We thank you for your concern and the prayers you have already been offering for the people of Texas as they experience the destruction and aftermath of Harvey. Please continue to pray for the first responders, those whose homes are destroyed or damaged, and those whose lives will never be the same. Also pray for the congregations on the front lines as they respond to the current needs and the needs that will be there for months and years to come. Photo by Shannon Martin, Texas Conference—Monique Spell (with paper), a volunteer, consults on Aug. 28 with people who have taken shelter at Faithbridge Church in Spring, Texas. Record flooding in the Houston area, including Spring, caused a number of United Methodist churches to open as shelters for people forced from their homes.

The next best way to help is to provide financial contributions which can be used to purchase appropriate and needed items quickly and locally. You can donate directly online to UMCOR by clicking here. UMCOR is recognized as one of the most respected disaster relief agencies in operation today. One hundred percent of every dollar donated to UMCOR goes to relief and recovery services, earning the agency top ratings from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity watchdog organization. UMCOR is a long-standing member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and other similar organization

Your church can also send donations to the Dakotas Conference Office, PO Box 460, Mitchell, SD 57301. Note "UMCOR 901670" in the memo line. If you prefer donations be sent directly to the affected annual conferences in Texas instead, send those to the same address above with "Hurricane Harvey - Texas Disaster Response" in the memo line.

Once the waters recede and invitations from the affected conferences have been extended, we will provide more information about how teams can volunteer on the ground. Please do not self-deploy until we provide additional instructions. Look for information on how you can become a trained Early Response Team (ERT)volunteer within the next few days.