Asbury's Response to Haitian Earthquake

As well all have heard, on Tuesday, January 12th a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti. Initial reports from news outlets have reported the potential in death toll to be in the hundreds of thousands. Some reports have it as high as a half a million deaths. We are told that the Hospital system is simply overwhelmed. Haiti, one of the poorest places on the globe, was already challenged by some of the worst living conditions in the world, and has begun calling on international support in this emergency.

Two of the ministries of Asbury Church are already actively involved in this response; UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and World Vision. Tom Hazelwood, a UMCOR executive and the United Methodist Church teamed together to release this statement via social networks and the internet this morning saying: “UMCOR has always had a strong presence in Haiti,” Hazelwood said. “With this tragedy, we’ll just be redoubling our efforts, and we’ll be calling on people across the country to help us.” For additional details on how you can give to this effort please visit the church’s website at www.umc.org. For information on World Vision and their efforts, please also see their website at www.worldvision.org.

How You Can Help:

Asbury United Methodist Church of Chesterfield, New Hampshire is teaming with the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization, The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), to respond to the devastating destruction in Haiti, with funding, material resources, and prayers.

In addition to appeals for financial assistance, Asbury Church is coordinating the creation and shipment of health kits to provide affected individuals with basic necessities. The health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been displaced by this disaster. For many years, UMCOR has provided these kits to individuals who have been displaced because of human conflict, or natural disaster. They have also been used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes across the globe. UMCOR is now preparing these kits for immediate shipment to Haiti.

The kits have an estimated value of approximately $12-15, and contain items such as soap, washcloths, and toothbrushes.

When natural disaster strikes, people feel compelled to help in real and meaningful ways. Most frequently, those appeals come in the form of requests for money. Although, monetary donations are certainly needed, we wanted to provide another route to help as well.

You can log on to a website and use my credit card to make a donation, but in the preparation of health kits, you can take your children, drive to a local supermarket, and together can experience helping these families in a real and meaningful way. Not only can we help families in need, but we can show our children that we have a very real responsibility to act for those in need, regardless of where the trouble is.

About the Health Kits:

The Health Kits are to be assembled with the following contents, and sealed in a one gallon 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

(NOTE: UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Additional information on the package and preparation of Health Kits can be found by clicking here.

HOW DO WE GET THEM TO ASBURY:

Asbury Church has arranged drop off options in both Keene, NH at Great Beginnings Preschool and Child Care Center on Old Homestead Highway, at the Dillant-Hopkins Airport (during the week between 8am and 5pm) or weekends at Asbury Church between 9am and Noon. Packages can also be sent directly to Asbury Church at the above address. In addition, Asbury Church members are also prepared to purchase and assemble kits for those in our community who would prefer to make a donation directly to the address listed on our site (mark checks as "UMCOR HAITI")

“Our faith teaches us that we are to be people that step up and step out for people who struggle. Whether those people are separated from us by a driveway or by a thousand miles, we need to be that kind of people”

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

By clicking here you we see a copy of a press release detailing this initiative. We encourage you to distribute it to friends, coworkers, and family members. The more people we have building kits the bigger a difference we can make.