First UMC Providing Hope for Haiti

First United Methodist Church has partnered with UMCOR and Bahamas Methodist Habitat to help provide relief for Haiti after the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. As of February 5th, you have provided thousands of dollars for relief, collected more than 1250 health kits and have even helped deliver supplies and evacuate refugees by providing aircrafts through Bahamas Habitat.

Bahamas Habitat is US-based Methodist nonprofit organization supporting housing & disaster relief work in the Bahamas. Because of the Bahamas proximity to Haiti, Bahamas Habitat quickly became a crucial partner in providing relief to hard to reach areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Since January 12 they have been delivering donated supplies and transporting refugees from Haiti. Gene Schmidt, member of First Methodist and husband of Susie Schmidt, has made numerous flights to and from Haiti in the past 10 days using aircraft that he owns——– as a recreational pilot. On January 22, WEAR Channel 3 reporter and First Methodist member, Dan Thomas traveled with Gene on one of his trips to Haiti. Video reports from this trip are available below:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=1339905374817&ref=nf

How You Can Continue to Help

To continue delivering supplies to Haiti via Bahamas Habitat, financial donations are greatly needed to help cover the cost for fuel needed to travel to Haiti. The lack of fuel has caused many supplies destined for Haiti to remain in warehouses. The approximate cost to fuel one round trip to Haiti is $2000. We have set up a designated fund at the church to help provide funds for this crucial part of the relief effort. If you would like to donate, you may do so by visiting the church office or by placing a donation in the offering plate on Sunday. (Please indicate HAITI FUEL on check or envelope) You may also donate online here. (Use the OTHER field and write HAITI FUEL in the blank provided)

Thank you for all that you are doing for those in need.

Related Links:

http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/

Detroit Conference VIM Team Safely Airlifted from Haiti

WEAR TV3 News Report on Gene Schmidt

Letter from Haiti