Contributing to Haiti Relief

The immediate response from the Christ Church Vestry was to encourage our parishioners to provide initial monetary response to Episcopal Relief & Development (ER&D), which has agents and channels already in Haiti. Checks made payable to Christ Church with the memo "Haiti - ER&D" will go to ER&D and 100% will go to the short-term needs in Haiti. In response to this first appeal, Christ Church Outreach Ministries (CCOM) has approved the immediate disbursement of $4,521 in disaster relief funds to ER&D for immediate assistance to the people of Haiti.   

 In addition to this initial action, CCOM has begun working with agencies with which we have existing relationships to provide financial and other aid to the people of Haiti. In the past Christ Church has worked with Stop Hunger Now, which sent many of the meals we packed last November to Haiti. We have sent missionaries to Haiti through the Haiti Fund and its CODEP group that primarily focuses on Haitian development. We also have worked with the Water Ministries in Charleston, SC, to produce and distribute water purification units to Haiti and other locations. We believe that there will be a long-term need in Haiti, and these organizations will give our parish a direct way to assist the Haitian people in the months ahead.

Financial support will be needed for these Christ Church relief efforts to Haiti, and we ask for your support. Checks should be sent to Christ Church with the memo "Haiti - CCOM."  Checks can be placed in the alms basin during services, or mailed or brought to the church.  

As plans develop, we also will seek your direct participation in these relief efforts. Needs are being assessed on the ground, and we will identify the ways that our parish can reach out to the victims of this disaster. Your direct and personal support to Christ Church relief efforts may be through activities such as;

      - packing additional meals through Stop Hunger Now
      - preparing health and other aid packages
      - assembling additional water purification units
      - and for some, participating in mission trips to Haiti.  

For more information contact:
Andy Givens, Chair of the CCOM
Marshall Lamb, Haiti relief coordinator, CCOM
Cassie Struthers, church staff support for CCOM