PRESS RELEASE Thursday, May 8, 2008
Toronto: The United Church of Canada has announced that it is launching an emergency appeal for donations designated for cyclone relief and reconstruction in Myanmar (Burma).
As always with United Church emergency appeals, 100% of the donations received for the Cyclone Nargis Emergency Appeal will be committed to relief and reconstruction. This is made possible thanks to the generous ongoing support of United Church members to the church’s Mission and Service Fund. These contributions allow the United Church to absorb the staffing and administration costs of processing donations for emergency appeals.
On May 2-3 Myanmar (Burma) was struck by the worst Asian cyclone since 1991, triggering a storm surge and flooding in the five worst hit states, where more than half of Myanmar’s (Burma’s) 53 million people live. Figures reported suggest as many as 100,000 people were killed and one million displaced. The numbers may be higher. The full extent of the destruction to property and infrastructure is massive and still being ascertained. Communication channels are slow and very limited.
The United Church of Canada is responding immediately to the crisis by committing $100,000 for relief aid and reconstruction purposes. The funds will be channelled through Action by Churches Together (ACT), a global alliance of faith-based relief organizations that work through local and regional partners. Priority needs are for water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, basic medical kits, bed nets, and food. The church will also be considering funding additional relief efforts mobilized by partner organizations in the region.
Individuals are invited to contribute to the United Church’s Cyclone Nargis Emergency Appeal either through their local congregation or directly to The United Church of Canada’s national office, 3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M8X 2Y4 or through our secure online donations page. Cheques and online donations should be made payable to The United Church of Canada and marked “Cyclone Nargis Appeal.”
Further information about the United Church’s response to the crisis in Myanmar (Burma) is being posted on http://www.united-church.ca/ and will be updated as new information becomes available.
For further information please contact:
Mary-Frances Denis
Communications Officer
The United Church of Canada
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 2016
Contact Online is a Blog for St. Mark's United Church Community of Faith, Region 15 of the United Church of Canada. 504 Bernard Street, Port Hawkesbury, N.S. B9A 1L2, E-mail: stmarksuc@gmail.com St. Mark's United Church accepts and welcomes all people as we share and grow in acceptance, learn, love and share our Christian faith in God's love. Phone: (902) 625-2229, Church Services are held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
