Area churches start mobilizing to assist with Haiti relief effort
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 17, 2010 1:50 AM
Mount Olive town officials have been approached by several concerned citizens asking how they can help the people of Haiti who are dealing with the destruction of last week's earthquake.
"Although the town does not have a formal response structure in place, we have been in contact with the United Methodist Church which has already put its organization into action," Town Manager Charles Brown said.
To make it easier for Mount Olive residents who wish to help, the town will collect donations at town hall and get them to the church. People also may also take their donations directly to the First United Methodist Church at the corner of James and Church streets.
Donations must be in by Feb. 1 and checks should be made to the First United Methodist Church with "Haitian Relief Fund" in the memo line.
In other relief efforts, the Rev. Greg Day, campus pastor and associate professor of religion at Mount Olive College, met Friday with The Harvest Connection Disaster Relief coordinators (a ministry of the Original Free Will Baptist Convention) and various convention representatives.
"We will be making a concerted effort to collect bedding, personal hygiene, and infant care supplies beginning next week for relief efforts in Haiti," Day said.
A complete list of needed items will be available on Monday.
Financial contribution may be mailed to The Harvest Connection Disaster Relief, 2600 W. Vernon Ave., Kinston, N.C. 28504. Checks should be made payable to The Harvest Connection Disaster Relief and should be earmarked "Haiti Relief."
Day said 100 percent of the earmarked monies will go to the Haiti relief effort.
UMC officials said 100 percent of the cash donations will go to the relief effort, too, since all administrative costs have already been paid by United Methodist churches. Those donations my be made to local United Methodist churches or electronically at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760.
Goods are expected to begin arriving Monday at the MERCI Mission Center in Goldsboro from the churches of North Carolina. People are needed who can volunteer to prepare these goods to be shipped to Haiti.
Church officials said MERCI is preparing to send a plane to Haiti with medical supplies. Donated medical supplies may be brought to local United Methodist churches or MERCI to be placed on that plane.
Immediate medical supplies requested are:
* Plastic or fiberglass casting
* Suture 3-0,4-0 nylon
* Suture instrument kits
* Betadine
* 4x4 dressing
* Roll gauze
* Web roll for casting
* Saline IV and irrigation
* Injectible pain medication
* Injectible antibiotics IV and IM Rocephin, Ancef, Kflex
* External fixture
* Tools to put in the tool boxes
* Traction bows and pins
Non-medical needs include:
* Blankets
* Sheets
* Towels
* Washcloths
* Food
* Tarps
Also needed are health kits containing:
* 1 hand towel (15-by-25 inches up to 17-by-27 inches)
* 1 washcloth
* 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
* 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
* 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
* 1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper; no child-sized brushes)
* 1 large tube of toothpaste
* 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
All items should be placed inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. No other items should be included in the health kit.