Emergencies and Immediate Needs

	Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy
		Several charities devoted to immediate and long-term response to natural disasters have been onsite since Sandy hit, helping those affected by the storm and supporting those working at the long, slow job of clearing all the debris. You might wish to consult Charity Navigator for reliable organizations involved in this massive relief effort. If you wish to help, you can donate via these organizations: American Red Cross. Click on the link, or make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Episcopal Relief & Development. Choose Hurricane Sandy Response Fund. United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund. Contributions to the Fund will be used by local United Ways along the Eastern seaboard to give near and long-term help to communities declared disaster areas. American Humane Association. The AHA is helping to recover and house pets and other animals displaced or injured by the storm. We also solicit your prayers for all those who have been affected by the hurricane, especially those who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. Please also pray for all those onsite and helping, and for clergy and lay leaders who are working on plans to help their communities rebuild.

	The Outreach Committee frequently receives notice of urgent needs in our local community, as well as in our nation and abroad, the last often resulting from natural disasters or armed conflict. We post these notices here for the consideration of members of St. Stephen’s for individual action. When a charitable NGO (nongovernmental organization) that we have not worked with before is the conduit for donations, whenever possible we check its performance with Charity Navigator and link you to its report on that entity. Notices of emergency needs can be forwarded to the Outreach Committee c/o Elaine Marshall or Ed Austin, or to the web administrator (Melissa McDowell) to be considered for posting here. Please include as much information as possible.

	“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” — Matthew 25: 34b-36.

	This page last updated January 1, 2013.