Frequently Asked Questions
How does UMCOR use volunteers to help with disaster response?What can your annual conference expect from UMCOR?What kinds of training does UMCOR provide for an annual conference?Can you guarantee that my donation doesn't get misused by oppressive governments?Why aren't all donations spent immediately?Does the money earn interest?What charity rating agencies give their approval to UMCOR?What is ACT International?How does UMCOR work with Church World Service?Where should we send relief supplies?What is "long-term recovery?"What codes of conduct govern your work?How do you work with the local church?How do I get One Great Hour of Sharing materials?Do you have a "Support a Child" program?How are UMCOR's undesignated funds used?
How does UMCOR use volunteers to help with disaster response?
UMCOR staff and professional consultants have extensive training in providing disaster relief assistance. While UMCOR does not organize volunteers, UMCOR does help annual conferences prepare for and coordinate volunteers in the disaster zone. UMCOR's partner, the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), provides an important source of volunteers.
What can your annual conference expect from UMCOR?
Before a disaster, UMCOR trains annual conference staff in best practices. In response to a disaster, UMCOR sends emergency grants right away to fund start up relief activities. UMCOR consultants and staff mentor annual conference disaster responders and provide technical assistance and training. Once a response is under way, UMCOR staff continue to provide funding at the request of conference officials, assistance, coaching and spiritual support.
What kinds of training does UMCOR provide for an annual conference?
Every annual conference appoints a disaster coordinator. UMCOR trains these specialists in how to organize after a disaster, family by family problem solving, technical know-how, and spiritual care for disaster workers.
Can you guarantee that my donation doesn't get misused by oppressive governments?
In three ways. First, UMCOR collaborates with partners of long standing to provide many avenues of relief. In addition we always make sure we have a legitimate consignee when sending material resources. And, when a project is large enough we employ our own staff and supervise them with care.
Why aren't all donations spent immediately?
UMCOR stewards donors' gifts so that a robust, long-term response, sometimes lasting years, can be undertaken. While first responders are conducting rescue and emergency relief operations, UMCOR provides funds to annual conferences for immediate emergency relief. Concurrently, disaster workers are preparing plans with UMCOR's assistance for family by family problem solving and other long-term response. UMCOR stays in a region until recovery is complete.
All of UMCOR donations earn interest. Interest goes into the undesignated funds account to support under-funded appeals, travel to disaster zones, and emergency response in early stages of new appeals.
What charity rating agencies give their approval to UMCOR?
UMCOR is listed with www.give.org and www.GuideStar.org.
Action by Churches Together International is a global alliance of churches and faith-based relief agencies that work together to respond to emergencies and save lives. UMCOR is a member of this alliance. Learn more at the ACT website.
How does UMCOR work with Church World Service?
CWS is one of UMCOR's trusted ecumenical partners that receives United Methodist grants to carry out its domestic and international relief and development activity. UMCOR is a member of the CWS emergency committee, a strategic planning group that assures collaboration among denominations. Learn more at the CWS web site.
Where should we send relief supplies?
Before sending relief supplies, check with the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot to ensure they are items that are needed and that UMCOR has a way of sending them. Learn more . . .
Long-term recovery is the method for restoring a community to its pre-disaster state-holistic, family-by-family problem solving.
What codes of conduct govern your work?
UMCOR, like other international agencies, signs on to the International Red Cross code of conduct. The code governs corporate behaviors from upholding the dignity of each beneficiary, to providing aid with regard only to those who are most vulnerable.
How do you work with the local church?
UMCOR is grateful to congregations that are mission minded! Local churches enable the agency to provide emergency supplies throughout the year; send volunteer teams to disaster sites in the US; and support our mission in many other concrete ways. UMCOR can provide a staff speaker at local church, district and conference events. Read more…
How do I get One Great Hour of Sharing materials?
Offering envelopes and other special materials are available free of charge. Order by calling toll free, 888-346-3862.
Do you have a "Support a Child" program?
UMCOR supports many ministries for children and their mothers-because in our experience, it's good for recovery when mothers' and families' lives are strengthened. Ministries to families are holistic, aimed at making life better for the most vulnerable among us. Selecting individual children over others for live-saving support jeopardizes the lives of those who may not be selected.
How are UMCOR's undesignated funds used?
Undesignated funds help UMCOR provide for many critical services, such as:
- Provides travel and lodging expense for domestic emergency staff persons to be on an emergency site within 36 hours.
- Allows UMCOR staff to travel to annual and central conferences and churches
- Provides for Mission Volunteers program. Buys training, provides grants to jurisdictions.
- Provides funding for UMCOR Sager Brown for its volunteers program and material resources.
- Provides UMCOR Hotline and resources on the UMCOR web site
- Supports UMCOR ecumenical relationships such as with Church World Service
- Trains conference disaster response teams, bishops and cabinets.
