The Second Wave
Holston issues new list of needs for hurricane victims

At the request of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Holston churches will begin collecting diapers, new undergarments, single-bed air mattresses, paper products, and women's hygiene products.

The updated list of needs, issued on Sept. 12 from the conference office, is part of the "second wave" of Holston's effort to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.

In the "first wave," Holston collected bottled water, blankets, and health kits. Several trucks containing these supplies have been dispatched from strategic points in Holston and delivered to UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., according to Missions Coordinator Bill Daugherty.

In addition to collecting supplies, 230 Holston congregations representing all 12 districts had contributed a total $293,413 to UMCOR as of Sept. 15, according to the conference treasurer's office.

On Sept. 8, UMCOR announced that it had received $2.01 million in online and telephone contributions. UMCOR's total did not include donations made by mail or through church offerings.

Bishop James Swanson commended Holston's effort in an episcopal letter that he wrote for a special bulletin insert (available at http://hurricanerelief.holston.org).

"I want to thank you for focusing your attention, your resources, your energy, your prayers, and your gifts in this time of crisis," he wrote. "I realize that the concerns of your local church's ministry in your respective communities can sometimes be overwhelming all by itself, but you continue to prove to me that we are capable of performing multiple tasks with efficiency and effectiveness."

Cohesive mission
While many congregations expressed interest in collecting flood buckets, clothing, or other supplies, Holston leaders explained why the conference is issuing specific requests.

UMCOR does not work to provide disaster relief on its own but in cooperation with a larger group called Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), according to Anne Travis, director of connectional ministries. Members of VOAD include, among others, the American Red Cross, America's Second Harvest, Catholic Charities USA, and the Salvation Army.

To ensure that a variety of needs are met following a disaster, each organization has its own relief "assignment," Travis said. UMCOR serves a specific niche in the massive Hurricane Katrina relief effort, and each United Methodist conference is asked to help UMCOR meet those needs.

In this second wave of hurricane-relief donations, Holston churches are asked to collect:

Single-bed air mattresses
New undergarments for all ages, genders, and sizes
Paper products (cups, napkins, plates, paper towels)
Diapers for both children and adults
Women's hygiene products

Because some congregations may still have supplies collected in the "first wave," bottled water, blankets, and health kits will still be accepted, Travis said.

District drop-off points
All of these items should be delivered to a district's designated collection point. Holston Conference is arranging for several trucks to deliver the goods continuously throughout the coming weeks - as long as churches will collect them, and as long as there is a need, Daugherty said.

Call or e-mail your district office to get the latest information about where to deliver supplies:

Financial donations
One hundred percent of the money donated to UMCOR is used for relief efforts, officals said. Inviduals may donate to UMCOR through their churches - by placing checks in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Checks should made to local churches (i.e., "First United Methodist Church") or to "Holston Conference." Write "Hurricanes 2005" on the memo line. Church treasurers will send the money to Holston Conference, and then the conference office will immediately send funds to UMCOR.

Credit-card donations can made by calling UMCOR at (800) 554-8583 or visiting http://methodistrelief.org.

Other needs
Holston will be sending other supplies and work teams to the affected area in the months ahead. Members who wish to participate on work teams should contact Bonnie Howard at (865) 458-4943 or bonniej4943@cs.com. Training or experience may be required for work-team volunteers.

UMCOR Sager Brown is in need of trucks or trailers with accompanying volunteers who can stay and help with distribution for a few days, Daugherty said. To volunteer, call Gwen at 1-800-334-4221 or e-mail Volunteers@Sagerbrown.org.

Online resources
For updated information on Holston's ongoing relief effort, visit http://hurricanerelief.holston.org. Several resources are also available at this site:

A Sunday bulletin insert explaining how parishioners may help hurricane victims, with a letter from Bishop Swanson
A sermon, "What Do You Do When There is No Bread?", written by Bishop Swanson to help Holston pastors respond to the disaster
A stress-reaction document, prepared by Pastoral Counselor Gary Mauldin, to help churches and clergy that may be ministering to people with hurricane- related stress
Prayers, hymns, scripture readings, and other worship resources for clergy to use

Contacting the conference
Individuals, churches, and districts are asked to keep the connectional ministries office informed of work teams they are assembling as well as other relief activities. An e-mail address, reliefneeds@holston.org, has been set up for members to report activities as well as to ask specific questions about the hurricane-relief effort. Another option is to call the conference office in Knoxville, Tenn., toll-free at (866) 690-4080 or locally at (865) 690-4080.

Holston leaders emphasized that aid will be required for months - years - to come, and the effort that churches are putting forth is appreciated.

"We're extremely pleased with the response, but we also recognize that this is a long process," Daugherty said. "If you don't get involved in the grassroots effort, don't worry - there are going to be a lot of opportunities. We're going to keep on keeping on."

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