In Today's Hotline:

• CHINA: Earthquake Response
• US: Helping Tornado Survivors
• MYANMAR: UMCOR Helps Deliver Relief
• UMCOR Receives Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator
• UMCOR 100-Ton Challenge Kicks-Off

CHINA: EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

A massive earthquake in Sichuan Province of China has killed at least 12,000 people and destroyed up to 80 percent of homes and businesses in the area. More than 300 aftershocks have been recorded, keeping people on edge.

UMCOR partner Amity Foundation was able to send help to those affected within hours of the disaster. Amity has been working in China since 1985 providing a wide range of humanitarian and social services. UMCOR will support Amity's response, which includes sanitation, medicines, food and water, quilts and temporary shelters.

Please give to International Disaster Response, China Earthquake, UMCOR Advance #982450 to help earthquake survivors.

US: HELPING TORNADO SURVIVORS

UMCOR is helping survivors of the latest spate of tornadoes that raced across the mid-South Saturday evening, May 10. Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Georgia are the states most-recently affected by severe storms in 2008.

UMCOR always responds through annual conferences, providing funds, training and personnel support. In response to storms this weekend, UMCOR is issuing emergency grants from both the Missouri and Oklahoma Annual Conferences and has sent consultant Mary Gaudreau to work with the local response coordinators. UMCOR is also in communication with the Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia and South Georgia conferences as they respond to storm survivors.

"The number of storms so far this year is high and unusual," said Tom Hazelwood, domestic disaster response executive. "UMCOR will work with our annual conference partners to assess the damage, help with the long-term recovery plans, and provide assistance to help meet emergency needs."

Help support all these annual conferences affected by these violent storms with your gifts to Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670.

MYANMAR: UMCOR HELPS DELIVER RELIEF

UMCOR is diligently working with partners to bring relief to those affected by Cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar (Burma) on May 2.

"The United Methodist Committee on Relief is persistently pursuing all avenues to provide relief in Myanmar," said Sam Dixon, UMCOR's top executive, in a release issued by UMCOR on May 12. "The faith-based disaster response community is working closely together to bring relief to those suffering following Cyclone Nargis, and it's working," Dixon continued.

UMCOR is providing funding support to partners who are bringing relief to the people of Myanmar and ensures that its assistance is delivered directly to those who need it most. Partners have been able to distribute water purification tablets, food, and materials for shelter reconstruction into Myanmar. Please continue to pray. Lack of clean water, shelter and proper medical care are all growing concerns for the people of Myanmar. You can send your gifts to UMCOR Advance #3019674, Myanmar Emergency.

UMCOR: CHARITY NAVIGATOR GIVES UMCOR FOUR-STAR RATING

Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator and the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities, has awarded UMCOR a coveted four-star rating for sound fiscal management. The four-star "exceptional" designation is Charity Navigator's highest rating awarded to select not-for-profit organizations that exceed industry standards and outperform most charities in its cause.

"This prestigious honor recognizes our transparency and sound financial accountability and promotes the trust our donors have in the work we do," said the Rev. Sam Dixon, UMCOR's chief executive. "Now future donors will have greater confidence when they choose to give through UMCOR."

This commendation says that UMCOR outperforms the majority of nonprofits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility. Charity Navigator works to guide intelligent giving and helps supporters make informed giving decisions by providing data about more than 5,000 charities and evaluating the financial health of each. Click here to view Charity Navigator's detailed rating of UMCOR.

UMCOR'S 100-TON CHALLENGE KICKS-OFF

UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge kicked-off on World Fair Trade Day, May 10. United Methodists are encouraged to participate in this 12-month campaign to support small-scale farmers throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia earn fair prices for their crops, support their families and keep their land. There are many ways to participate

Consider hosting a coffee tasting event or raise funds with fair trade chocolate. However you participate, increasing the amount of fairly-traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks purchased through the UMCOR Coffee Project and its partner Equal Exchange, a 100 percent fair trade, worker-owned co-operative, will make a difference in the life a farmer and his family.

Visit UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge web page for more information, downloadable resources, and ways you can help create awareness about fair trade. You can also help small-scale farmers through your gifts to Sustainable Agriculture and Development, UMCOR Advance #982188.

UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.

United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org

UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.