From flood-ravaged farmlands to tornado-decimated cities and villages in the Midwest and South, the United Church of Christ continues to formulate and execute an array of disaster-relief procedures. The UCC’s National Disaster Ministries have issued a U.S. Spring Storms Appeal for $250,000. Funds will help local partners immediately respond in their regions as well as provide long-term assistance to communities to repair and rebuild homes.

“Many homes and communities have been demolished, and more severe storms are expected,” said Florence Coppola, UCC executive for disaster ministries. “Extensive rebuilding is going to be needed.”

The UCC’s National Disaster Ministries receives regular damage and response updates from disaster coordinators and conference ministers in the affected areas, and offers immediate emergency grants from our UCC One Great Hour of Sharing fund. It also is working with local partners to provide safety equipment to homeowners and volunteers cleaning up damaged homes. A dozen safety equipment kits (Tyvek suits, respirators, goggles and gloves) costs $112.68.

Here are some ways we can help:

1. Pray for those impacted by natural disasters and emergency response personnel.
2.  Make monetary gifts payable to Salem marked for US Spring Storms Appeal, with the request they be sent through our Illinois Conference office and then on to United Church of Christ in Cleveland, OH .
OR
3. Send monetary gifts, payable to United Church of Christ and marked in the memo portion US Spring Storms Appeal  to United Church of Christ, Financial Services, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.
OR
4. Make a secure on-line donation.

We will also be accepting donated items for clean-up and hygiene kits.  We’ve done this before in response to the 2008 flood of the Mississippi River that overtook much of our precious farmland  along the banks of the river and the severe flooding that struck Cedar Rapids, IA.  Items needed for the kits include: a hand towel measuring approximately 16” x 28” (no fingertip or bath towels), a washcloth, a wide-tooth comb, a nail clipper, a bar of soap (bath size in wrapper), a toothbrush (in original packaging) and six standard size Band-Aids®.  Monetary donations will be accepted to cover the $2 cost of processing/shipping. The value of the hygiene kit is $10.