Hope Shall Bloom
UCC Hurricane Recovery Fund
The UCC continues to respond through dollars and works to the suffering and enormous need in the Gulf Coast and expects to be there for the long haul. Given the magnitude of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the UCC projects a response that will last 5 to 10 years. Through the UCC's Hope Shall Bloom - Hurricane Recovery Fund, more than $4 million has been raised to date to support hurricane recovery.
UCC National Disaster Ministries recently reported on its "Phase One of Relief and Recovery" for the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Funds disbursed through Jan. 31, 2006 include:
 | $25,000 - Church World Service, (Hurricane Katrina) to support distribution of blankets, health kits, and deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons |
| $209,800 - UCC South Central Conference to meet emergency needs; provide grants to UCC clergy families who have been displaced and lost homes & income sources; long term recovery disaster response coordination [two long term volunteers]. Additionally, Rev. Alan Coe has been called by the South Central Conference to coordinate disaster recovery and work camp groups in the New Orleans Association. |
| $110,000 - Community of Faith Church of Houston (UCC/Disciple) - Amistad Resettlement Project, to assist in paying resettlement costs (two months housing; food and clothing allowance) for 78 evacuated families who have been identified to participate in long-term resettlement project. |
| $50,000 - Church World Service - Relocation Program for Displaced Americans, relocation of families in various U.S. cities. |
| $15,000 - UCC Southeast Conference to meet emergency needs; feeding evacuees in Atlanta through the Hosea Williams Feeding Program (at the request of Ambassador Andrew Young). |
| $20,000 - UCC Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi to re-establish mission site for emergency relief and long-term recovery and rebuilding. |
| $5,000 - Purchase of two Iridium satellite phones and service for use by Back Bay Mission staff as long as normal land-line and cell phone communications are disrupted. |
| $40,000 - UCC related Dillard University, New Orleans to repair damage to campus and restore operations. |
| $5,000 - UCC related Olivet College, Michigan, to help cover costs of feeding and sheltering 18 evacuees. |
| $10,000 - Farm Worker Association of Florida to assist migrant farm workers unemployed when the crops were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. |
| $53,800 - Good Shepherd UCC, Metairie, Louisiana to prepare church building (repaired damages, remove mold) to serve as site for evacuee/returnee housing/hospitality and long-term mission trip base camp. |
| $10,500 - Church World Service - (Hurricane Rita) to support distribution of blankets, health kits, and deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons. |
| $2,400 - Back Bay Mission, support for WCM Volunteer to serve as mission trip coordinator (6 months). |
| $4,500 - Plymouth Congregational UCC, Beaumont, TX (Hurricane Rita) to assist the community with relief and recovery needs. |
| $10,000 - Old First Church, Springfield, MA, support for books for Gulf Coast schools (k-8); church is working with school districts to replace books through an ongoing book program. |
| $15,000 - New York Disaster Interfaith Services, support for resettlement of evacuees in New York City. |
| $30,000 - Louisiana Environmental Action Network to assist with direct relief efforts for residents - providing "Re-entry Protection Kits" that contain protective clothing and eyewear, gloves, biohazard bags, and particulate respirators, as well as more bleach, and hopefully, if we can find them in time, buckets and detergents. |
| $50,000 - Into Exodus Ministries, UCC Ministers for Racial, Social & Economic Justice to facilitate radio town hall meetings for the Diaspora to receive critical information and have a voice in plans for how to rebuild their communities. |
| $20,000 - UCC South Central Conference support for new church start in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Malcolm Richard, pastor. |
| $25,000 - Disaster Recovery Services of George County, Mississippi, interfaith support to buy materials to repair and rebuild homes for persons who are under insured; or, have no insurance. Volunteer work groups will provide the labor. |
The Rev. Alan Coe, recently named minister for disaster recovery in the UCC South Central Conference, is coordinating the volunteers in New Orleans. Coe reports that volunteers are bringing hope to the community, but while the generosity flows, the emotions are still raw.
"The congregations and community are stressed and still grieving," said Coe. "People are pretty anxious throughout the city. After the holidays, the anxiety increased. People have a difficult time doing anything." Visit www.ucc.org for more information.
