Maine Places of Worship
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People’s United Methodist Church Collecting Items and Money
The People’s United Methodist Church located at 310 Broadway in South Portland is collecting items and money to provide health kits for earthquake victims. The church is looking for towels, toothbrushes, soap, and other goods during drop-off hours at the church from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. For
more information contact 799-1413 or access the church’s website:
Somesville United Church of Christ Hosts Dinner and Raises $2,000 for Haiti
For full story in the Bar Harbor Times, go to:
Catholics in Maine Have Raised $424, 2000 for Haiti
A special collection taken at every Catholic parish in Maine along with direct donations, have raised $424,200 to provide emergency and ongoing assistance for the earthquake survivors in Haiti. Bishop Richard Malone directed all parishes in the state to participate in the collection beginning the weekend following the disaster. 100% of the money donated is being forwarded to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) national office, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church.
Catholic Relief Services has been working in Haiti for 55 years providing basic needs and overseeing ongoing development projects. It contributes $20 million dollars annually to that country for the food program alone. Since the earthquake, the service has been designated as the lead agency for a large camp in Port au Prince for displaced people and for the town of Leogane (20 miles from Port au Prince). CRS has mobilized emergency staff to set up shelters for the homeless, to distribute food, water purification tablets and mosquito nets, and to provide medical supplies and teams.
Source: Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine:
http://portlanddiocese.org/newsroom.php?nid=500
Episcopal Church in Gardiner Raised $2,000 for Haiti
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has had a formal partnership with the Haitian Episcopal
Diocese for several years. The Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner recently held a candlelight dessert and music event and raised $2,000 for their village in Haiti.
Sanford First Baptist Church Collected Personal Care Items For Haiti
Carl and Bev Delano are pictured with some of the personal care
items collected for Haiti by members of the Sanford First Baptist Church.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church Celtic Festival
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Brewer held a Celtic Festival on March 6, 2010 to benefit Haiti.
There was Irish Step Dancing performed by the Saint Patrick’s Arts Royale Irish Dancers. This was
followed by Celtic singing and bagpiping. A traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner was served.
All proceeds went to the Episcopal Relief Work in Haiti.
Maine Catholics Donate more than $445,000 to help people of Haiti
Source: http://www.portlanddiocese.net/newsroom.php?nid=500
A special collection taken at every Catholic parish in Maine along with direct donations, have raised $445,221 to provide emergency and ongoing assistance for the earthquake survivors in Haiti. Bishop Richard Malone directed all parishes in the state to participate in the collection beginning the weekend following the disaster. 100% of the money donated is being forwarded to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) national office, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church.
Carleen Cook, the director of the CRS office for the Diocese of Portland, said, "I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Catholic family in Maine. The money represents an incredible amount of assistance to the people of Haiti as well as the commitment of our Catholic community to the poorest of the poor.”
“This charitable contribution to the earthquake victims is one of the largest, if not the largest contribution by a group of Maine people to date,” stated Bishop Malone, who sits on the CRS board of directors. “Even in these uncertain and difficult economic times the Catholic faithful of our state have once again opened their hearts, and shown extraordinary compassion for our suffering brothers and sisters in Haiti.”
The second collection raised $405,431; Catholic Schools contributed another $6372 and $33,418 was sent directly to the Diocese's Missions Office.
Several parishes in Maine have a historical connection with the people of Haiti through their support of sister parishes in the island country. Haiti is recognized as the poorest country in the western hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.
CRS has been working in Haiti for 55 years providing basic needs and overseeing ongoing development projects. It contributes $20 million dollars annually to that country for the food program alone. Since the earthquake, the service has been designated as the lead agency for a large camp in Port au Prince for displaced people and for the town of Leogane (20 miles from Port au Prince). CRS has mobilized emergency staff to set up shelters for the homeless, to distribute food, water purification tablets and mosquito nets, and to provide medical supplies and teams.
CRS is funded in part through collections taken by Catholic churches around the world and by individual donations made directly to CRS. The agency works in more than 100 countries worldwide. Monies sent to CRS with the designation for Haiti will be spent exclusively for humanitarian efforts during this time of emergency and for long term relief.
Donations to CRS may be made locally at this address: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 11559, Portland, Maine 04104-7559; or to the national office at P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7090. In the memo portion of the check please designate Haiti Earthquake.
CRS has earned an A rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy and meets all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau.
News About Episcopal Churches in Maine and Their Relationship With Haiti
Heidi Shott, a Canon for Communications and Social Justice, has served the Episcopal Diocese of Maine since 1998. In an email sent on March 11, 2010,
Heidi stated: “Thanks for your interest in the ministry the Episcopal Diocese of Maine has with many churches and schools across Haiti. Our diocese and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti (which is, in terms of members, the largest diocese of the 109 dioceses of the Episcopal Church,) have had an official "Companion Diocese" relationship since 2003. Prior to that several of our congregations had developed partnerships with individual churches/school in the country. Currently about 12 of our 65 congregations have partner parishes and most of our congregations contribute to other diocesan organizations in Haiti - for example, St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children and the music school at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.”
News From St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Windham -
(Info kindly provided by Rev. Wendy Rozene in email of May 2, 2010)
We are just getting started with our Haiti partnership. We do not have a partner yet but hope that in the next couple of weeks we will have an official partnership with an Episcopal Church in Haiti. We are presently raising funds through Cartridges for Kids by recycling ink and toner cartridges, laptops, cell phones, DVD's and CD's as well as Game Boys and Ninetendo games. The money raised will be added to our $2000. that we have committed to this project on a yearly basis. We are also putting together a picture book of our congregation to introduce ourselves to our partner church. I will send you information as we progress.
Blessings,
The Rev. Wendy Rozene, Deacon
St. Ann's Episcopal Church
Windham, ME
Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church Holds Fundraising Dinner
The Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church held a fundraising dinner for Konbit Sante on March 6, 2010. Dr. Sam Broaddus of Konbit Sante, which provides health care in northern Haiti, spoke at the dinner. He is profiled on this Maine Friends of Haiti website.
Chief William Baker of the Westbrook Police Department, who served in Haiti in 1998 as senior Justice Department advisor to the Haitian National Police, also spoke at the March 6 fundraising dinner. In a May 3 email to Maine Friends of Haiti, Chief Baker said:
“ I spoke about my experience in Haiti which involved living there full time and advising the government on police and justice issues during 1998. I have been back many times since meeting with US embassy officials on crime and security issues and have many Haitian friends there still. I spoke with a Portland physician about how desperate Haiti is even on a good day. My simple advice was to give money directly to charities working on the ground with a track record in Haiti. Food for religious orphanages and medical needs are my two favorite targets for aid.”
Dr. Samuel Broaddus
Westbrook Chief of Police
William Baker
First Baptist Church of Springvale Sends Personal Care Kits and Medicine
The First Baptist Church of Springvale has put together personal care kits that have been sent to Haiti. In addition, two of their members physically went to Haiti, along with a large amount of medicine, worked as
medical personnel, treating people and handing out medicines.