Special Offering for Hurricane Harvey Relief

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have watched this week as Hurricane Harvey continues to wreak havoc along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana.  I know that you join me in praying for those who are affected by this disaster.  In moments like this it is so important that we respond with prayers, but also with generous hearts.

With the support of our Council on Finance and Administration I am appealing to all of our California-Nevada Conference churches to gather an offering this coming Sunday, September 3rd, to respond to the needs of those who have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey and the ongoing rain storms and flooding that it has caused.

As United Methodists, we count on our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to respond on our behalf.  UMCOR is known around the world for its extraordinary recovery response.  UMCOR is on the ground in this disaster area already and will still be there when the rains subside and the rebuilding occurs.  One hundred percent of donations to UMCOR go to direct aid for those affected by the disaster.

Please make your checks payable to the “California-Nevada Conference,” with the UMCOR Advance number 901670 in the memo line. Church Treasurers, please send your church’s offering for this appeal to the attention of Conference Treasurer, at P.O. Box 980250, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0250.  By sending your offerings through our Conference Treasurer we will be able to track our efforts.  Every single penny you send will be immediately forwarded to UMCOR.

We know that congregations are also organizing efforts to assemble health kits that UMCOR is requesting.  Our conference staff is in conversation with the UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City about scheduling a truck route through the California-Nevada Conference to pick up health kits.  As soon as arrangements are made, you will be notified about pick-up locations and schedules.  For instructions on how to create a health kit, click here.

United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) teams will not be deployed to the affected areas for several months.  At this time only Certified Early Responders are allowed to enter the impacted areas.  Persons wishing to volunteer should begin to form teams for service in late spring 2018, or fall 2018.

We in the California-Nevada Conference have benefitted from the generous gifts of United Methodists from throughout our connection who have contributed to UMCOR.  UMCOR dollars have helped us provide disaster case management for the Valley Fire in Clearlake, disaster case management for the Erskine and Weed/Bolls Fires, and emergency support for survivors of the Detwiler Fire.  Now it is our turn to express our gratitude by giving so others may be lovingly cared for.

Let us continue to pray for those affected by this most recent disaster in Texas and Louisiana, and let us give with generous hearts.

Your Sister in Christ,

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño