We are so thankful for our UMCOR staff, the hospitality of the staff of the Scarritt Bennett Center and Denman building, and the leadership and service of our CDRCs!

#BeUMC #UMCOR #disasterresponse

♻️ Became equipped with tools and resources from GBGM’s Environmental Sustainability program and the Footprint Project.

🗣️ Engaged with materials on communications, monitoring and evaluation and fund development
🧰 Received training and tools from the Hummingly Foundation to help communities navigate the emotional, social and practical challenges of disaster recovery

During their week together, these disaster response leaders:
🤝 Strengthened their partnerships across conferences and forged new connections
⚙️ Familiarized themselves with available training resources
✍️ Planned and coordinated in leadership training sessions

The team was joined by United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) leadership and experts for a week of training, planning and fellowship with representatives from 49 annual conferences.

Thank you to Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, vice chair of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, chair of the Ministry Study Committee and bishop of the Iowa Episcopal Area and Illinois Great Rivers Episcopal Area, for leading us in this prayer.

What can you do to respond?
🛐 Pray for those impacted.
👐 Give to support our international relief and recovery efforts. Select "Hurricane Melissa" when asked to designate your gift: bit.ly/umcoridr
📲 Share this post to encourage others to pray and give.

UMCOR’s long-standing relationships in the Caribbean, including recent disaster-response trainings in June 2023 and March 2025, ensure that additional aid reaches those in need quickly and effectively.

UMCOR and its regional partners are conducting needs assessments and preparing for a coordination meeting in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, on November 18–21, to plan the next phase of relief and recovery.

Further coordination is underway with the Iglesia Metodista En Cuba. These grants are in addition to those issued last week to Methodist partners in Jamaica and Haiti.

With your gifts and support, we can make an even greater impact. Together, let's respond to God's call to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and tend to the sick.

➡️ umcmission.org/press-releas...

From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, GBGM and GBHEM invite you to participate in our end-of-year giving campaign, inspired by our new granting and giving initiative, This Moment Matters, focusing on five vital areas of response — agriculture and food security, education, global health, migration and peace.

What can you do to respond?
🛐Pray for those impacted.
👐Give to support our international relief and recovery efforts. Select "Hurricane Melissa" when asked to designate your gift: bit.ly/umcoridr
📲Share this post to encourage others to pray and give.

We will remain in communication with the MCCA and other partners in the region as relief efforts continue. We encourage you to continue to pray for those impacted and faithfully support relief and recovery efforts, as food insecurity and the risk of water-borne illnesses will increase.

These emergency grants will assist with immediate needs, including food, water, temporary shelter, hygiene kits and over-the-counter medication.

Part two, on healthcare ministries, will be published in November.

In Part One of this two-part series, discover how, since 2018, training programs and $2.7 million in grants from UMCOR have bolstered the response efforts of the East Congo Episcopal Area, providing food, shelter, hygiene kits, a solar-powered well, psychological support and more.