Photo Caption: Donna-Grace Orbong, 5, sits with her family’s food bag following a distribution by the United Methodist Committee on Relief for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban, Philippines. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
March Mission Focus: United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church. UMCOR exists to assist United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need through programs of relief, rehabilitation, and service, including issues of displaced persons, hunger and poverty, and disaster response. UMCOR is often one of the first relief agencies to respond and the last to leave when disaster strikes. The Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 11, 2018) is designated as UMCOR Sunday. Donations UMCOR receives on this day, along with other undesignated gifts made throughout the year, cover the costs of doing business. This allows 100% of all other specified relief contributions throughout the rest of the year to go directly where they are needed most. UMCOR does not receive any apportionment funds, so without your offerings, UMCOR would not exist. Donations on UMCOR Sunday, along with specified gifts throughout the year are encouraged. In addition to financial contributions, UMCOR also collects Cleaning Kits (Flood Relief Buckets), Health Kits, and School Supply Kits. These kits help sustain everyday life for people who lack ready access to essential supplies when a disaster strikes.
Call to Action:
Your call to action for the month of March is to give financially to UMCOR and/or prepare UMCOR Cleaning Kits (Flood Relief Buckets), Health Kits, and School Supply Kits. A complete list of items needed to complete each of these kits can be downloaded below: