Resources

Here is a partial list of resources to get information and to provide relief of different kinds.


Send checks payable to the "UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund" to:
Larry Stritof
UUA Stewardship and Development
UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108 –2800

For tax purposes: The UUA is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our federal tax-exempt I.D. number is 04-210-3733. Your donation to the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund qualifies as a tax deductible charitable gift. Please consult your financial and tax advisors regarding your particular circumstances.

Here is a partial list of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief information:

National Organization for Victim Assistance: http://www.trynova.org
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation: http://www.icisf.org/articles
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
Federal Emergency Management Administration: http://www.fema.gov
Louisiana Homeland Security: http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov
City of New Orleans: http:// www.cityofno.com
Louisiana Governor's office: http://www.gov.state.la.us

RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS

Unitarian Universalist Association: http://www.uua.org
Red Cross: 1-800-HELP NOW or http://www.redcross.org
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
FEMA Charity tips: http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: http://www.nvoad.org
To offer Housing to refugees: http://www.moveon.org
LA Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: http://www.la-spca.org

Pastoral Letter

Hello Friends:

What a pleasure to see you all back in our sanctuary this past Sunday morning. While I am excited beyond words to begin our ministry together; today, I write you with a heavy heart over the news that continues to unfold in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Our nation and most especially our neighbors in the mid-South states are facing the worst natural disaster in decades to visit U.S. soil.

First, please know that those among us who have lost family and friends are not alone. I invite you to phone me anytime at 207-594-8750 or 596-6069. As your minister, I am here for you and with you.

Second, please know that we can all help in the massive effort to restore lives and livelihoods. With the full support of our Board of Trustees, we dedicated our non-pledge plate offering of Sunday, September 4, to our UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. Our Unitarian Universalist Association has established this fund in collaboration with our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. All contributions will be distributed under the auspices of the Southwest and Mid-South Districts of our UUA and will be used entirely for hurricane relief. You can make your checks payable to the “UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund.” We raised over $500 Sunday, and our brothers and sisters in faith have already raised over $175,000 in the few days since the fund was set up. I am so proud of our church and our denomination.

Finally, we will hold a Service of Meditation and Sharing of Stories of Joy and Concern on Wednesday, September 7, at 7 PM in the sanctuary. This will be a time to gather in religious community in the wake of harrowing loss.
May our prayers be with all whose lives have been lost and whose lives have been turned upside down and inside out by this devastation. May we be generous in spirit and in deed.

I will post disaster relief resources a little later

In Gowing faith,


Mark