01 February 2010
Haiti: More than £270,000 raised by Methodist appeals
UPDATE 23 Feb 2010 - total now over
£535,000
Appeals for Haiti launched by the Methodist Church and MRDF have
raised more than £270,000.
Donations to both MRDF and to the Church's World Mission Fund are
supporting the emergency relief and long-term rehabilitation work
being carried out by the Methodist Church in Haiti. MRDF is also
channelling funds to Action by Churches Together. As well as
funding food, blankets, tents and latrines, donations to MRDF have
helped to provide a water purification system in the Belair
neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince. This is providing 10,000 homeless
Haitians with crystal clear drinking water - the first clean water
they have had since the earthquake struck.
In his Sunday sermon the Revd George Mulrain, President of the
Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, said "Our
contribution to Haiti does not wait until a disaster strikes. It is
ongoing. Various agencies and organizations are contributing to
relief in Haiti, which is commendable. But soon the dust will
settle and the media folk will turn to another "breaking news
story" as the saga of Haiti recedes into the background. Not so
with us as Methodists. We are there to stay, because, our motive is
not to make the news headlines. The love of Christ constrains us
and we stay."
Simeon Mitchell, MRDF's Fundraising, Marketing and Campaigning
Director, said: "Methodists have once again responded with speed
and generosity, and we are deeply grateful for this support. In
view of the widespread devastation and chaos, every donation is
significant. These gifts are enabling us to alleviate some of the
suffering in the short term, and empower people to begin rebuilding
their lives."
As of this morning, donations to the World Mission Fund have
reached £161,000 with the Methodist Church in Ireland contributing
more than £25,000 to that total. Donations to MRDF stand at
£117,000.
The Revd Tom Quenet, Methodist Partnership Coordinator for the
Americas and the Caribbean, is planning to visit Haiti later this
month. "The figures that the Methodist Church in Haiti has sent us
represent a massive loss of the church's infrastructure to serve
the men, women and children of Haiti," he said. "The destruction of
schools mean that the effects of the earthquake will be felt by
many generations into the future, the loss of clinics means that
lives will be shortened for lack of health care, the destruction of
child care facilities will mean that children and young people will
become vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The overwhelmingly
generous response of the Methodist people means that not only are
people receiving water, food and shelter in the immediate aftermath
of the earthquake, but also the Haitian church will be best ready
to respond in alleviating the long term consequences."
People can donate via the Methodist Church by visiting
www.justgiving.com/Methodist-Church-Haiti-Appeal, or sending a
cheque payable to the World Mission Fund to Dave Bennett,
Fundraising Coordinator, at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone
Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be labelled 'Haiti
Appeal'. For further information visit www.methodist.org.uk or
contact Revd Tom Quenet on 020 7467 5160.
To donate via MRDF, visit www.mrdf.org.uk or call 020 7224 4814 to
give by debit or credit card, or send a cheque made payable 'MRDF
(Haiti emergency)' and to MRDF, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1
5JR.