China Quake Relief and Recovery Response Grows

Wednesday, May 28, A.D. 2008

With the official death toll passing 55,000 but feared to reach 80,000, the Amity Foundation (Action by Churches Together member in China and long-time Disciples and Church World Service partner) continues to provide urgent assistance to some of the most vulnerable and at risk communities affected by the May 12 earthquake that devastated China’s Sichuan province.

With the rainy season beginning and looming threats of dam breaks and disease outbreaks, Amity staff is working feverishly to provide such basic aid as quilts, tarps, cooking oil, rice and other food items, clean water, medicines and relief aid to thousands of quake-stricken families. Amity has now dispatched a team of trauma counselors and social workers to the region to address the burgeoning emotional and mental health needs of survivors. Also, Amity has begun long-term recovery planning, which includes home, school and clinic rebuilding projects.

ACT has issued a preliminary appeal of $1.5 million to its worldwide network of church partners on behalf of Amity. Week of Compassion has already provided $17,000 on behalf of North American Disciples, and this week the WOC Committee will have on the agenda of its spring meeting a much larger response. Online and regular mail gifts from Disciples across the whole church continue to pour into WOC and will ensure that our response is strong. Gifts can be made by online or mailed to WOC, attn: Elaine Cleveland, P.O. Box 1986, Indpls, IN 46206. All gifts will be used in their entirety as earmarked. Thank you!

Relief to Myanmar Continues

Relief efforts do continue in Myanmar in response to Cyclone Nargis in spite of the difficulties imposed by the governing regime on outside relief agencies. ACT partners, including Church World Service, have a network of local Myanmar organizations that are responding to thousands of survivors in the Irrawaddy delta region. WOC continues to support an appeal from CWS, and again is deeply grateful to the many designated gifts that have been given. So far, WOC has provided $35,000 for Cyclone Nargis relief. Click here for a brief slide presentation on some of the relief activities WOC is able to support.

Recent Tornadoes Have Tragic Effect on Disciples Families

Also, WOC continues to respond to numerous requests from local Disciples congregations whose members have been affected by the rash of deadly and damaging tornadoes that have struck scores of communities across the country over the past several weeks – most recently to First CC, Windsor, CO, where a family suffered major damage to their home and farm, and to Lake Harriet CC, Minneapolis, MN, where members lost their young grandson in the tornado that struck near the Twin Cities this weekend. As an expression of the whole church’s concern, WOC has provided solidarity grants to assist these congregations as they respond to their families who must deal with the loss of loved ones, homes and livelihoods following the tornadoes.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.