Conference Health Kit Collection Drop-Off Sites, Dates Established

1/26/2010

Click here for Conference UMCOR Health Kit Drop-Off Points

Drop-off sites will open beginning Monday, Feb. 15, in each of the seven districts of the Detroit Conference for local churches to deliver their UMCOR Health Kits.

 

Detroit Conference churches have been asked to aide the relief effort in Haiti by collecting as many UMCOR Health Kits as they can by Sunday, Feb. 14. UMCOR 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.

 

Local churches, after collecting their Health Kits, are encouraged to deliver their health kits at the nearest drop-off point in their district (see drop-off points here). Delivery dates are Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 15-16. Local churches are asked to make all deliveries to the drop-off points by the end of the day on Tuesday, Feb. 16, so that the drop-off points can focus on Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

 

After the deliveries have been completed, the Health Kits will be collected and delivered to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Ill., for distribution.

 

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 the UMCOR Health Kit collection is the conference's second response to the disaster.

 

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.