Burley UMC Donates $100,000 to UMCOR Hurricane Response

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Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference | Oct. 17, 2024

Burley, Idaho, may be thousands of miles and a whole ecosystem away from those who have lost everything due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but their hearts are right there alongside survivors.

Through generations of generous giving, Burley United Methodist Church was able to send $100,000 this week to The United Methodist Committee on Relief's (UMCOR) Disaster Response Fund to assist with the massive recovery effort from these two natural disasters right on top of each other.

"We have been very judicious about the (United Methodist) social principles and our investments," said Rev. Ken Haftorson of Burley UMC.

The United Methodist Church has been in Burley has had a presence in Burley for more than 100 years. When you couple that with generations of farmers inspired to give generously and faithfully to their church families, the church has been able to set up two funds that are being utilized to make this gift.

"These farmers, they've been very persistent in their giving," said Haftorson.

Haftorson said the donation funding from Burley United Methodist Church is $50,000 and it comes from the Burley United Methodist Church Foundation Inc., a 501c.3 non-profit incorporated organization dedicated to supporting ministry interests of Burley UMC. The other $50,000 came from the Burley United Methodist Church Future Vision Fund, an internal fund created by agricultural members of the Church in 1989 that is also dedicated to ministry interests of the church.

Burley UMC isn't a big congregation. There are perhaps 40 people attending worship services on Sundays, with an overall membership of close to 200 people. Like many churches, the congregation is aging. But they've long had an interest in supporting UMCOR. For years, congregation members made trips to the UMCOR depot in Salt Lake City to sort an organize relief supplies. They've also participated in UMCOR giving opportunities as well.

Jim Kempton, a long-time member of the congregation and president of the Burley UMC Foundation, said the church's Future Vision Fund recently gave $150,000 to a community organization, but the gift to UMCOR is by far the biggest gift that has come from the Burley UMC Foundation. 

"I think it's great the church came together as strongly as it did. It was a unanimous decision," Kempton said. "I think it's a statement we wanted to make about the (United Methodist) Church and its vision. UMCOR demonstrates everything the UMC is about."

Haftorson said many of the members of the congregation also have family back east and were gob smacked by the devastation witness in North Carolina. The congregation was exploring how much the congregation would give to Hurricane Helene recovery when Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida, thus influencing the need to give generously as quickly as possible.

Louise Kienzle, Disaster Response & UMVIM coordinator for the Oregon-Idaho Conference, was awestruck by the news of Burley UMC's generosity.

"I think it's amazing, and it's so needed right now," Kienzle said.

Kienzle is meeting regularly with other disaster response coordinators around the UMC and they are working with coordinators in places like North Carolina and Florida who are putting boots on the ground to help folks. Having the financial resources to buy the right supplies to support survivors is critical. Those working on the ground in the immediate aftermath need the flexibility to support survivors with the necessary resources that might go beyond what's provided in flood buckets or hygiene kits.

"Burley UMC is demonstrating that giving financially is the very best thing we can do right now," Kienzle said. "They are showing us all that you can be the hands and feet of Christ by giving generously to support UMCOR's continued recovery and response."

It's easy to donate to recovery efforts through UMCOR to match the generosity of Burley UMC. 

When a disaster overwhelms a community’s ability to recover on its own, UMCOR provides essential relief supplies and supports long-term rebuilding efforts. While UMCOR is not a first-response organization, it stands ready to accompany communities in need over the long haul of their recovery until a “new normal” is established after a crisis.

“Early in and last out” is a guiding principle of UMCOR. Support UMCOR's disaster response with a contribution at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901440/

Giving generously will have the most impact at this moment and Kienzle said if folks are interested in putting their own boots on the ground in North Carolina or Georgia, they can get trained as an Early Response Team volunteer. More details will be coming soon on how to sign up for a training seminar.

Kristen Caldwell serves as communications director for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This article is republished from the conference website.