If you want to send aid to Chile you can put a check in the offering plate made out to RUMC with Chile Advance # 3021178 on the memo line. We are also collecting items for health kits until March 14.  The health kit items are: hand towels (not finger tip or kitchen), wash cloths, regular size combs (not pocket, rat tail, or barber), fingernail clippers, bar of soap (3 oz. or larger) in original wrapper, toothbrush in original wrapper (no multiple packs), tube of toothpaste (3.5 oz. or larger) in original wrapper, plain bandaids (no pictures or colors).  Later it will be possible to go to Haiti and help.  We regret that several United Methodist mission workers have died in Haiti.  To date we have collected and sent 2 grocery carts of health kit items to UMCOR for Haiti.  We have also sent over $ 3,000 to UMCOR for Haiti. 


VOLUNTEERS NEED TO PREPARE IF THEY WANT TO SERVE IN HAITI

We are waiting for word from the Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR before sending in any teams according to Lorna Jost, North Central Jurisdiction coordinator.  Team leaders of teams going to Haiti must be UMVIM trained team leaders with some experience in Haiti.  Some early response team training would be beneficial.  When going to Haiti you will need to pay your own way and may need to bring in your own food and supplies.  Team members will need a valid passport, updated tetanus, typhoid, H1N1, hepatitis A and B vaccines.  It is important to work on spiritual formation before going so that we are better able to serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Haitian people.  Everyone in Haiti has lost someone.  Most of the people have lost many people.  Some have lost whole families and will need sensitive, listening care as well as physical help.