Updated Relief Efforts for Hurricane Harvey
The North Texas Conference will be providing updates as they become available about how you can donate or volunteer to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Please check back regularly for more information.
Donate to Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund
Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort Updates from NTC
Friday, Sept. 15, 2017
Additional ERT trainings
Two additional Early Response Team training sessions have been scheduled for upcoming weekends:
- Saturday, Sept. 23, at First United Methodist Church Coppell (420 Heartz Rd., Coppell, TX 75019). Mike Ridgley will conduct the training.
Registration for Basic Training
- Saturday, Oct. 7, at College Mound United Methodist Church (14490 FM 429 South, Terrell, TX 75160). Options offered for this session include both basic training as well as re-certification training. Note: if your badge has expired in the last six months, you need only complete the re-certification training; any expiration longer than six months will require basic training completion to receive a new badge.
Registration for Basic Training Registration for Re-certification
ERT team meeting scheduled for Sept. 20
A team meeting for all trained Early Responders wishing to be part of the group going to the Corpus Christi/Port Aransas area or Victoria will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at First United Methodist Church Rockwall. These group trips will occur Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, and assignments should be known by the meeting time.
Please contact trained Early Responders in your congregation or area and let them know of this opportunity.
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017
1. North Texas giving
The North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church also recently contributed $100,000 to the relief efforts that will significantly assist our sisters and brothers along the Texas Gulf Coast. The Texas Conference and Rio Texas Conference each will receive $50,000.
A story broadcast this past weekend on CBS Sunday Morning reiterated the significant importance of financial contributions at this time.
“Money sometimes doesn’t feel personal enough for people,” disaster response worker Rebecca Gustafson said. “They don’t feel enough of their heart and soul is in that donation, that check that they would send.
“The reality is, it’s one of the most compassionate things that people can do.”
Watch the full story: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/best-intentions-when-disaster-relief-brings-anything-but-relief/
2. ERT training
The North Texas Conference has arranged two Early Response Team (ERT) trainings:
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grace Avenue UMC
3521 Main St.
Frisco, TX 75034
The instructor will be Rick Hill.
» Register Online
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Christ UMC
3101 Coit Rd.
Plano, TX 75075
The instructor will be Mike Walker.
» Register Online
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017
1. School supplies needed
Four schools in the Dallas ISD have opened their doors to students who are Hurricane Harvey evacuees staying at the “mega-shelter” at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Seats at North Dallas High School, Spence Middle School, Kennedy Elementary School and Zan W. Holmes Middle School have been made available for those students.
The district is now working to secure uniforms, backpacks and school supplies for the students. If you are interested in making a donation, contact Usamah Rodgers, Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Initiatives and External Relations, at 972-925-5477 or email harveyvolunteers@dallasisd.org.
2. Additional dropoff center announced
Christ United Methodist Church (3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075) has been added as a dropoff center for flood buckets.
Four other locations in the North Texas Conference were previously designated for cleaning kit (flood bucket) dropoff:
Watch this helpful video for more information on supplies needed for these kits as well as packaging instructions: http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/Cleaning
Also, please contact Rev. Dr. Janet Bell Odom (odom@ntcumc.org or 972-526-5000 x226) if you know of churches that could provide any of the following:
- Rooms/places to sort clothing for shelter residents
- Volunteers to sort donated clothing
- Volunteers with automotive-mechanical skills to assist shelter residents
3. Clergy volunteers needed
An ask has been made for clergy volunteers to assist with evacuees locally. If you are interested in doing so, you can begin the process by registering at https://www.voly.org/disaster/signup.html. After registering your volunteer account, you then will be given information on the agencies that need assistance.
4. ERTs to Rio Texas Conference
The Rio Texas Conference has extended an invitation to travel to their conference and assist in on-the-ground relief. Please note, though: only individuals who currently have Early Response Team (ERT) training can participate at this time. If you are interested, please contact your ERT leader.
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017
1. Financial Gifts
The generosity of North Texas Methodists to this cause has been wonderful. Please note that 100 percent of all contributions will be used for disaster needs.
Bishop Robert Schnase of the Rio Texas Conference specifically said your gifts will help to bring immediate relief to the recovery efforts.
“Financial generosity is vital when responding to this scale of need,” Bishop Schnase said. “There will be a time and place for specific material donations, but our response teams need the immediate flexibility that financial gifts make possible to purchase needed supplies and materials. Your generous gifts make a difference.
“The dollars given to this fund will go directly to relief and recovery. With your donations, we will partner with The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to sustain this relief effort for the many months ahead. They will allow us to offer immediate relief and to partner with Volunteers in Mission (VIM) and UMCOR for long-term response.”
2. ERTs to Rio Texas Conference
The Rio Texas Conference has extended an invitation to travel to the conference and assist in on-the-ground relief. Only individuals who currently have Early Response Team (ERT) training can participate at this time. If you are interested, please contact your ERT leader.
3. Flood Bucket Dropoff
Four locations in the North Texas Conference have been designated for cleaning kit (flood bucket) dropoff:
- Grace Avenue UMC (3521 Main St., Frisco)
- First UMC McKinney (315. N. Church St., McKinney)
- First UMC Howe (810 N. Denny St., Howe)
- North Texas Conference Ministry Center (500 Maplelawn Dr., Plano)
Watch this helpful video for more information on supplies needed for these kits as well as packaging instructions: www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/Cleaning
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017
Donations for Hurricane Harvey evacuees who have traveled to North Texas for shelter may be brought to:
Trusted World
3000 W. Kingsley
Garland, TX
If you are not able to take the items to this site, then you may bring them to the North Texas Conference Ministry Center, where the Rev. Dr. Janet Bell Odom – the conference’s Disaster Response Coordinator – will receive them. That address is 500 Maplelawn Dr., Plano, TX 75075.
The items that would greatly assist shelter residents with their immediate needs include:
- Blankets
- Flip-flops/sandals
- Portable cribs (“pack-and-plays”)
Also, please contact the Rev. Dr. Janet Bell Odom (odom@ntcumc.org or 972-526-5000 x226) if you know of churches that could provide any of the following:
- Rooms/places to sort clothing for shelter residents
- Volunteers to sort donated clothing
- Volunteers with automotive-mechanical skills to assist shelter residents