Signs requesting help are a common sight

The The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has mobilized global relief efforts in Haiti. UMCOR been recognized by Charity Navigator as a four-star organization. From their Web site:

UMCOR honors cultural differences. We deliver aid to people without regard to race, religion, politics, or gender. We seek input from local communities in identifying needs.

More about their values here.

As UMCOR’s administrative costs are underwritten by the United Methodist Church, 100 percent of all donations go directly to aid.

How You Can Help

• Donate

  • Mail a check to: UMCOR (write Haiti in the memo)
    P.O. Box 9068
    New York, NY 10087
  • Give online here
  • Donate by phone at (800) 554-8583

• Assemble Health Kits

  • 

    Each health kit must contain the following items in exactly the amounts requested. If the amounts are not exact, they will not fit in the plastic bag and may not adhere to the strict rules governing entry into a foreign country.

    • Health Kit Assembly Instructions (Value: $12 per kit) — place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
      • 1 hand towel (15″x25″ up to 17″x 7″ (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 to purchase toothpaste (UMCOR willpurchase toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.
  • Other Important Health Kit Information
    • All items included in 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.
    • Do not include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment
  • Health Kit Delivery
  • Germantown United Methodist Church has been designated as the drop-off point. Take kits to Room 133 and Room 145, first floor. Exterior and interior signage will direct you to the rooms. Please enter through the outer, lower-level door under the fire escape during working hours, Monday through Friday, for access to both rooms.

Photo by by Mike Dubose, courtesy of United Methodist News Service Press Center.

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