General News and Announcements

May 14, 2010

Here at the General Council Office, we are so privileged to witness the generous support of all those who have responded as The United Church of Canada in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti earlier this year. The funds received—nearly $2.8 million to date—have allowed us to respond to the crisis and to those affected by it in a very substantial way. We are helping to bring relief, rebuild communities, strengthen organizations, and rehabilitate infrastructure and lives.

In April, as part of a United Church pastoral team, United Church Moderator Mardi Tindal visited Haiti and attested to the impact that United Church funds are having at the community level. "I have seen here the life and death difference than our contributions have made," she said.

By May 6, over half of the funds committed by United Church supporters had been allocated, most through ecumenical organizations. The funds are supporting a wide variety of relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction initiatives. Additional disbursements through the ACT Alliance, other ecumenical organizations, or directly to bilateral Haitian partners are being considered. Some funds may also be used for pending joint work with Canadian Churches in Action (CCA), a coalition of nine churches and church relief and development agencies that work together to respond to global humanitarian disasters.

CCA is currently working on a multi-million dollar, multi-year project proposal that will focus on permanent shelter, water and sanitation, education, and livelihood and economic recovery. CCA members hope to access the matching fund pool announced by the Canadian government in the near future.

For a more detailed report, visit United Church Haiti Appeal Funds at Work.