Local churches assisting with Texas flood relief

With fires to the north and hurricanes to the south, there’s been plenty of coverage of natural disasters across the country, as well as the impact they’re having on the communities in their wake. As the effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to be felt in Texas, several churches here in Thermopolis, though a thousand miles away, are doing what they can to help.

Pastor Chuck Cooper of the Federated Community Church said the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is already at work in providing help. Cooper pointed out people don’t have to be Methodist or Presbyterian to contribute to UMCOR, and one hundred percent of donations to UMCOR go to direct aid as administrative costs are paid by apportionment dollars. Those apportionments, he said are what the church pays the committee.

“We have warehouses all over the country full of stuff,” Cooper said. At a lot of disasters, he added, there were people on the ground providing help and relief and those people stay until no longer needed.

Cooper said part of the problem with collecting items here is it takes money to send them. This can also cause mountains of unwanted clothes and other items.

However, donating money to an organization provides them the means to use those donations to what people really need.

Pastor Sam Needham of St. Paul Lutheran Church said there was a special collection this past Sunday for the victims of the hurricane. Needham further explained there were 160 churches in the Lutheran Church Missouri Senate that have been affected by flooding, and churches all over Wyoming are being asked to contribute to relief efforts.

Father Randy Oswald with St. Francis Church said this weekend, Sept. 9 and 10, during services there will be special collections taken up for relief efforts. Those funds, he explained, will be channeled through the chancery in Cheyenne and go to the Catholic Charities Relief Fund. Mass times are at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.

Pastor Mike Muench with Living Waters Assembly of God said a special offering taken up this past weekend will go to Convoy of Hope. The faith-based nonprofit is currently sending semis to the hurricane affected areas with supplies.

Those interested in donating to relief, either with the effects of Harvey or the Montana fires, can also make their contributions online if they choose. Several organizations have sites set up with information on what’s needed and how you can help.