UCC leaders announce $1 million relief goal following Katrina devastation

Written by J. Bennett Guess

Thursday, 01 September 2005

A goal to raise at least $1 million from UCC members and supporters was announced today (Sept.1) to collect much-needed funds for relief and rehabilitation following the devastating wreckage and havoc caused by Hurricane Katrina. The benchmark was announced in a letter to be distributed to congregations and members from Susan M. Sanders, the UCC’s minister for the global sharing of resources. "We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe," Sanders said. "In a 'normal' disaster, we would be well into the relief operation by now. Instead, we are still in a search and rescue mode which is complicated by security concerns.  New Orleans is now being evacuated, and some 80% of the city is flooded. The Gulf Coast area of Mississippi has simply been obliterated." Already, donations from UCC congregations, members and supporters are pouring in from across the country and beyond, according to the Rev. Craig Hoffman of the UCC’s financial development ministry in Cleveland. Within the past 48 hours, nearly $30,000 in contributions had been received online, said Hoffman, who is working extended hours to download and process the large number of web-based gifts.  "For many of our donors online giving has become the preferred method of supporting relief efforts as quickly as possible," Hoffman said. "We've seen a remarkable response of caring and generosity in both the number and dollar amounts of gifts received online - and the magnitude of Katrina's devastation is still being realized." Also, on Sept. 1, the United Church of Christ was one of a handful of organizations singled out by Cleveland’s Plain Dealer newspaper as an appropriate source for area residents to channel relief dollars. The newspaper pointed its readers to the UCC’s online fundraising efforts. Just after Hurricane Katrina blew across Louisiana and Mississippi, the UCC made an initial gift of $25,000 to Church World Service from funds collected this past March during the denomination’s annual One Great Hour of Sharing special mission offering. However, that amount is only a tiny beginning with respect to how the UCC’s members and congregations will respond in the coming hours, days and weeks, Sanders said.