Council of Bishops Urges

 Patience in Sending Teams

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION

We know that the church seeks to respond to the great crisis in Haiti. We are in touch with many persons and groups wanting to reach out in tangible ways to provide relief for suffering people there.

We have already received an outpouring of inquiries and offers for volunteers to provide a variety of services. While we are encouraged by this spirit of support, we strongly advise that teams and others not set out for Haiti at this time. We need to wait!

There will be great need for short-term and long-term volunteer mission groups in due course—for medical care, rebuilding, and responses to many other needs. However, the current state of Haiti is not conducive to the safety and welfare of the volunteers; security is a major concern; infrastructures are shattered. There is little access to water, power, fuel, and even roads.

 An UMCOR Team is on the ground, coordinating with relief partners on appropriate courses of action. As you know, the United Nations (representing government) and the Red Cross go into to massive disaster areas first. This is long-established international protocol. Church-related and other relief organizations follow. Objectives of our initial team include the assessment and organization for the reception of volunteers. In collaboration with jurisdictional coordinators of UMVIM, we are making a registry of potential individual volunteers and teams. The time for volunteers will come and their assistance will be crucial. If you are interested in volunteering at some point in the future contact John Best, Conference Volunteers In Mission Council Chair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (570) 326-1943.

In the meantime, the best way for congregations and individuals to respond to the Haiti crisis is through prayer and by supporting the work of UMCOR. Not only are funds needed but also health kits.

You can send financial offerings through the Central Pennsylvania Conference office, designated for Haiti Earthquake Relief, advance # 418325 or make them at your local church, noting the advance number on your check.
Mission Central has already shipped 15,000 disaster kits to Haiti.  In order to help Mission Central send more aid to Haiti, consider making a monetary donation or donate any of the following items to the local Mission Central HUB locations.
Items needed for the disaster kits:

Local Mission Central Hub Locations:
 
Mission Central
5 Pleasant View Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
717-766-1533
 
Altoona HUB
1738 N Branch Ave
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 201-2123
 
Chambersburg District Mission Central HUB
Located at St. Paul UMC
750 Norland Avenue
Chambersburg, PA  17201
Phone  717-267-3085
 
Clearfield Area Hub
317 Nichols Street
Clearfield, PA  16830                                   
814-765-3496
 
Eastbrook UMC Mission Barn 
205 Church Lane
New Castle, PA  16105
Phone  724-462-4090
 
First UMC Lewistown HUB
200 East Third Street
Lewistown, PA  17044
717 -248-4618
 
Gethsemane UMC HUB
369 Allport Cutoff
PO Box 185
Allport, PA 16821
 
Hands of Hope HUB
located at First UMC Cortland  
734 Route 222
Cortland, NY 13045
 
Lewisburg District HUB at Paxtonville
1281 Paxton Street
PO Box 275, Paxtonville, PA   17861
 
Sojourner Truth Ministry HUB
501 High Street
Williamsport, PA  17701
570-494-0423
 
Valley Ministry HUB
126 Apple Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
 
Wellsboro District East HUB at Towanda
Located at First UMC of Towanda
105 Main Street
Towanda, PA 18848
570-265-3276
 
Wellsboro District West HUB at Westfield
Located at Westfield UMC
158 Church Street
Westfield, PA  16950
814-367-2284 (Westfield UMC Office)
 
York District HUB at Fourth UMC
Located at Fourth UMC
20 North Lehman Street
York, PA 17403
717-854-6984