partners in Haiti.
2. Carrol Hanson received a box of CDs of organ music by Kui-Im Lee, who was a "Sundays at Four" performer last October. Dr. Lee sent the CDs at no cost, asking only that all the proceeds from their sale be sent to Haiti. Pay what you wish--$8, $10, $100--all of the money will be used to support the work of CWS in Haiti.
3. The Mission Board has called for a special offering that was received during worship on Sunday, January 31. Thank you for your generous giving. So far we have received over $3,400 from the offering and the CD sales. If you would still like to contribute to this offering, please make your check out to Congregational UCC and put "Haiti Relief" on the memo line.
4. Please start thinking now about what you can give to One Great Hour of Sharing during Lent this year.
How You Can Help Today
1. Pray for the people of Haiti, their leaders, and emergency and humanitarian aid workers.
2. To assist impacted families, you may send gifts payable to Congregational UCC marked for "OGHS – Haitian Relief" with the request they be sent through the Iowa Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.
OR
Send gifts, made out to Wider Church Ministries and marked in the memo portion "OGHS – Haitian Relief" to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.
OR
Donate Now to Provide Emergency Relief In Haiti
Make a secure online donation to the OGHS International Disaster Relief fund.
Haiti response update from Alex Morse in the Dominican Republic
Thursday, March 4, 2010
"It has been almost two months now since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, and since I arrived here to work with Social Services of the Dominican Churches," begins Alex Morse in his recent update.
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It has been almost two months now since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, and since I arrived here to work with Social Services of the Dominican Churches.
The last month has been interesting getting to see how different non-governmental organizations are responding to the needs, and learning about all the different parts that go into responding to a massive disaster. I have also been involved in working with SSID's new project that they have with Church World Service and Christian Aid, where we are providing food, water, and shelter to 2,000 people. That is in addition to the other 23,000 people that we are supporting in five other camps.
On top of all the demands of feeding and helping shelter 2,000 people we are also trying to meet SPHERE standards in the process. SPHERE is a set of minimum standards that humanitarian groups try to meet in response to disasters or refugee situations, so for example with food we are trying to have 2,100 calories of food per person per day, three liters of drinking water per day, adequate shelter from the rain, and mattresses for sleeping. The idea is that by following these standards risk of disease and malnutrition is reduced, and it also helps to protect the people living in the emergency camps dignity. When there is not adequate food or water people can be forced into desperate situations, and are prone to abuse from those with resources.
More about SPHERE and our project can be found here and pictures from the camps can be found here.
The last time I was in Jimani working on our project I was surprised to run into two Disciples pastors who were working on organizing a mission trip, and was grateful to hear that they had been advised not to come by Disciples’ Global Ministries. First, the situation in Haiti for now has been incredibly peaceful, but it is not stable and could quickly change. Second, much of the work that needs to be done in the rebuilding of Haiti at this point requires either very experienced specialists working on infrastructure projects, or physical labor, which can and should be done by the Haitians as they should be as involved as possible in the rebuilding of their country. Mission groups responding to emergencies, often do not have unique skills (unless it is a team of doctors or civil engineers), and are often less able to do construction or clean up projects as they aren't used to building with local materials or speak the language, and so they only distract organizations from the work that they have at hand.
After meeting with the pastors I began to wonder what it would cost to send down a mission group, and what those resources would be able to buy if put into the hands of a responsible organization like SSID. Having worked on the budget for our camps that feed 2,000 people every day, I have a good estimate of the costs of supplying an emergency camp, and after a little research I was able to put together an estimate of the costs for a a group of 12 people to come from Chicago and work for one week in Haiti. Assuming that they stay in the cheapest hotels a no frills mission trip to Haiti would cost around $10,986.60 without covering any budget for projects. that means that for the cost of a group of 12 to visit we could:
- Feed 2,000 people for 6 days.
- Feed 13,200 people for 1 day.
- Provide shelter for 1,569 families (about 5,000 people).
- Provide clean drinking water for one month to 4,171 people. OR
- Provide sheets and mattresses for 304 people.
As satisfying as it is to work alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters, at this point the money is more urgently needed, as supplies can be purchased easily here in the Dominican Republic. I hope those considering mission trips right now to Haiti or Chile will take these numbers into consideration, and decide whether their projects that they have planned are more valuable than the resources that they would spend on their trip. I think my opinion which is more important is fairly clear.
Please continue to lift up Haiti in prayer as the rainy season begins, and for those suffering right now in Chile.
Alex Morse
Church World Service Volunteer in the Dominican Republic
UCC donations, ground efforts continue to arrive in Haiti
Written by Jeff Woodard
February 2, 2010
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CWS emergency supplies being unloaded in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Photo Paul Jeffrey/ACT International |
As emergency relief personnel and crucial supplies continue to pour into Haiti, United Church of Christ members and congregations are maintaining their overwhelming support of the earthquake-ravaged nation, according to UCC leaders. As of Feb. 2, more than $650,000 had been raised by the UCC Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, according to Susan M. Sanders, UCC's minister for global sharing of resources.
"The total of $652,943 includes $375,942 that has been raised through online contributions," says Sanders. The three-week total is more than two and a half times the $250,603 raised during the first six days following the Jan. 12 disaster.
Ground efforts in addressing emergency needs are also adding up. The UCC is supporting Church World Service in providing basic supplies for quake survivors. Among supplies being provided at five sites by the CWS and the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance effort are CWS Kits and Blankets, medical supplies, food and water.
The UCC is also supporting the provision of 60 medicine boxes to address desperate medical needs in Port-au-Prince. Each IMA World Health medicine box contains essential medicines and medical supplies to treat the routine ailments of about 1,000 adults and children for up to two months.
UCC/CWS-supported efforts as part of the ACT Alliance also include construction of temporary water systems, and provision of water purification materials, tents and food packages. Long-term CWS work will focus on food security in rural areas and expanding work with people with disabilities in Port-au-Prince.
In addition, Global Ministries of the UCC/Disciples of Christ is supporting longtime partner CONASPEH in relief efforts among member congregations. Planning is underway to re-establish outreach and social services, and to rebuild churches.
It is anticipated the UCC will be responding to the disaster for the next five to eight years.
Meanwhile, countless creative initiatives from UCC entities have taken shape. Among them: Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF) in California has issued a $50,000 match grant to encourage employees to donate; an employee campaign at Advocate Health Care in Chicago is sharing proceeds with both the UCC and Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America (ELCA); First United Church of Christ in Hampton, Va., is planning a benefit concert for Haiti on Feb. 21; and the youth group of Mountain Rise UCC in Fairport, N.Y., voted to donate the $1,720.25 it recently raised through Christmas wreath sales.
In addition, Beecher Memorial UCC in New Orleans has sent a first offering of $629 and has pledged to receive a special Haiti offering the first Sunday of each month in 2010. In a letter to UCC Wider Church Ministries, the Rev. Juan R. Thomas, Senior Pastor at Beecher Memorial, wrote: "The citizens of New Orleans and the members of Beecher Memorial UCC, who 4½ years after Hurricane Katrina continue to rebuild from devastation, destruction and pain, are deeply affected by what we have seen in Haiti."
Haiti is receiving millions of dollars in emergency aid at a time when it owes a huge debt to the international community. Jubilee USA Network, a leading advocate of nations in debt, is joining a global call for Haiti's $1-billion-plus debt to be waived.
"For Haiti to have a solid chance at a strong recovery, and to build back better, its debt must be forgiven," says Sanders. Adds Neil Watkins, Executive Director of Jubilee USA, "The international community cannot possibly expect Haiti to pay back a loan for emergency relief in the wake of this disaster."
Checks payable to United Church of Christ marked for Haiti may be sent to: UCC, Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Online gifts are still being accepted at the Haiti Earthquake Relief donation page. All gifts received by the UCC Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund will be used for relief and rehabilitation initiatives. Administrative costs are being covered by UCC members' contributions to Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM).
Earthquake devastates Haiti, up to 3 million affected