Haiti Disaster and Relief

Tom Vencuss' Update on Conditions in Haiti

Click here>> to read Tom's update written after his recent travels to Haiti. Posted April 1, 2010.

Haiti Fundraiser in Wethersfield, CT

Union Brothers Singers perform at Wethersfield UMC on Saturday, February 27. Click here for more information>>

Weekly reports of UMCOR's relief efforts in Haiti.

Haitian Immigration Clinics for TPS

Haitians living in the U.S. prior to January 12 now qualify for TemporaryProtected Status (TPS). TPS allows you to live and work legally in the U.S. There are three immigration clinics being offered in our area. Click here for more information>>

UMCOR Haiti Relief Support

Click on the links below for a visual that will assist your sharing the news that the United Methodist Committee on Relief is present in Haiti. Please note that all money goes directly to the people - administrative costs are paid through apportionment giving!

Be There. Be Hope. In Haiti. (black and white version)

Be There. Be Hope. In Haiti 2 (color version)

If you wish to directly make a donation using either version of the link, click on the link, then click on the flyer web address and select "allow."

PLEASE NOTE: FACEBOOK FRIENDS - please include a reference to Haiti Relief and the work of UMCOR in your FACEBOOK chat. Include the donation address in the link provided above. Let's REALLY SPREAD the word!!!

NYDIS Haiti Recovery Programs in Operation as of 2.4.10

NYDIS programs, in partnership with our members and partners, have provided relief or referral services to over 400 earthquake-impacted Haitian households living in NYC or repatriated to the U.S. from Haiti. These services are available to directly impacted Haitian families and Haitian religious leaders or religious leaders of Haitian houses of worship. Please click here for the list of services available>>

Letter from Rev. Gesner Paul, President, Eglise Méthodiste d’Haiti

"On behalf of the Methodist Church in Haiti and the Haitian people, we thank you. Thank you all for your outpouring of love, support and Christian brotherhood in our great hour of need. Haiti has suffered a great tragedy, and to rebuild, recover and strengthen, it will take us all." Click here to read the full letter>>

Important Message from GBGM/UMCOR

Thank you so much for your willingness to volunteer with disaster recovery in Haiti. There will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis has settled. At this time, it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti. The city of Port-au-Prince and the whole country are in crisis with severe lack of fuel, food, and water. There are significant transportation and security challenges. Bishop Joel Martinez, Global Ministries' interim general secretary, has alerted bishops to the inadvisability of sending volunteers at this point. Click here to read his memo>>

Please register for one of the upcoming Basic Early Response Team training to receive your official UMCOR ID badge if you are interested in disaster response. In addition to the Basic ERT training another special orientation is required for all volunteers to Haiti. This special orientation will be scheduled as soon as we receive official information to send teams to Haiti.

Please apply by calling or emailing the trainers listed below.

Basic ERT training required for all Disaster Response Volunteers

Date	Venue	Trainer	Contact
February 6 8:00 am – 4:30 pm	Mamaroneck UMC 546 East Boston Rd Mamaroneck, NY 10543	Joseph Ewoodzie	jewoodzie@nyac.com 914-615-2233
February 25 & 26 5:00 – 9:00 pm	Wethersfield UMC 150 Prospect St Wethersfield, CT 06109	Tom Vencuss	tomvencuss@wethersfieldchurch.org 860-529-2025
February 27 8:30 am – 4:00 pm	Newtown UMC 92 Church Hill Rd Sandy Hook, CT 06482	Terry Temple	hoopster2@optonline.net 845-206-3662

Disaster Spiritual Care Volunteer (DSCV)

Your DSCV credential was considered valid for two years with re-credentializing required in order to continue as a DSCV. This process involves a “refresher course” and a background check. Please contact Rev. Mel Kawakami (melkawakami@mac.com) as soon as possible if you are interested in renewing your DSCV credentials. The refresher course is scheduled on Feb 26-27.

Donations for Haiti Tax Deductible in 2009

The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Haiti Assistance Income Tax Incentive (HAITI) Act (H.R. 4462), which would allow taxpayers to deduct on their 2009 income tax returns monetary contributions made between January 11, 2010, and March 1, 2010, for which a charitable contribution deduction is allowable, for the relief of victims in areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti. This legislation allows donors to deduct contributions made now on their 2009 tax returns, rather than wait until 2010 to claim the deduction. The Senate is expected to also pass identical legislation (S. 2936).

News from the New York Conference

In the wake of this devastating earthquake disaster in Haiti we are encouraging everyone to lift our brothers and sisters in Haiti in our prayers.

The question on our minds now is: What can we do to help? Here are three things that come to my mind:

Fervent prayers for Haitians home and abroad
Give generously to UMCOR disaster response. Use Advance # 418325 to make donations specifically for emergency help in Haiti. Click here to make a donation>>
Prepare to join the Emergency Response Team (ERT) volunteers from New York to Haiti in the near future (this is not a "first-responders recovery team"). For further information on ERT training contact Joseph Ewoodzie at 914-615-2233 or email (jewoodzie@nyac.com)

Letter from Bishop Park (1/14/2010) — Click here to read Bishop Park's letter to fellow Methodists>>

Update on Haiti Volunteers in Mission from Bishop Park (1/20/2010) — Click here to read Bishop Park's letter>>

Committee on Relief Donations — Spread the Word — Click on the links below for flyers that will assist your sharing the news that the United Methodist Committee on Relief is present in Haiti. Please note that all money goes directly to the people — administrative costs are paid through apportionment giving! click here for the B&W version>> click here for the color version>>

Future Mission Trips — Check back here on nyac.com for information about future mission trips to Haiti, including the Mountains of Hope trips scheduled for February.

Get updates about Haiti from UMC.com. Click here>> (includes links to follow this story on Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

UMC.org Consolidated Page with Haiti Information — See headlines, blogs, and links from around the church connection. Click here to view the information>>

UMC Communications Information — please click here>>

Donate Now — Use Advance # 418325 to make donations specifically for emergency help in Haiti. Click here to make a donation>>

Corporate Matching Gifts — If your employer matches your charitable contributions, be sure to have them match your donations for relief to Haiti. UMCOR is a 501 c3 charity, so your donations should be eligible for matching, along with being tax-deductible. Click here for more information>>

Get updates from the BBC. Click here>>

Get information about the UMCOR Haiti Field Office. Click here>>

Information about NYAC Mission work in Haiti. Click here>>

Medical Clinic in Haiti, in the small village of Furcy, a mountain village southeast of Port-au-Prince.