Faith in the Face of Disaster: UU Response to Hurricane Katrina

UUA and UUSC Establish Gulf Coast Relief Fund

UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund Update: At the end of 2006, the relief fund has received $3,622,250, thanks to the matching grant offered by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock. Thank you for your generosity! To date, $2,366,387 has been spent to directly serve those in need. How to Make a Donation to the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund Your Donations at Work: List of Grantees and Grants

Flood damage in the Gulf Coast. AP Photo.

Map showing location of affected UU congregations. Image by Erika Nonken.

A Message from the Rev. William G. Sinkford

(September 1, 2005)

Dear Friends:

I am writing to share the news about the newly-created UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. With each passing day we learn more about the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina, and we are shocked and saddened by the enormous suffering it has brought to so many. In addition to media reports on the widespread destruction across the Gulf Coast, the UUA continues to receive information from both the Southwest District  (for Louisiana UU churches) and Mid-South District  (for UU churches in Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle).

In the midst of this profound tragedy, I am heartened by the determination of so many Unitarian Universalists to find a way to help. Congregations from as far away as Dallas and Houston are rallying to help coordinate emergency shelter and supplies, while trauma ministry teams are mobilizing to attend to the spiritual wounds of hurricane survivors. To support their efforts, The Unitarian Universalist Association has partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to establish the UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund. After just a few days, the fund has already accepted an unprecedented outpouring of gifts totaling more than $125,000, a figure that is increasing hourly.

In the coming days, we will update this site with news on the new fund, the work it is supporting, and the progress of our recovering Gulf Coast congregations. In addition, as the enormous human costs are assessed in the days ahead, the UUSC will provide on its website ongoing reflections on the human rights implications of Katrina.

All funds received will be distributed under the auspices of the UUA's Southwest and Mid-South Districts and will be used entirely for hurricane relief. As the full scope of this disaster has become clear, we have significantly expanded our fundraising efforts. This expanded effort requires us to charge a very minimal administrative fee to cover the expenses incurred. We are committed to keeping overhead as low as possible; therefore, the fund will deliver a minimum of 95 cents out of every dollar in direct services. Please be assured that all funds received before we expanded our fundraising on September 3 will not be subject to an administrative fee.The two districts will establish a panel to distribute funds to local relief efforts and to UU congregations so that their ministries in their communities can be restored. If you wish, you may designate your gift to be applied exclusively to community relief efforts. I urge you to be as generous as possible in support of our faith community.

In this difficult time, I am proud that Unitarian Universalists are coming together to help lighten the heavy burdens of our brothers and sisters.

In faith,
Bill Sinkford

Faith in the Face of Disaster: UU Response to Hurricane Katrina

• September 16, 2005: UUA-UUSC Gulf Coast Relief Fund Tops $1 Million in Donations
• September 7, 2005: Pastoral Letter from Rev. Sinkford: A Gentle, Angry People
• September 3, 2005: A Special Appeal from the Rev. William G. Sinkford

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