Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ
Quick News From Jane
Jane Fisler Hoffman, Interim Conference Minister
Dear friends,

In the U.S. and beyond, this hurricane season has already created havoc with more to come.   As we have reminded you in the past, "you" are already on the spot in the name of Jesus Christ because of your previous giving to One Great Hour of Sharing.  But much more is needed!  This announcement comes from our national Wider Church Ministries staff.  Here's what you and your church (youth group? Special offering?) can do to help, with more information in latter portion.
 
When this came to my email, Susan Sanders, our WCM staff team leader for these efforts, indicated that they have had few inquiries about how to help and few dollar donations and we have received none here.  Could it be that we are all somehow 'tired' of the increasing hurricane disasters in recent years and not even really 'hearing' the disaster reports?  Could it be that the news media is too taken with campaign foolishness to be reporting on human crises in poor countries like Haiti?  I hope this helps us all---myself included---join the much needed response. 
 
Note: Hands on projects are meaningful and help folks feel engaged.  But if you do respond to the need for 'clean up buckets' please recall that part of the effort will need to be shipping the gathered items to Church World Service, which increases the cost from here.   Consider $$ options with some fun angle like coins into passed buckets or some such. But if you can do the actual buckets, that's great.
 
Blessings,
  
Jane

UCC 2008 Hurrican Response Appeal                              DONATE NOW

 
UCC Launches 2008 Hurricane Recovery appeal for $250,000 and one-thousand-one Clean Up Buckets.
 
September 9, 2008 - Today the United Church of Christ issued an appeal for $250,000 and map1001 Clean Up Buckets to support emergency and long term relief and rebuilding efforts necessitated by the destructive 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season. 
 
 
Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, and Ike, as well as Tropical Storm Hanna have left a trail of death and destruction across the nations of the Caribbean, throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast of the United States.
 
UCC RESPONSE
 
One Great Hour of Sharing emergency response grants have been rushed to Church World Service and partners in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica to support immediate response efforts.    Your generous donation to the 2008 Hurricane Recovery appeal will enable the UCC to offer even greater support for emergency response and long term relief and rehabilitation.
 
Personal protection equipment is being sent to the UCC Florida Conference for volunteers and homeowners to use as they clean up damaged homes filled with mold.
 
UCC national and international disaster response staff is in regular contact with impacted Conferences and partners offering prayers, assistance and support in this stressful time.
 
What you can do
1. Pray for people who live in communities affected by tropical storms and hurricanes.
2. Make a generous  Secure On-line Donation.  Let's make our goal of $250,000!
If you prefer to write a check, send gifts payable to your congregation marked for "2008 Hurricane Recovery" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries, Financial Services - 6th Floor, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.  Gifts payable to Wider Church Ministries  may be sent directly to the previous address.
3.  Create a Church World Service Clean Up Bucket.  Help us reach the UCC goal of 1001 buckets.
 
 
4.  Gather a Disaster Recovery Mission Trip Group. 
 
 
SITUATION
 
Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, and Ike, as well as Tropical Storm Hanna have left a trail of death and destruction across the nations of the Caribbean, throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast of the United States.  Due to the ongoing nature of these storms, damage assessment is still taking place.  Here is what is known so far:
 
HAITI - the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere has been pummeled by each of the storms.   Over 300 deaths have been reported.  Flooding in Gonaives, Haiti's 4th largest city has washed out all land routes.  Thousands of  residents have had neither clean water nor anything to eat for several days.  House of Hope, a UCC partner near Port-au-Prince, lost its portside building and all food and resources used in its education program for working children.  UCC/CWS partners are providing shelter and bottled water  throughout Haiti CWS is prepared to airlift blankets and hygiene kits.
 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC -   At least 5,000 persons were evacuated in northern DR due to flooding caused by rains. Flooding from the Yaque River caused significant damage to crops.  Long time UCC/CWS partner Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID) is providing emergency assistance of food and shelter materials to impacted communities and will assist with crop restoration.
 
JAMAICA - has suffered significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture from the recent storms.  United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, our partner, is making plans to assist peasant farmers in replanting their crops.
 
CUBA - Hurricane Gustav left 100,000 people homeless.  The full extent of damage from Hurricane Ike is yet to be know, but appears to be quite extensive.  Church World Service is awaiting word from the Cuban Council of Churches.  CWS has special permission from the US Government to ship material supplies to Cuba.
 
 
UNITED STATES:
Hurricane Fay made landfall in Florida a record four times, causing at least 13 deaths and damaging more than 1,000 homes.  Thankfully, New Orleans experienced a successful evacuation and did not receive a direct hit from Hurricane Gustav.  Many other communities in Mississippi and Louisiana, however, experienced significant wind damage and extensive flooding.  The community of Baton Rouge, Louisiana was particularly hard hit, as was the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community.    
UCC colleagues in Biloxi, Mississippi, report several homes which were re-built in Harrison and Hancock counties following Hurricane Katrina experienced flooding from Gustav's storm surge.  Many fishing boats were damaged; which is a real blow to this industry which was just recovering following Hurricane Katrina.
 
Tropical Storm Hanna moved quickly up the eastern seaboard, bringing significant rainfall but not the extensive flooding which had been feared.   
 
U.S. communities along the Gulf Coast are keeping a watchful eye on Hurricane Ike as it churns across the Caribbean.  Ike is projected to enter the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall later this week.
 
Please keep all the people impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms in your prayers and plan to make a generous donation to the 2008 Hurricane Recovery appeal.