Title: Disciples aid multiplies for Hurricane Mitch victims
Date: December 1, 1998
Disciples News Service Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98c-71
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Networks of friendship and solidarity have become lifelines as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) assists Central America church partners in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.
More than $275,000 has poured into the Week of Compassion fund for Hurricane Mitch relief, gifts from Disciples congregations and individuals. The outpouring of gifts follows the Nov. 14 alert by the Week of Compassion Committee that at least $250,000 was needed to respond to immediate emergency requests and needs.
The Rev. Johnny Wray, WOC executive director, said, "Exceeding the initial goal is wonderful. However, needs in the region are going to be long-term and expensive. For instance, emergency food supplies are expected to be needed through 1999; crops for this year have been wiped out."
In light of the great damage the hurricane caused in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, even $250,000 may seem to be too little. But because of Disciples partnerships with other helping agencies, the aid multiplies.
For instance, a $42,500 WOC grant paid the cost of the first Church World Service shipment to Honduras Nov. 12. That shipment included more than $300,000 in emergency food, blankets, tents and other relief supplies.
This week a grant of $30,000 will help transport nearly $1.2 million worth of urgently needed antibiotics and vaccines. The medicines have been collected by Interchurch Medical Assistance.
Other Week of Compassion aid will be forwarded to: Action by Churches Together for relief and recovery support ($75,000) and partners in the region ($100,000) such as the Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras and the Council of Evangelical Churches for Denominational Alliance (CEPAD) in Nicaragua.
Johnny Wray, WOC executive director, said that 100 percent of designated gifts to WOC are sent where the giver designates. He also noted that Disciples have worked for decades with church partners in the affected areas and that the work will continue long after other helping agencies have left.
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