Bishop calls for donations of funds, storm kits

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The United Methodist Church Upper New York Area Resident Bishop Marcus Matthews is appealing to members and churches in the area to support the relief effort in the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene.

In a letter to the more than 182,000 members of 937 United Methodist churches under his supervision, Bishop Matthews urged the Christians to render help to their neighbors who were affected by the storm.

“The rains came down and the floods came up.  The house of our Lord stands firm.  As the waters recede, our neighbors need our help.  Many homes have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt; others will need repair,” he wrote in the letter dated Aug. 30.

He said the greatest need is for “funds for immediate relief and long-term recovery. Cash is the most flexible in use, most easily transportable donation. It can be stored at no cost and does not spoil.” 

Donations can be sent to UNY Conference Center, (324 University Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210) designating your gift to fund #4200 (Upper New York Conference Hurricane Recovery).  The focus will be helping our churches, communities and individuals after other resources are exhausted. 

“Please remember that 100 percent of all gifts through our United Methodist Church are available for recovery work,” Bishop Matthews wrote.  

Additional cash donations can be sent to UMCOR for wider area needs. Designate US Disaster Response #901670 on your check and send them through our Conference office. UMCOR contributions can also be made online.

Bishop Matthews and Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Carl Chamberlain are also urging local churches to consider hosting flood relief fundraisers, receiving special offerings or tithing a portion of an existing event. 

Bishop Matthews also called on churches to contribute toward Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits (formerly known as Flood Buckets). Chamberlain has requested a tractor-trailer load of Health Kits for immediate distribution through a partnership with The Salvation Army. “We have assurance that the need is far beyond our supplies on hand,” he said.

Churches have been asked to begin collecting the supplies and assembling Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits for collection next week. 

In regard to volunteers, there are few communities ready to receive teams at this early stage.  Those wishing to volunteer are asked to contact Greg Forrester, NEJ UMVIM coordinator, if you have a team ready to deploy.  He will know those areas ready for volunteers or can help schedule work teams in the months ahead. Current UM-VIM Early Response Teams (ERTs) should contact Forrester for assignments. His office number is (607) 756-7799 or e-mail him at umvimnej@twcny.rr.com.

Meanwhile, district superintendents are assessing any damage to church properties across our Conference. If your church or parsonage has sustained damage, you are asked to notify your DS and contact the Conference insurance carrier, Walsh-Duffield, immediately. Contact information is on our Conference web page (www.unyumc.org).  You may also contact our Walsh-Duffield agent Charmaine Derenda directly at (716) 362-7336 or via e-mail at cdrenda@walshins.com.

“Keep in prayer our neighbors whose lives are disrupted by Hurricane Irene and the associated flooding. Also remember the men and women who are serving others in need.  Join us in prayer and service that we may all be safe in the hands of our Lord,” Bishop Matthews said.

Click here to see the full letter by Bishop Matthews.

Click here to download "Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits are needed" bulletin inserts.

President declares disaster for New York; FEMA accepting aid applications 9/1/11 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering federal aid for recovery efforts in the areas of New York state  – including counties in the Upper New York Area – affected by Hurricane Irene.The president's disaster declaration makes two classes of funding available – funding for affected individuals is available in Albany, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Ulster counties.  Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured or underinsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Click here to read  the full story.

Immediate need for volunteer housing 9/1/11 Volunteer teams are getting ready to deploy to those areas most severely damaged by flooding from Hurricane Irene, and housing for them is needed this Labor Day weekend.  There is an critical need for housing for volunteers who will be working in Greene, Schoharie, Delaware and Essex counties. Churches with kitchens, toilets and hot water are asked to help provide housing for these early-response teams of four to 10 people; Larger facilities that can, may be asked to accommodate more. Cots are available for all volunteer housing sites through the American Red Cross. Click here to read the full story.

*The Rev. Maidstone Mulenga is the director of communications for the Upper New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He can reach him at maidstone@unyumc.org or (315) 424-7878 ext. 307.