The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist Church.  UMCOR is working in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States.  Their mission, grounded in the teachings of Jesus, is to alleviate human suffering—whether caused by war, conflict or natural disaster, with open hearts and minds to all people.

UMCOR responds to natural or civil disasters that are interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on its own.

For more information about UMCOR you can visit their website at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.

May 19, 2008

The Board of Directors of the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. has approved grants for the Spring 2008 Grant Cycle. Grants totaling $1,003,000 will be made to 12 charitable organizations the week of June 2, 2008. The following is a brief description of each recipient and the purpose of the grant.

Camden Children’s Center / Golden Isles Children’s Advocacy Center
A $30,000 grant to the Camden Children’s Center in Woodbine, Georgia to support their fiscal year 2009 operating budget. The Camden Center opened in September 2002 and provides support services to child victims of abuse and their families who reside in Camden County.

The Gathering Place (www.thegp.org)
A $23,000 grant to the Gathering Place in Brunswick, Georgia to assist in the support of the operating budget for the Urban Ministry Development Program. The Gathering Place, established in 1981, is a multifaceted, youth oriented Christian ministry serving Glynn County. Specifically, the Urban Ministry Development Program will target “at risk” urban students grades 6 - 12 in Glynn County that may otherwise not have the opportunity to hear the Good News.

Magnolia Manor (www.magnoliamanor.com)
A $90,000 grant to Magnolia Manor to establish a wellness center at the St. Marys, Georgia Campus. Magnolia Manor is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church established to provide long-term care and affordable living to the elderly.

Coastal Counseling Center (www.coastalcounselingcenter.org)
A $50,000 grant to the Coastal Counseling Center in St. Marys, Georgia to support fiscal year 2009 operational expenses. Coastal Counseling Center provides mental health and substance abuse counseling services for adults in Camden County through a sliding scale fee that is relative to a family’s income level.

Epworth By The Sea (www.epworthbythesea.org)
A $10,000 grant to Epworth By The Sea to sponsor Miss Ella’s Camp For Special People in 2008. Epworth By The Sea is a Christian retreat center owned and operated by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. The summer camp is provided to people, ages 16 and above with special mental and physical needs offering worship services, Bible study, exciting activities, music, games, quality craft projects and supervised recreation that enhance the camper’s life. Additionally, the camp provides family caretakers with respite time for personal renewal.

Hospice Satilla
A $50,000 grant to increase the hours of social service personnel whose primary function will be to service Brantley and Charlton County clients. Hospice Satilla exists to provide comprehensive, quality care services to terminally ill patients and their families using a holistic approach and addressing the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual issues associated with the dying process. They strive to relieve suffering, enhance comfort, promote quality of life, foster choice in end-of-life care and support effective grieving.

Wesley Glen Ministries (www.wesleyglenministries.org)
A $100,000 grant to Wesley Glen Ministries to support the FY2009 operating budget of the St. Marys, Georgia Group Home. Wesley Glen is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and serves people with mental disabilities in central and south Georgia. The St. Marys facility provides a residential home environment and cares for up to five residents.

Habitat for Humanity (www.hfhcamden.org)
A $100,000 challenge grant to Habitat for Humanity of Camden County, Georgia to build a Senior Housing Development in Woodbine, Georgia. Habitat for Humanity is an organization whose purpose is to provide affordable housing to low-income families in Camden County.

MAP International (www.map.org)
A $100,000 challenge grant to MAP International to support the construction of a new distribution facility in Brunswick, Georgia. MAP International (Medical Assistance Programs) was founded almost 50 years ago as a Christian, non-profit, global relief and development organization serving people living in the world’s poorest communities.

Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation (www.coastalgeorgiafoundation.org)
A $10,000 grant to the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation to establish a community foundation to serve southeast and coastal Georgia. This represents the fourth year of a five-year commitment to this project. The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation is a collaborative effort of several foundations, including the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, organizations and individuals created to increase the philanthropic capacity of coastal Georgia. The community foundation is a creative, cost-effective and tax efficient way for people to invest in the local community and potentially will increase the amount of funding available to local nonprofits, create increased awareness of local nonprofits and community needs and improve the quality of life in southeast and coastal Georgia.

Georgia Center for Nonprofits (www.gcn.org)
A $40,000 grant to the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to continue the support of the establishment of a satellite center in Brunswick, Georgia to serve nonprofits in southeast and coastal Georgia. This represents the fourth year of a five-year commitment to this project. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to serve, strengthen and support local nonprofits by providing them with information, nonprofit management and business skills training, consulting, technology, insurance and employment services.

Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org)
A $400,000 grant to Church World Service to support an expansion of the Africa Initiative - Giving Children Hope Program in East and Southern Africa. This grant represents the ongoing support of a 3-year partnership between Church World Service and the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation referred to as the Africa Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to protect the rights of and to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children living in the countries of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, war and famine that they may be empowered to manage their own well being and the stability of their families, to participate in the social and economic development of their communities, and to live in the shelter of hope. The initiative will reinforce the capacity of and support the expansion of church and related organizations to build child-centered programs and networks.

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. was organized in January 2001 to support the charitable activities of the St. Marys United Methodist Church. Annual grant distributions will typically represent about 3% to 5% of the Foundation’s value. The Foundation awards grants twice each year, in the spring and the fall. Grant proposals are accepted year round. Proposals received from December 2nd to June 1st will be considered for the Fall cycle while proposals received from June 2nd to December 1st will be considered for the Spring cycle. Proposals to be considered must be related to:

Children, Youth and Family - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.

Adults and Elderly - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.

Health, Mental Health, and Mental Retardation - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.

Christian Education, Evangelism, and Missions - Agencies of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the Gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the Gospel through local southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties).

Additional information about the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.smumcfoundation.org or by calling 912-510-9350.

Cord of Three was established to provide professional, Christian counseling services to families and individuals within Southeast Georgia in need of mental health and spiritual counseling. Specifically counseling services are designed to help with:

• Abuse in the Family
• Adolescent Living
• Anxiety / Stress / Depression
• Bereavement and Grief
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Family Enrichment
• Relationships

For more information about Cord of Three you may contact their office at 912-282-0992.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

The deadline for the Fall 2008 Grant Cycle of The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation will be June 1, 2008. Proposals will be accepted pertaining to the following guidelines and focus categories:

Children, Youth and Families: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.

Adults and Elderly: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.

Health, Mental Health and Mental Retardation: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.

Christian Education, Evangelism and Missions: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the gospel through local Southeast Georgia* and international services and projects for people in need.

*Our definition of Southeast Georgia is Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties.

The international focus of the SMUMC Foundation is primarily on Christian programs in Africa that benefit children, particularly those who have been orphaned, but also those who suffer the dire consequences of AIDS/HIV, war and famine.  However, please note we will not be accepting new requests for international projects until further notice.

For further information, please see our website at www.smumcfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (912) 510-9350.   Guidelines for preparing proposals are included on our website. 

The Camden Children’s Center, located in Woodbine, Georgia is a satellite facility of the Golden Isles Children’s Advocacy Center. The center was established in September 2002 provides support services to child victims of abuse and their families who reside in Camden County.  The center is a safe place for the evaluation of child abuse and also provides follow-up services such as therapeutic counseling, and personal, medical, legal and financial advocacy.

Support services provided by the Camden Children’s Center include child forensic interviews, child and family counseling, medical referrals, advocacy and court related services, parent education programs, mentoring programs, family support programs, community prevention education and child abuse training for child protection professionals in southeast Georgia.

For more information about the Camden Children’s Center, you can contact their office at 912-554-0609.

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

The Society of St. Andrew is a Christian ministry dedicated to gleaning America’s fields and feeding America’s hungry, by providing healthy, nutritious produce to society’s most vulnerable through innovative, cost effective programs. 

The Society of St. Andrew was established in 1979 to introduce people to God’s grace in Jesus Christ through meeting their hungers, both physical and spiritual.  Today, they are one of the most effective organizations in the United States in gleaning America’s fields and work in all 48 continental states.  With the help of thousands of volunteers and through the generosity of hundreds of farmers, the organization distributes about 28 million pounds of food annually to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, churches for local distribution and individuals.  Through the gleaning process, food that would otherwise be wasted is used to feed thousands of hungry Americans.

To find out more about the Society of St. Andrew, please visit their website at www.endhunger.org.

MAP International (Medical Assistance Programs) was founded as a Christian, non-profit, global relief and development organization serving people living in 112 of the world’s poorest communities. MAP International works in these areas with over 300 organizations, agencies and missions throughout the world providing medicines, treatment programs and health training programs. Their mission is to promote the Total Health of people living in the world’s poorest communities by partnering in the

• PROVISION of Essential Medicines
• PREVENTION and Eradication of Disease
• PROMOTION of Community Health Development

For more information about MAP International visit their website at www.map.org.

The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation is a collaborative effort to increase the philanthropic capacity of coastal Georgia.  Established in December 2004, their concept is to be a creative, cost-effective and tax efficient way for people to invest in the local community.  They serve as a grant maker, a convener, an educator, a researcher and an investor of community endowment to name a few.  The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation supports charitable activities focused primarily on the local needs of the region and builds resources from a broad cross-section of the public.  You can find out more about the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation by visiting their website at www.coastalgeorgiafoundation.org.