VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/19/16)—American Baptist Churches announces a joint appeal for One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) funds to aid in Hurricane Matthew response both in the United States and in Haiti, Cuba and the Caribbean.

As Hurricane Matthew has revealed its deep destruction and impact in these areas, the need for additional funding is great. American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and American Baptist International Ministries (IM) are working cooperatively in response to the impact of Hurricane Matthew.

Additional relief is urgently needed. Gifts to support Hurricane Matthew response, both domestic and international, should be designated to “OGHS–Hurricane Matthew.” Funds sent through churches or normal giving channels will be split equally between domestic and international needs. You may give through your church; click here to make an online contribution by credit card; or mail a check to ABCUSA Accounting, Attn: OGHS–Hurricane Matthew, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851.

All funds received will be processed as “OGHS-Hurricane Matthew” and will be channeled by the World Relief Office into efforts led by ABHMS, domestically, and IM, internationally, to best serve the needs of impacted areas.

Initial grants totaling $25,000 in OGHS emergency relief funds have been sent to IM partners in Haiti, Cuba and the Caribbean. These funds are providing food, clothing and temporary shelter for the victims.

ABHMS has distributed $5,000 in OGHS funding to Church World Service’s (CWS) Hurricane Matthew disaster-relief efforts in the United States. ABHMS will report from American Baptist Churches of the South about specific needs of American Baptist churches and individuals affected by Hurricane Matthew when those have been identified.

Hurricane Matthew’s considerable impact calls for an expanded American Baptist response that addresses the needs, many still to be identified, by working throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina—designated federal disaster areas—with ABHMS partners as well as within Haiti and Cuba by working with IM partners. By June 1, 2017, IM and ABHMS will determine if there are funds remaining for which either IM or ABHMS has not identified a need or made a commitment. At that time, those funds may be shared with the other organization for continued response activities.

OGHS is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The Committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual OGHS offering received by churches.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.