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May 12, 2008
China Earthquake
DR000138
PC(USA), through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, will be
responding to the earthquake that struck China May 12.
The number of casualties has increased to at least 12,000
people; thousands more are trapped in collapsed buildings.
More than 20 provinces are affected.
PC(USA)’s mission partner in China, the Amity Foundation,
is already responding to the disaster. Amity staff members
have been assessing the damage in Chengdu and other
affected areas.
PDA funds from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated
giving will be used to help Amity purchase rice, quilts and
shelter material for the earthquake survivors. Amity has
already provided 1 million Yuan (approximately US$143,000)
for the purchase and provision of drinking water and food.
Amity will focus its relief on approximately 8,000 families
whose homes are destroyed and are among the most-vulnerable
communities.
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Donations may be sent through normal mission giving
channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling
PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or online at
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/donate/accounts.htm.
Checks payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be
mailed directly to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Central Receiving Services
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
or send your contributions to National Capital Presbytery, earmarked DR000138 so that your church receives credit.
Please keep the people in the affected areas, their
families and those working to assist the survivors in your
prayers.
May 8, 2008
Myanmar/Burma
Donations may be sent through normal mission giving
channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling
PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or online at:
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/myanmarburma-index.htm or send your contributions to National Capital Presbytery, earmarked DR000145 so that your church receives credit.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is issuing a special
appeal through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) in an
effort to support long term recovery efforts as a result of
the cyclone that has devastated Myanmar. An appeal card is
being sent to every congregation in the next few days. In
addition PDA has committed $100,000 from One Great Hour of
Sharing and designated funds to provide emergency
assistance to survivors of Myanmar.
The appeal card is
available to download online at
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/myanmarburma-index.htm .
A bulletin insert is also available, and liturgical
resources are being collected. These items will be
accessible online and we encourage your churches to use
them as they become available. Linda Valentine, Executive
Director of the General Assembly Council stated, “The
PC(USA) through its disaster relief agency seeks to
accompany the people of Myanmar through this catastrophe.
Our mission is to heal broken lives, as well as broken
homes.”
PDA is responding in Myanmar as a member of and in
partnership with Action by Churches Together (ACT)
International and Church World Service. Both entities have
local partners in Myanmar and will have representatives to
help in the provision of relief items to cyclone survivors.
Valentine also commented, “We have trust in our partners to
help us be the hands and feet of Christ during this
difficult time.”
Communication has been widely destroyed in the region, but
attempts are being made to be in conversation with our
partner churches in the area, including the Presbyterian
Church of Myanmar (located in northeastern Thailand), our
PC(USA) regional liaison located in Chiang Mai, Thailand,
Christian Conference of Asia, and Myanmar Council of
Churches.
The situation in Myanmar is dire. As of today UN and Church
World Services officials have reported that close to one
million people are homeless and priority needs are for
water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, basic medical
kits, bed nets and food. Power and water supply have been
disconnected, and the price of food has multiplied since
the storm. Current estimates indicate tens of thousands
of lives have been lost, with tens of thousands still
missing.
Cyclone Nargis, packing winds up to 120 miles per hour,
swept through the country on Saturday. A storm surge with
waves up to 12 feet high washed inland causing widespread
destruction. The low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region, the
country’s main agricultural area, suffered the most severe
damage.
The full extent of the damage throughout the country has
not yet been determined. An already marginal infrastructure
has been further damaged, resulting in poor communications
and impassible roads. Power outages and scattered debris
also hamper recovery efforts.
Our church’s generous gifts will help us stand with our
brothers and sisters in long term recovery efforts as their
broken lives and communities begin to heal.
Gifts for this disaster can be designated to DR000145
–Myanmar/Burma.
April 29, 2008
U.S. Disasters - Virginia Tornado
https://www.pcusa.org/give/online/project?DR000015 or send your contributions to National Capital Presbytery, earmarked DR000015 so that your church receives credit.
PDA continues to respond to storms and flooding that has
affected much of the south and southeastern United States
these past few months. The most recent storm is a trio of
tornadoes that struck southeastern Virginia late Monday
(April 28, 2008) afternoon. The most serious damage was
reported in the Suffolk area, near Norfolk. Two other
tornadoes were reported in Brunswick County and Colonial
Heights, a Richmond suburb.
In response to tornadoes in Virginia early this week,
PDA National Response Team members Carolyn and Dave Thalman
of Winchester, Virginia, and Beth Goss of Herndon,
Virginia, are enroute to work with the Presbytery of
Eastern Virginia, where most of the physical damage
occurred. NRT members will also visit the Presbytery of the
James to see what assistance is needed.
Bulletin Inserts: (for printing)
Virginia Tornadoes
Virginia Tornadoes
Urgent need for clean-up buckets
A storm system boasting heavy rains and some snow has
swelled creeks and rivers across much of the central United
States — especially affected are Missouri and Arkansas Rivers in Missouri have been cresting well above flood level, and in many areas have exceeded the severe floods of 1993. Arkansas is expecting its worst flooding in 25 years.
As floodwaters recede, families will face the daunting task
of clean up and debris removal from the muddy waters.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has provided $10,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing funds to the help families in their clean up efforts. Materials to fill clean-up buckets are being purchased, and the Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, will coordinate volunteers to assemble the buckets. Clean-up buckets are
one of the Gift of the Heart kits distributed through the Ferncliff Church World Service warehouse.
Please prayerfully consider involving your congregation in helping with this effort by:
1. Putting together clean-up buckets and shipping them to Ferncliff, or
2. Making a gift of $50.00 (the suggested donation to purchase a bucket and its contents) designated for DR000151.
Information on making and shipping the buckets can be found
the PDA web site: http://www.pcusa.org/pda/help/goh.htm.
Or send your contributions to the Presbytery Office, earmarked DR000151, so that your church will receive credit for the donation.
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