United Methodists Respond to 'A Marathon' in Relief Efforts
To aid the thousands that have fled for shelter in the neighboring state, the United Methodist Church's Texas Conference has committed to raising $1 million to feed the now homeless.
With thousands of people displaced by the Katrina disaster, victims of the hurricane have streamed into Texas where two more giant relief centers opened on Friday after Houston's Astrodome was filled to the brim.
To aid the thousands that have fled for shelter in the neighboring state, the United Methodist Church's Texas Conference has committed to raising $1 million to feed the now homeless.
Already, $900,000 has been collected through online donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. And, according to the United Methodist News Service, United Methodist churches are all joining in relief efforts with a special offering this Sunday.
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Along with monetary aid, the United Methodists are organizing with the George R. Brown Convention Center to serve three meals a day, which will total to 75,000 meals each day for the week of Sept. 14-20.
In need of 240 trained servers per shift, the conference began training for food service Sept. 3. Volunteers will also include those for pastoral care for the evacuees sheltered in Texas.
"People want to tell their stories," Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the church’s Houston Area said to UMNS. "They need to tell their stories. And frequently what they need is just somebody to sit and listen to them tell what has happened to them, to hear their loss, to grieve with them about what has been lost, and to offer a word of hope and healing for the future."
The Red Cross had requested for help at their shelter via e-mail for the thousands that had to evacuate the Superdome in New Orleans as conditions worsened. More than 20,000 people had been residing at the stadium since Katrina hit.
Tens of thousands are now expected to arrive in Houston where officials also opened Reliant Center convention hall to 11,000 people. Additionally, churches in the Houston area, including Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, took in as many people as they could, providing showers, clothing, food and shelter, according to Huie.
"There is no doubt that this is our calling and that is why we respond," said Susan Silvus, member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. "This is a response from the heart of the (United) Methodist Church. I cannot express what it feels like to be a United Methodist right now."
With an overwhelming response by the United Methodists, Huie recognizes that recovery is only in its initial stages.
"This is not a sprint. It is a marathon," she said.
Donations to hurricane relief can be made online at www.methodistrelief.org.
