Saint Michael Relief Fund
Saint Michael Relief Fund
NOW REQUESTING YOUR HELP WITH RELIEF FOR ISRAEL AND GAZA
The conflict unfolding in Israel and Gaza is heartbreaking. In recent years, Saint Michael has deepened our relationships in the Holy Land through prayer, pilgrimages, and mission support. Through our shared ministry with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and the Compass Rose Society, Saint Michael is connected to churches, schools, and hospitals across the region that work for the good of all people, especially the most vulnerable. I ask for your continued engagement through prayer and your support of our work through the Saint Michael Relief Fund and the All Angels Foundation.
If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check out to Saint Michael and All Angels with "Relief Fund" in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to the church, or you may hand deliver to the church receptionist or place in the offering plates on Sunday.
ABOUT SMAA RELIEF
As various emergency opportunities arise, Saint Michael frequently supports emergency relief efforts with monetary aid, made possible by the generous gifts of our community.
PAST EFFORT (RELIEF FOR LAHAINA AND MAUI, HAWAII): We have been watching with you the tragic stories of the devastation that has occurred due to the fires in Lahaina and elsewhere on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Saint Michael sent an initial contribution for aid to those affected by the fires. Please keep the people of Lahaina and Maui in your prayers as they walk through these days of immense tragedy.
PAST EFFORT (EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA): In response to the devastation in Turkey and Syria, our Mission and Outreach Committee recommended that we use our Saint Michael Relief Fund to send aid in the rescue and recovery efforts. As we prayed for those who were hurt, those who lost loved ones, those who became homeless, and those who bravely responded, we took action by making a gift through our Relief Fund. We made an initial gift from the fund.
PAST EFFORT (HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS): Hurricane Ian made its first landfall in Florida with dangerous 150 mph winds while flooding cities up and down the Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center said the eye of the Category 4 hurricane made landfall near Cayo Costa State Park at 3:05 p.m. just north of Sanibel and Captiva Islands after its eyewall lashed residents in Charlotte and Lee counties for the last several hours. The system had been pummeling the coast with near Category 5 sustained winds of 155 mph with higher gusts since this morning. It’s expected to make a second landfall as it moves up through Charlotte Harbor in a similar path to 2004′s Hurricane Charley that also carved its way into Central Florida.
PAST EFFORT (UKRAINE): Thanks to your generosity, and with the help of a team of lay leaders, Saint Michael has sent nearly $100,000 to local and international aid organizations, including Gateway of Grace in Dallas (refugee resettlement), World Central Kitchen, Care USA, Save the Children, and Episcopal Relief and Development (war in Ukraine).
In addition, we have now identified another organization working on the ground in Ukraine to deliver food to people in desperate need. The organization is called RU4Children, an organization initially started by supporting an orphanage in Ukraine, and later expanded to provide college education for the boys when they got older.
When Russia attacked Ukraine, these orphans, now professional men, turned their efforts toward providing food for those in bombed out areas of the country. The donation from Saint Michael will help them purchase food, fuel, and a second heavy-duty van. They are very grateful for our support.
We are so grateful for your gifts that impact and change the lives of peole in need. Please know how much your generosity does for those who are recovering from hurricanes, tornadoes, freezing weather, and war. You are the hands and heart of Jesus in Dallas and beyond.
A Note from Vice Rector Ken Brannon
July 29, 2022
Dear Friends,
I would like to express sincere gratitude to all who contributed to the Saint Michael Relief Fund this spring and summer as the war in Ukraine took a terrible toll on civilians and created millions of new refugees. Thanks to your generosity, and with the help of a team of lay leaders, we sent nearly $100,000 to local and international aid organizations, including Gateway of Grace in Dallas (refugee resettlement), World Central Kitchen, Care USA, Save the Children, and Episcopal Relief and Development.
In addition, thanks to good work by our new Associate for Mission and Outreach, the Rev. Robin Hinkle, we identified another organization working on the ground in Ukraine to deliver food to people in desperate need. The organization is called RU4Children and the story of how we got connected to this group is worth telling.
Robin was at the Farmers Market one Saturday morning and heard about RU4Children from one of our vendors. Through that conversation, Robin reached out to the Texas contact for the organization who is a former Marine and has spent much of his adult life assisting vulnerable people in combat zones.
RU4Children started by supporting an orphanage in Ukraine and expanded to provide college education for the boys when they got older. When Russia attacked Ukraine, these orphans, now professional men, turned their efforts toward providing food for those in bombed out areas of the country. The donation from Saint Michael will help them purchase food, fuel, and a second heavy-duty van. They are very grateful for our support.
Although we are not actively soliciting monies for the Relief Fund at this time, please know how much your generosity does for those who are recovering from hurricanes, tornadoes, freezing weather, and war. You are the hands and heart of Jesus in Dallas and beyond.
Blessings,
The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon
Vice Rector
