Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Western North Carolina and across the Southeast in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding and severe weather.
NC Conference Disaster Ministries has been in touch with the Western NC Conference of The United Methodist Church to discuss how we can assist with their disaster relief efforts. They are currently evaluating the storm damage and will let us know when they need equipment and Early Response Teams.
We will be gathering UMCOR Cleaning Kits, also known as flood buckets, to send to Western North Carolina. The Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiative (MERCI) will be hosting an UMCOR Kit packing event on Tuesday, October 1 and Saturday, October 5, from 9 am – 1 pm, to assemble and inspect kits. The most needed items for the kits are mesh reusable wipes. If you would like to help build kits at MERCI, please contact Rev. Bill Haddock at revbillh@nccumc.org.
If your church would like to build kits, please deliver the cleaning kits to MERCI in Goldsboro or one of our collection centers. We are contacting previous collection centers and will update our website with more information. If your church is interested in serving as a collection center, please fill out our form.
“The hurricane, tornadoes, and floods have ravaged North Carolina. Thank you for supporting neighbor to neighbor, packing cleaning kits, and offering financial gifts for unfolding needs,” said Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton. “Our Western NC Conference family’s flooding is treacherous. Stay alert to our communications for opportunities to respond. We trust God is near as we enter into the suffering of our neighbors.”
As we wait to learn more about the needs in Western North Carolina and beyond, here are a few ways you can help support disaster relief efforts:
Give
If you would like to share your gifts with those in need, donations can be made to the following places:
Western North Carolina Conference→
Alabama-West Florida Conference→
Build UMCOR Kits
The Western NC Conference needs UMCOR Kits. MERCI will be open on October 1 and October 5 from 9 am – 1 pm to collect, assemble, and inspect cleaning kits. If you are interested in serving on October 1 or October 5, please contact Rev. Bill Haddock at revbillh@nccumc.org.
If you have completed kits, please deliver the cleaning kits to MERCI in Goldsboro or one of our collection centers. We will continue to update our website as more information becomes available.
Pray
Thank you for your prayers for everyone impacted by Hurricane Helene. We know that God is close to the broken-hearted and will be with everyone in this time of need.
Read a prayer from Bishop Carter in the Western NC Conference→