Putting Experience to Work: New Head for UMCOR Sager Brown
By Susan J. Meister
BALDWIN, LA.—"God always takes my experience and puts it to work," Kathy Kraiza said when she learned of her appointment as executive director at UMCOR Sager Brown. "I can't imagine a job more challenging and exciting than this." The facility, incorporating relief supplies depot and community center, is operated by the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Kraiza takes over for Charles Maddox, a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries, who served in 2006. Maddox' wife, Patty, served as the Volunteer Coordinator. Before her new appointment, Kraiza was outreach coordinator, a position she began in September 2005, right after the twin disasters of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"Thankfully, neither Katrina nor Rita impacted our campus directly with any damaging wind or water," she said, "but they certainly impacted the way we need to think about our ministry."
In 2006, UMCOR Sager Brown shipped $8 million of goods and materials, about $4.2 million nationally and $3.7 million internationally. The site hosted 3073 volunteers, who logged over 43,500 volunteer work hours.
Looking to the future
Kraiza is anxious to continue and expand the work of UMCOR Sager Brown. She is especially excited about the new Baldwin unit of the Boys & Girls Club that will begin on campus in February and the year-long observance of the 140th anniversary of the campus of UMCOR Sager Brown, with a local celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 21.
"This campus has been in ministry locally and to the world in so many ways for 140 years," Kraiza said, "and Jesus continues to call us to be his hands and feet in the world. I am confident that the staff and volunteers will continue this good work!"
Kristen Sachen, UMCOR executive who leads the agency's program emphases, is also positive about the future of the facility. "Just consider the ways that this place has re-invented itself over and over again to meet the need of its communities," she exclaimed, "and Kathy is the right person at the right time to continue this ministry."
The Oklahoma native graduated from Oklahoma State University. She spent 22 years of active duty in the Navy, where she was the first female photo officer assigned to a US Navy nuclear aircraft carrier. After her retirement in 1999, she worked as youth and education director at two United Methodist congregations in Washington-First Oak Harbor and Coupeville. She is a deaconess candidate, and expects to be commissioned in 2008.
For more information about UMCOR Sager Brown, including the upcoming 140th Anniversary celebration, go to www.umcor.org.
Meister reports on hurricane recovery as UMCOR Gulf Coast communication consultant.
