Haiti: The Chippewa Church of the Brethren Responds

Members of Chippewa Church of the Brethren are supporting the relief efforts in Haiti by cash donations and preparing both Hygiene Kits and School Kits to send to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Maryland. These efforts allow everyone in the congregation to participate in some way. And, our congregation can, through these donations, support our larger Brethren Service Center which will ship the disaster relief items to Haiti.

To date the Deacon's Group has sent $500.00 to the Brethren Service Center, a special collection is scheduled on Sunday, January 24 and, two young moms have been working to collect Hygiene Kits, School Kits, items to put the kits together or monetary donations to purchase needed items to make or complete the kits. The women of the church are sewing as many cloth bags as possible to place the School Kits in; and, the children will help place the items into the bags. The kits will be boxed and delivered to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Maryland by several church members. Most every church member is involved in some way in this project; Becca and Kara have headed up the larger task of collecting items for the disaster recovery kits. This is a very generous effort for Becca Gill and Kara Higgins, both work, have small children and busy lives. Knowing that they can make a difference in the recovery work in Haiti and lives a bit more pleasant for families and children during the recovery spurs them on.

The Hygiene Kits contain personal care items which may mean the difference between sickness and health during disaster recovery. Each kit contains approximately fifteen dollars worth of supplies which may be easily purchased at a grocery or discount department store. The items are placed into a one gallon zip lock plastic bag. Toothpaste is not included in the kit until just before it is shipped, at which time the toothpaste is added to the kit before it leaves the Brethren Service Center.

Hygiene Kit:

One hand towel measuring approximately 16X28 inches (no fingertip or bath)

One washcloth

One wide-tooth comb

One nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards)

One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)

One toothbrush (in original packaging)

Six Band-Aids

The School Kits offer the children some basic tools for learning opportunities. The School Kits are packaged in cotton, cloth tote bags with cloth handles for ease of carrying. The cotton bags are from sustainable materials, bio-degradable and safe for the children. The cotton bags are easily made with less than one yard of fabric and a sewing machine.

School Kit:

One pair of blunt scissors (rounded tip)

Three 70-count spiral or tape-bound pads of 8X10 inch, ½ inch ruled paper, for a total of 200 -210 sheets of ruled paper, (Please do not provide loose-leaf or filler paper.)

One 30 centimeter ruler (12 inch)

One hand-held pencil sharpener

One large eraser

Six new pencils with erasers

One box of 24 crayons (only 24)

One 12X14 to 14X16 inch finished size cotton cloth bag with cloth handles

Pack all items inside the cloth bag

Completed kits, items for the kits, or monetary donations to purchase the kits may be delivered to the church by contacting Becca at 330-464-5353 or Kara at 330-465-3385. Monetary donations may be mailed to the church (checks made payable to the Chippewa Church of the Brethren) at Chippewa Church of the Brethren, 10230 N. Honeytown Road, Creston, Ohio 44217.

The Church of the Brethren and its Brethren Disaster Ministries program has established resources and capacity to respond in Haiti because of the current rebuilding project following the four hurricanes and tropical storms that hit Haiti in 2008. The Church of the Brethren has three congregations in the heavily impacted disaster areas. Brethren Disaster Ministries will be working with Global Mission Partnerships and the Haitian Brethren congregations on a long-term response to this earthquake.

The Chippewa Church of the Brethren congregation is proud to be able to provide needed donations to support the Haitian disaster recovery efforts. If you would, please donate to this project as part of our wider church family. Your donation may make a very large difference to a man, woman, or child during this most trying time. Your kindness and thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated. You may help by offering not only a Hygiene Kit, School Kit or monetary donation, but, your prayers are also welcome and play a large part in the relief effort to support the Haitian people, the disaster recovery teams, responders, military and others who are involved in the disaster recovery.