By United Methodist News Service<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
When disaster hits, the United Methodist connection responds.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0United Methodist Church is uniquely situated to respond to disasters<\/a>\u00a0because of its churches in almost every county and community across the United States and the worldwide Methodist connection with annual conferences, central conferences, and autonomous partner churches on five continents.<\/p>\n As a disaster unfolds, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is in contact with annual conference leadership to offer assistance.<\/p>\n UMCOR is the not-for-profit humanitarian arm of The United Methodist Church and is part of the Board of Global Ministries. Since 1940, UMCOR\u2019s mission \u2014 providing relief in disaster areas, aiding refugees and confronting the challenges of global health and poverty \u2014 has helped heal the hurts of humanity in nearly 100 countries.<\/p>\n In the United States, as part of disaster preparedness, UMCOR trains early response teams in annual conferences. Because ERTs are local, they can respond quickly when disaster strikes. Should the annual conference need additional trained ERTs, assistance from neighboring conferences can be requested. A network of warehouses stores relief supplies for distribution in disasters around the world.<\/p>\n Annual conferences can request an emergency grant of up to $10,000 to meet immediate needs when they are confronted with disaster. Additional grants of any amount can be requested for case management and long-term recovery.<\/p>\n When both UMCOR and a conference ask for money, United Methodists who want to help in a disaster sometimes are uncertain where to send their money.<\/p>\n Conferences may set up their own funds to help with the immediate needs of housing, food, shelter and transportation. Conference fundraising is intended for raising money within the conference to meet immediate needs.<\/p>\n Giving to UMCOR<\/a>\u00a0through The Advance, the United Methodist official giving channel, ensures that 100 hundred percent of each donation goes directly to the need specified. UMCOR\u2019s programs, procedures and finances are monitored by independent charity watchdogs such as the American Institute of Philanthropy, which gives UMCOR an A, for excellent, rating in financial responsibility.<\/p>\n UMCOR\u2019s administrative costs are covered through a separate fund supported by\u00a0One Great Hour of Sharing<\/a>.<\/p>\n