May 3, 2005

Hurricane Aid Topped $70,000

In November 2004, members and friends were challenged to contribute to the Oblation Fund to aid individuals and communities in the Caribbean and southern United States following damage and loss from hurricanes. Significant numbers of church families experienced devastation in the wake of these storms. Total aid from church funds was $71,000.

Haiti recently received a $25,000 Oblation grant to meet post-hurricane needs for medical help and counseling, food supplies, household needs, and restoring job-related equipment. Jean-Claude Pierre, World Church minister in Haiti, reported in March that diseases were still at epidemic proportions in the city of Gonaïve, which was hit especially hard. Many there were living on the streets or rooftops of flooded homes following the storms.

Johnny Stabno, assistant to the field apostle and bishop for the Latin America/Caribbean Mission Field, said, “Haiti is an ongoing concern, so additional problems following the hurricanes are especially significant there. The leaders I met with truly appreciate the generosity of members and friends of the church through Oblation, as well as other help received from World Accord and specific U.S. jurisdictions.”

September 2004 distributions of Oblation hurricane aid totaled $39,000. Funds were distributed among numerous church families in the Alabama-Northwest Florida USA, Gulf USA, Haiti, and Caribbean Mission Centers. An additional $7,000 from the World Hunger Fund boosted pantries in Florida that were met with increased demands during the crisis. Visit www.CofChrist.org/news/oct04/oblation.asp for more details on how initial aid was distributed.

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