Missouri Receives UMCOR Solidarity Grant for Sikeston Area Following Spring Storms

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has awarded the Missouri Annual Conference a $10,000 solidarity grant for relief efforts related to Spring 2024 storm damage in Sikeston and the surrounding area.
Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) Scott Burdin applied for the grant after surveying damage in the area now considered to be from an EF3 tornado. The grant money will be used to build food and hygiene kits and plastic totes for distribution through First UMC and Wesley UMC in Sikeston. Kits will also be distributed in other storm damaged areas including Dexter and Joplin while supplies last.

Missouri Disaster Response team continues to meet and work together with local leaders to respond to the needs of effected communities related to the Spring 2024 storm damage. As expected, United Methodists are serving and responding in wonderful ways alongside others in their communities. Please continue to respond in the following ways:

• PRAY. Pray for those affected, those grieving, and those responding to community needs.  
• DONATE. The best way for you and your church to immediately serve is by giving financially. We invite you to give to the Missouri Conference Advance Special (7465) Disaster Response via the Special Advance Form or online portal.
• MAKE KITS. Clean up buckets and hygiene kits are necessary during before, during and after a disaster. For instructions, go to https://umcmission.org/umcor-cleaning-kit/ or our short course on Disaster Kit Verification or information on how to make clean-up buckets and other kits.
• GET TRAINED. You can receive training and organize a team so that when the time is right, you can go and help. Early Response Training (ERT) will help to prepare you for volunteering. Please do not self-deploy unless asked. If you have questions, please contact CDRC Scott Burdin at [email protected].