Local Churches Encouraged to Collect UMCOR Health Kits

1/21/2010

The Detroit Conference is asking all local churches to aide in the Haiti relief effort by collecting UMCOR Health Kits to be shipped to the region. Churches are being asked to collect as many UMCOR Health Kits as then can by Sunday, Feb. 14. At that time, they will be delivered to predetermined drop-off sites in the conference and then shipped to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Ill.

 

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is on the ground in Haiti and has asked local churches to aide its effort in two ways: through giving to Advance #418325 - Haiti Emergency, or to send UMCOR Health Kits. Detroit Conference churches have already collected tens of thousands of dollars for UMCOR's Haiti relief and now the need for UMCOR Health Kits is being stressed as well.

 

"We have seen a great outpouring of financial support for UMCOR's Haiti relief efforts from our churches," said the Rev. Dr. Jerry DeVine, Director of Connectional Ministries. "We still need to continue giving financially to UMCOR's Haiti relief, but we also need to respond with Health Kits so that UMCOR can distribute these to those in need."

 

For financial donations, churches are asked to send those to the conference treasurer's office and to designate Advance #418325 or Health Kits on the memo line. Checks are to be made out to "Detroit Annual Conference."

 

The collection and distribution of Health Kits is being coordinated by the Rev. Dr. Margie Crawford, chairperson of the conference Board of Global Ministries' Hunger/UMCOR committee as well as the Rev. Mary Margaret Eckhardt, the conference's Disaster Response Coordinator.

 

Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Health kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes.

 

UMCOR Health Kits are valued at $12 each and contain the following in a sealed, gallon-size plastic bag:

  • 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", no kitchen towels)
  • 1 washcloth
  • 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket sized)
  • 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
  • 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
  • 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
  • 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
  • $1.00 to purchase toothpaste (toothpaste is being bought in bulk at the distribution centers to avoid expiration)

All items included in the kits must be NEW items. All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more. Please do NOT include any personal notes or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

 

Health kits collected at local churches should be placed in stackable boxes that weigh no more than 40 pounds. 

 

Details on collection centers throughout the conference to drop off the Health Kits will be announced next week.