South Carolina Disaster Response

October 08, 2015

Our continued prayers are with the people of South Carolina and surrounding areas in the midst of severe flooding. We know that you want to help those in the affected area.  As we write this today some areas of the state have been re-evacuated and rivers in the lower part of the state are not expected to crest until Sunday night. 

Here is a link to a letter from Bishop Holston of South Carolina written earlier this week:  http://www.umcsc.org/home/bishop-holston-urges-prayer-more-after-historic-flooding

Since they are still in a stage of evacuation and assessment and have no way of managing material items (like bottled water, health kits, etc), none have been requested and in fact those who have years of experience in disaster response tell us that at this point those donations would do more harm than good. 

What is needed now is:

  • Your prayers.
     
  • Monetary donations.  These can be given in one of two ways:
  1. Through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) where 100% of your donations will go to relief. There are several ways in which you can make a donation. 
    • Online – make a gift now to US Disaster Response #901670
    • By phone – Call 1-800-554-8583
    • Through your local church – Place your gift in the plate at your church. Please make checks payable to your local church. Your church will forward any funds collected to the Conference office. On the memo line please make your check the clearly identifiable as being for the benefit of UMCOR- US Disaster Response #901670
       
  2.  Giving to a fund that will help United Methodist Churches & parsonages in South Carolina.  UMCOR funds are not used for these needs and giving to this fund will help the local congregations and pastoral families who have been affected.  While there will be insurance money available, there are still many un-met needs in this type of disaster.  At this point South Carolina knows of 10 churches that have damage, but they expect that number to grow significantly.  Please mark these checks for South Carolina Churches/Parsonages and send to the Kentucky Conference Treasurer, 7400 Floydsburg Road, Crestwood, KY 40014. 

Eventually we will be sending response and recovery teams to the area and they will need help for months to come as they begin rebuilding.  The South Carolina Conference is working to set up a way to receive and organize teams and we will share that with you when it is set. 

Download bulletin insert here.


Photo courtesy of The South Carolina Annual Conference