The historic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey galvanized the Los Angeles faith community into action with multiple efforts underway to assist hundreds of thousands in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas.
The various donation drives, conducted by denominational and independent ministries, urge L.A. residents to contribute bottled water, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other items to help victims rebound from the wide-ranging destruction.
Agape Church of Los Angeles
Calling their effort “Houston: We Are Standing With You,” Agape L.A. will accept donations on Friday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the corporate office located at 4602 Crenshaw Blvd., in Los Angeles.
“We are requesting blankets, sheets, pillows, diapers, baby wipes, towels, gift cards, and shoeboxes of toiletries for men, women and children,” said Bishop Craig Worsham, senior pastor.
The drive is co-sponsored by the Consolidated Board of Realtists of Southern California and the Young Realtist Division of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.
For information, call (323) 295-5571.
AME Church 5th District
Under the leadership of Bishop Clement W. Fugh, presiding prelate of the 5th Episcopal District (which includes L.A. area as well as 15 states west of the Mississippi River), all churches in the district will be collecting funds, non-perishable food, new clothing and other resources for next several weeks for hurricane victims.
The donations will be shipped to Bishop Vashti MacKenzie, presiding prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, which includes Texas, who will distribute the items.
Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., of Christ Our Redeemer Church (COR) in Irvine, has partnered with KJLH-FM to ship items for free. “People can either drop off donations at COR or call our church office at (949) 955-0014 to arrange a pickup,” said Whitlock.
Baptist Ministers Conference and Baptist State Conventions
According to the Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, BMC president, several Baptist state conventions will join with BMC member churches to observe Hurricane Harvey Relief Sunday on Sept. 17 and conduct a special offering for the victims.
The offering will be combined and presented during the organization’s “We Are One” worship service on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m., at Praises of Zion Baptist Church, 8222 San Pedro St., in Los Angeles. The Rev. Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick is the host pastor.
To learn more about both events, call (323) 731-2703 or (323) 750-1033.
Holman United Methodist Church
Holman UMC will coordinate several relief activities with its ecumenical and community partners, said Pastor Kelvin Sauls.
“We are offering relentless prayers for everyone affected in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana along with coordinating compassionate actions in collaboration with the United Methodist Commission On Relief Agency,” said Sauls. “Also, we are accepting donations to purchase Relief Kits at $65 each. The donations can be transacted at holmanumc.com and the items will be shipped to the affected areas in coordination with UMCOR.”
The church is also seeking items such as 5-gallon buckets with resealable lids, liquid laundry detergent, liquid household cleaners, dish soap, clothespins, clothesline, work gloves, insect repellant spray, and heavy-duty trash bags, scouring pads, scrub brushes and dust masks to insert into cleaning kits. Sauls added that 100% of all donations to Holman and UMCOR will go to the relief efforts.
In addition, Holman plans to organize volunteer teams to travel to Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana to assist those impacted by the disaster.
To learn more, call Holman UMC at (323) 731-7285.
West Angeles Church of God in Christ
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, L.A. Lakers president Ervin “Magic” Johnson, superstar artist Stevie Wonder and COGIC Charities, the benevolent arm of the Church of God in Christ, are operating a regional donation center through Sept. 14, at West Angeles COGIC.
Non-perishable food, bottled water, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, women’s sanitary products, new undergarments, new children’s clothing, new adult clothing, cleaning products, plastic garbage pails, plastic trash bags, shovels and tools are requested.
Donations can be dropped off at the church’s parking lot entrance on 36th St., behind West Angeles Cathedral, 3600 Crenshaw Blvd., in Los Angeles.
More information is available as well as financial contributions can be made at westa.org or by calling West Angeles COGIC at (323) 733-8300.
