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5 ways you can help victims
of Hurricane Katrina

1. Pray for all those affected by the disaster.
2. Contribute to UMCOR Advance #982523, "Hurricanes 2005 Global."
   We encourage you to donate to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) through your local church so your church will receive credit toward the Northern Illinois Conference Rainbow Covenant. Contributions to support recovery in a specific region should be stated on the gift slip your local church treasurer sends to the Northern Illinois Conference Treasurer. Donations also can be made online at www.methodistrelief.org and by phone at (800) 554-8583. Checks can be written to UMCOR, designated for "Hurricanes 2005 Global," Advance #982523, and left in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068.
3. Send Emergency Health Kits, Flood Buckets, blankets and bottled water.
   Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. The need for Health Kits is especially acute right now, according to Gwen E. Redding, director of the Sager Brown Depot of UMCOR in Baldwin, La. New blankets are also needed, but recently cleaned blankets in good condition are also acceptable. Flood buckets provide supplies that enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. For assembly and shipping instructions, call UMCOR Sager Brown at (800) 814-8765 or go to UMCOR Kits. Financial donations can be made to "UMCOR Material Resources," Advance #901440, to buy kit contents. The value of a health kit is $12. Value of a flood bucket is $45.

   To have kits and blankets delivered to Sager Brown Depot, drop them off at the following Northern Illinois Conference churches. (Call ahead to arrange for delivery times.)

   Aurora District

   Batavia UMC, 8 N. Batavia Ave., Batavia
   Contact: Cathy Zimmerman, (630) 879-7060
   First UMC, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove
   Contact: Sharon Harman, (630) 968-7120 ext.124
   First UMC, 424 Forest, Glen Ellyn
   Contact: Karen Thompson, (630) 469-3510
   Grace UMC*, 300 E. Gartner Rd., Naperville
   Contact: Don Pugh, (630) 416-7008, or the Rev. Bill Bryan, (630) 355-1748 or 637-8724
   Wheatland-Salem UMC, 1852 95th Street, Naperville
   Contact: church office, (630) 904-1035
   Oswego Prairie UMC, 1217 Wolfs Crossing Road, Oswego
   Contact: Rev. Keck Mowry, (630) 554-8274
   Trinity UMC, 2505 Boomer Lane, Yorkville
   Contact: Rev. Susan Wessels, (630) 553-7645

   Chicago Northwestern District

   Bethany, El Buen Pastor UMC, 3900 N. Albany Ave. (at Byron Ave.), Chicago
   Contact: Rev. Orlando Moller, (773) 837-0229
   Broadway UMC, 3344 N. Broadway St., Chicago
   Contact: Rev. Greg Dell, 773-348-2679
   Creciendo al Ritmo del Pueblo UMC, 2056 N. Tripp Ave., Chicago
   Contact: Rev. Santiago Espada, 773-252-1195
   First UMC, 418 Touhy Ave., Park Ridge
   Contact: Dorothy Silver, 847-825-3144

   Chicago Southern District

   Amor de Dios UMC, 2356 S. Sawyer, Chicago, Illinois
   Contact: Rev. Jose Landaverde, (773) 968-4258
   Community UMC, 17050 S. California, Hazel Crest
   Contact: Rev. Melissa Hood, (708) 271-0295
   East Side UMC, 11000 S. Ewing Ave., Chicago, Illinois
   Contact: Rev. Zaki L. Zaki, (773) 721-4141
   First Wesley Academy UMC, 15546 Lexington, Harvey, Illinois
   Contact: Rev. Charles Woolery, Sr., (708) 596-1384
   Grace United Protestant Church, 266 Somonauk St., Park Forest
   Contact: Ivan J. Law, (708) 748-6954

   DeKalb District

   First UMC, 202 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon
   Contact: Susan Palmer, (815) 284-2849
   Grace UMC, 1345 Chartres St., LaSalle
   Contact: Rev. Jen Wilson, (815) 223-1001
   First UMC, 316 S. Church St., Princeton
   Contact: Rev. James Galbreath, Beth Galbreath, (815) 872-2821
   Sheridan UMC, 219 Bushnell St., Sheridan
   Contact: Rev. Sally Chipman, (815) 496-2021
   Sycamore UMC, 160 Johnson Ave., Sycamore
   Contact: Rev. Bill Landis, (815) 895-9113

   Elgin District

   Barrington UMC, 98 Algonquin Rd., Barrington
   Contact: (847) 836-5540 (Health kits or financial donations by Sept. 28)
   Burlington UMC, 195 Center St., Burlington
   Contact: Rev. Brian William, (847) 683-3535
   Epworth UMC, 37W040 Highland Ave., Elgin
   Contact: Rev. Jana Chwalisz, (847) 931-5400
   Kingswood UMC, 401 W. Dundee Rd., Buffalo Grove
   Contact: Rev. Deanna Mede, 847-398-0770 x13
   Marengo UMC, 119 E. Washington St., Marengo
   Contact: Mr. Duane Oranger, (815) 568-8250

   Rockford District

   Apple River UMC, 100 E. Baldwin St., Apple River
   Contact: Rev. Deborah Wise, (815) 281-9057
   Brooke Road UMC, 1404 Brooke Road, Rockford
   Contact: Rev. James Preston, (815) 398-8914
   Embury UMC, 515 S. Galena Ave., Freeport
   Contact: Rev. D. Robin Benson, (815) 232-3109
   Grace UMC, 3555 McFarland Road, Rockford
   Contact: June & Larry Christianson, (815) 229-0785
   Harlem UMC, 8401 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park
   Contact: Rev. Teresa Schlub, (815) 633-1450

   *A large commercial trailer will be parked in the Grace UMC, Naperville, west parking lot during the following donation drop-off times:

   Thursday, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m.

   Friday, Sept. 30, Oct. 7: 6-8 p.m.

   Saturday, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

   Sunday, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 2-4 p.m.

   The following items are needed now, in case lots if possible, but any quantity will be appreciated:

   Canned food, baby food, baby formula and juice

   Baby items: diapers, wipes, sippy cups, bottles, Pedialyte, Tylenol, cold medicine

   Pesonal care items such as hand towels, bath-size soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes (individually wrapped), hand sanitizers, feminine care items and adult Depends

   Medical suipplies: peroxide, rubbing alcohol, immodium, antacids

   New chidlren's undewear and socks (No other clothing please!)

   For more information call: Don Pugh at (630) 416-7008 or the Rev. Bill Bryan at (630) 355-1748 or 637-8724.

   Given the emergency, delivery is strongly encouraged, but kits may also be shipped to: UMCOR Sager Brown Depot, P.O. Box 850, 131 Sager Brown Road, Baldwin, LA 70514-0850. Please also provide $1 per kit to cover distribution costs. This many be sent to Sager Brown to the UMCOR Advance #982730, "Contain Your Joy."

4. Volunteer your church to be a drop-off site.
   If your church can provide space where emergency kits can be collected prior to shipment to UMCOR�s Sager Brown Depot, contact George H. Bush, NIC Disaster Response Coordinator, at (630) 234-3499.
5. Volunteer to help in Hurricane Katrina recovery.
   Contact NIC Coordinator for Volunteers in Mission, Jack Lucas, at (847) 885-2279. He can provide details on creating and training a team as well as scheduling.
   For information on disaster sites that are scheduling volunteers, call the Volunteer Hotline at: (800) 918-3100.

UMCOR Emergency Appeal
for Health Kits, water, blankets

Bishop Edward W. Paup, resident bishop of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference and president of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has issued an emergency appeal for United Methodists and their friends to supply Health Kits, bottled water and blankets for survivors of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast.

"The need is desperate throughout the area devastated by the storm," Paup said, "especially among people who have been or are being evacuated from their homes."

The need for Health Kits is especially acute, according to Gwen E. Redding, director of the Sager Brown Depot of UMCOR in Baldwin, La. The center is to the west of the major storm impact and did not sustain major damage.

"We are getting calls from all over," Redding said, "and we do have kits on hand but not enough to fill all the requests coming from the Gulf and around the world."

The center also needs Flood Buckets but, at present, Health Kits are in greatest demand. New blankets are also needed, but recently cleaned blankets in good condition are also acceptable.

Annual Conferences, districts and congregations are urged to take the supplies in trucks or vans to the center if possible. The roads are open in the area. If delivery is made, Sager Brown will have personnel on hand for unloading any day or hour. Persons who may need overnight accommodations should call or e-mail the director of voluntary services at (337) 923-2027, ext. 202.

A Health Kit contains specific items:

All items should be placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. No money, notes, religious or political literature, or other items should be placed in the kits.

Money can also be donated to UMCOR for the purchase of kit contents. The value of a health kit is $12, if persons want to contribute the money. For kit contents, make gifts to UMCOR Advance #901440, "Material Resources."

Given the emergency, delivery is strongly encouraged, but kits may also be shipped to: UMCOR Sager Brown Depot, P.O. Box 850, 131 Sager Brown Road, Baldwin, LA 70514-0850. Please also provide $1 per kit to cover distribution costs. This many be sent to Sager Brown to the UMCOR Advance #982730, "Contain Your Joy."

"While the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is beyond belief, what is not beyond belief is how United Methodists respond to the call for help," Paup said. "UMCOR is already mobilized and offering assistance."

"Let us pray for all those affected," Paup said, "and let us give generously to support the massive relief efforts already underway."

Volunteer service begins
with application process

Individual mission volunteers often can choose where they want to serve � as long as they have an invitation.

"We do not place anybody where it is not requested," said Greg Forrester, who is national coordinator of the individual volunteers program for the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM).

Requests come from heads of churches or various programs and are later confirmed by the local bishop or church president when a specific individual is chosen.

The process for potential volunteers begins with an application form, three references and a medical form. The applicant is interviewed by the conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator and/or the jurisdictional coordinator.

An interview also is conducted at a volunteer training event with Forrester or Jeanie Blankenbaker, head of mission volunteers for GBGM. "Until I actually see them face-to-face, I'm not going to place them anywhere," Forrester said.

Individual volunteers can list three preferred geographic areas for placement by looking at a potential site list. Once they receive an assignment, which is usually for a minimum of two months, volunteers must be prepared to pay for all expenses, including transportation, lodging and meals. In some cases, the host will provide lodging or a small stipend, but that is not guaranteed.

A report is submitted at the end of the mission period, along with an evaluation from the volunteer's supervisor at the site. Those reports are used as a basis to consider future placements. Many individual volunteers go on to another placement.

More information is available online at Mission Volunteers or by calling (607) 756-7799.

Consultation for medical Volunteers
in Mission will be May 6-8 in Ohio

A special consultation for medical professionals interested in learning more about United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Medical Teams will be May 6-8 in Westlake, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. Dr. Roger Boe, national con-sultant for United Methodist Fellowship of Health Care Volunteers, will be guest speaker.

Sponsored by the RxConneXion of the North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) VIM office, the weekend will include workshops and opportunities to make connections for those interested in learning more about participating on a medical team.

Applications are available online at RxConneXion, or contact the NCJ VIM office at (605) 692-3390.

VIM training will be May 7 in Elgin

Volunteers in Mission Training will be held Saturday, May 7, for leaders and host sites at First UMC, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin.

Jean Bush, director of Northern Illinois Conference Leadership and Program Development, will lead the training.

For more information, call (847) (931-0710, ext. 16.

Library burns in the Philippines,
theological books, etc. sought

The fairly new library at the Wesley Divinity School in Cabanatuan City, Philippines, was destroyed by fire on Feb. 26. No books, computer and other library materials were saved. The fire occurred when most students were away from the school compound.

"The library was one of the best among seminary libraries in the area," said the Rev. Noah Panlilio, pastor of Lemont UMC.

Panlilio said donations of books, such as Bible commentaries, theological treaties, Bible study materials, both new and used are being solicited. For more information about how to make a donation, contact Panlilio at (630) 257-5210.

Northern Illinois Conference
Volunteers in Mission

Volunteers in Mission (VIM), both lay and clergy, are engaged in Chrstian ministry. In fulfilling the work to which God has called us we embody the United Methodist VIM motto: "Christian Love in Action."

Purpose of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission

1. To share our faith in Jesus Christ.
2. To serve with our unique skills and gifts in missioin.
3. To develop new perspectives and gain new insights into issues confronting the global human family.

What is a VIM Work Team?

Work Teams are made up of 10 to 12 persons from a local church, district or conference who commit themselves to work on a project in a mission setting (usually a church, school or clinic building).

For more information:

If you would like to serve on the Northern Illinois Conference Volunteers in Mission Committee, call Jack Lucas, (847) 885-2279.

VIM Opportunities
in the Northern Illinois Conference

North Central Jurisdiction
Volunteers in Mission web page

Child to Child mission education materials available

International Child Care/Grace Children's Hospital has new mission education materials for children. These free mission education materials offer a Story Poster containing five full-color photographs with mission stories linked to scripture and a resource guide full of ideas for learning.

"It includes five complete lesson plans relating to the theme," Nan Kay Papa Mwen translated, "In My Father's House," based on a popular Haitian children's song. The lessons explore the subjects of healing, wholeness, joy, love and hope.

Child to Child II can be used to support children's ministry in your church through Vacation Bible School, Sunday school mission emphases, family nights, mission moments, after-school program and special seasonal events. Through use of these materials children can grow as faithful disciples through mission awareness and education, particularly learning about International Child Care (ICC) and how they can make a difference for God's kingdom in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. ICC ministries are in Northern Illinois Conference's Rainbow Covenant Book, UMCOR Specials (Orange Band): #44185207 - Grace Children's Hospital and #44188473 - Integrated Community Health.

To receive a free Child to Child II packet for your church or for more information, contact the Rev. Raney Good, regional director, at (630) 466-7631 or e-mail: goodrk@aol.com.

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