Emergency Appeal for Health Kits

UMCOR’s two relief supply warehouses are asking United Methodists to provide health kits that can be sent to earthquake-devastated Haiti.

“For people who are feeling powerless in being able to help those in Haiti, providing health kits is a tangible way they can make an immediate difference,” said Kathy Kraiza, director of UMCOR’s relief supplies. She estimates that hundreds of thousands of kits will be needed in the days and months ahead.

The kits, valued at about $12 per kit, contain everything from towels and washcloths to sterile bandages and bar soap. They will be distributed to those who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the recent disaster.

For individuals or groups that want to contribute basic necessities, UMCOR requests that the following NEW items be placed in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

• 1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”. No kitchen towels.
• 1 washcloth
• 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
• 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
• 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
• 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
• 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

(NOTE: Toothpaste is purchased in bulk to be added to health kits to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Because the emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations and strict rules govern product entry into international countries, UMCOR requires that the kits contain only the requested items – nothing more.

A $2 donation for each kit is requested. $1 per kit is for toothpaste and $1 per kit is for shipping. These dollars should be sent to the Conference Treasurer's office marked as a donation for Conference Advance Special #1708 "UMCOR Kits."

NCNY is encouraged to deliver Health Kits and bulk supplies to:

• Central UNY Conference Hub: The Hands of Hope HUB located at First UMC, Cortland, 734 Route 222, Cortland, NY 13045
• Northern Flow District: Asbury Watertown, 327  Franklin St, Watertown, 
  Canton UMC, 41 Court St, Canton and
  Sandy Creek UMC, 8134 Harwood Dr., Sandy Creek....folks will need to check with the church for hours when they are open.
• Crossroads District: Christ Community, 3474 Stiles Rd, Syracuse, 13209
• Mohawk District: Rome: 1st,  400 North George Street, Rome, and
  New Hartford: 1st , 105 Genesee Street, New Hartford
• Finger Lakes District: Bath Centenary UMC, corner W. Washington and Liberty Streets, Bath, NY   14810