Online Giving is Effective, Fast and Responsive
The heads of the United Methodist Committee on Relief said nearly $500,000 in donations were received through its online system alone, but the figure is dwarfed by the tremendous need
The United Methodist Committee on Relief explained that while nearly $500,000 in donations were made through its online donation network in the past week, the figure is dwarfed by the tremendous need in disaster-stricken Asia.
“The count of dead right now is 124,000 – only 16,000 less than Hiroshima – and I would not be at all surprised if the final count is higher,” said the Rev. Kristin Sachen, head of disaster response for UMCOR, referring to the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima during World War II.
The Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive of United Methodist Communications, explained that the initial response has been great.
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“Fortunately, we were online quickly and were able to offer people an efficient, functioning site within a few hours of the first news reports,” he said. “The response since that time is heavy. Over a million people have viewed our messages, (and) several thousand have come to the site and made a secure donation. This is an amazing response.”
In total, donations made through MethodistRelief.org were at $445,000 by Dec. 31.
However, Sachen noted that governments and local agencies across the 12 tsunami-struck regions are asking for much more. One agency in India alone is requesting $13 million in aid, she said to the United Methodist News Service.
“All players are reporting that pre-positioned material goods are depleted; we need to restore their supplies, plus continue to address emergency needs,” she said. “For at least a month, the focus is going to be on emergency relief, which will require huge amounts of money.”
Sachen explained that 100 percent of the donations will be used directly for the relief, and encouraged Methodists to take advantage of the online option by giving all they can before the next Sunday – January 2 – hits.
Hollon also agreed that the online offering was a fast and effective way to get the funds to where they are needed.
“My guess is that in the future, slower, less responsive forms of giving will be evaluated by comparing them to the capability made possible by online giving,” Hollon said to UMNS. “Apparently, people want to give immediately, and they want their donations used as quickly and possible.”
The donations will likely be given as immediate cash to UMCOR partners overseas, since cash allows the aid professionals to buy exactly what they need, according to UMNS.
Besides giving online, donations to UMCOR's “South Asia Emergency” relief work can be placed in local church offering plates or sent directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Designate checks for UMCOR Advance #274305 and “South Asia Emergency.” Credit-card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583.
