VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We have received a request from our UCC Conference Office from Church World Service for volunteers to assist in hosting injured Haitians and accompanying family, who are being medically evacuated to the United States, for at least a 3-month period. This is a wonderful opportunity for UCC members and congregations to extend hospitality to our Haitian sisters and brothers.
The UCC is making a financial grant from the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to support this hospitality effort.

Haitian Medevac Cases: role of faith communities and local volunteers

As of 2/11/10, medevac cases from Haiti are arriving or slated to arrive in the following metropolitan areas: Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City and Boston. Upon entering the United States, these cases are given humanitarian parole and quickly flown to receiving hospitals in the designated communities. Many cases include an accompanier from Haiti, most often a close relative.

Church World Service (CWS) and its partners are now receiving these cases. The seriousness of the injuries seen thus far will require a vast network of support in the cities of placement. Faith communities and volunteers are an integral part of this network of support.

Local organizations, such as faith groups and voluntary organizations in the community are invited to make at least a three-month commitment to assist medevacs with any of the following:

* Transportation to the hospital and to appointments
* Providing funds for housing and food for the accompanier(s)
* Providing funds for housing and food for the hospitalized individual upon release
* Furnishing hygiene kits
* Providing necessary clothing and footwear
* Translation
* Cultural orientation
* Emotional support
* Coordinate efforts with local CWS office or partner

The emphasis of this volunteer effort is to provide support for the hospitalized individual and those who are accompanying. Volunteers and faith communities are not responsible for the medical costs related to the medevac. Humanitarian parole status ensures that these individuals are eligible for assistance from government social service agencies.

Some of the cases may eventually return home to Haiti, be resettled in other U.S. cities, or join relatives in the United States. Our role now is to provide the support necessary during their treatment for the injuries sustained in the earthquake.

Haitian Earthquake Disaster Relief: What You Can Do:

PRAY - God is surely grieving and weeping with all those who have lost loved ones. As the body of Christ we are called to reach out with help and prayers.

DONATE - Obviously at this point, beyond prayers, money is what can be most helpful so please be generous in your response. Make checks payable to GRCC, noting “Haiti Earthquake Appeal”. Your donations will be sent through the UCC One Great Hour of Sharing where the need is greatest. The most effective way we can assist right now with relief efforts is to make a cash contribution. Experienced disaster relief agencies prefer the flexibility of cash donations because they avoid the labor and expense of sorting, packing, transporting, and distributing donated items. Agencies can use cash to meet specific needs more quickly and money spent in disaster-impacted areas helps local economies to recover more quickly.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE has issued an urgent call for HYGIENE KITS. Please include only these items in a 1 gallon zip-loc bag: one hand towel (approx 16”x28” – no fingertip or bath towels), one toothbrush, one washcloth, one wide tooth comb, one nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards), one bar of bath size soap in the wrapper, six band aids. This is one very concrete and "hands-on" thing that we can go. Please also include in each kit $2 to help with shipping costs. You may bring the kits to the church at any time.

The cost of a kit is $10 if you wouldl ike to contribute in lieu of items!

Our brothers and sisters in Christ need our help and our prayers. Thank you for your generous support.

Another way to help is through Partners in Health

Partners in Health (PIH) is a non-profit medical relief organization that operates in Haiti. Many of you will be familiar with the organization from Tracey Kidder’s book “Mountains Beyond Mountains.” Jim and I are familiar with PIH from our brother-in-law, Dave Murdock. Some of you know Dave and know too that he travelled to Haiti with Paul Farmer and filmed a documentary on PIH’s efforts. He has always been very moved by his experience there and remains committed to the work PIH does.

Tracey Kidder was quoted in the NYTs as saying that PIH is now likely the largest remaining, still-standing and functioning health care/relief provider in Haiti. And Jim Kim, the new President of Dartmouth and co-founder of PIH, makes a very compelling case for donations in an open letter to the Dartmouth community (which can be found on their website Dartmouth.edu). He guarantees “that your donation to PIH will go directly to relief efforts.”

Perhaps the simplest most straightforward case for donations can be found on the PIH website, PIH.org. From all accounts, the early days are most critical in saving lives and stemming the flow of further casualties. It seems that PIH, which we believe has always been an extremely worthy organization, is now being called on to move mountains, literally and figuratively. Donations can be made directly on their website.
Pih.org