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The First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Guilford, Connecticut
31 January 2010
Frequently Asked Questions about UCC Haiti Earthquake Response
Dear friends,
I have just posted a story to the Conference web site which answers many of the questions we’ve heard about how the UCC is responding to the earthquake in Haiti. Please do visit the site at http://www.ctucc.org/news.php?story=930 to see the story; it includes links that may help you with follow-up questions. I’ll try to summarize in this message.
First, 100% of funds given for Haiti Earthquake Relief will be used for aid with the people there. Administrative costs have already been covered by our congregations’ generous gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission Basic Support. We are not fussy about the title “Haiti Earthquake Relief” or any other designation; at this time, we are assuming that gifts noted for “Haiti” are to be directed there. Gifts made online at ucc.org and ctucc.org will go to the same place; as will funds given in local churches and passed on to the Conference for Haiti.
One Great Hour of Sharing and Haiti Earthquake Relief funds are already at work in basic humanitarian relief: temporary shelter, food, and health assistance. The next days will see attention to water and sanitation issues. Much of this work is done through Church World Service, our ecumenical partners in disaster response and international development, but it also includes the ACT Alliance, IMA World Health, and the Haitian ecumenical agency CONASPEH.
The UCC Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund qualifies for corporate matching gift programs. The UCC’s tax ID number is 34-1927041. Receipts will be issued for charitable contributions made to the UCC for disaster-related or other mission work.
As of January 25, the UCC has received $500,000, with new gifts received daily.
Congregations wanting to collect relief supplies should assemble and forward Church World Service Baby and Hygiene Kits, as these can be transported to the affected area, where clothing and food cannot.
Volunteer opportunities immediately after a large-scale disaster of this kind are rare, even for medical personnel. Disaster Response personnel have begun initial conversations with partners in Haiti about possibilities for the future; as that information becomes available, it will be online at http://www.ucc.org/disaster/
Finally, please note that Haitians are not being considered for resettlement in the US, nor are large-scale adoption programs in the works. In disaster situations, children are not sent out of their native country until it is certain they have no living parents or relatives. Haitians living in the US may apply for Temporary Protected Status if they were in the country as of January 12, 2010.
Please see the story online for more information: http://www.ctucc.org/news.php?story=930. I hope that is helpful to you in your ministries,
Eric Anderson, Minister of Communications & Technology
Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ
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