The United Methodist Church in Cedar Springs is responding to the tragedy in Haiti. Our first response is to pray for the victims, their families, and all of the people who are working to bring hope and healing.  Our second response is to do what we can to help.  We are collecting monetary offerings for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), which is our denomination’s mission arm.  One-hundred percent of offerings goes directly to the relief effort.  We are also putting together health kits for UMCOR with specific items (see list below).  If you have any items for the kits, please bring them to Cedar Springs United Methodist Church (140 S. Main St.) during office hours on Mon.-Fri. from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Here are the details:

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

•1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, No kitchen towels)

1 washcloth

1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)

6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

$1.00 to purchase toothpaste (this is purchased in bulk before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Important Information:

All items included in kits must be NEW items.

All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.

Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits.