The Charity Projects to Contribute Cash and In-kind Donations Worth
$17 Million to Relief Effort
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Church Of God In
Christ, Inc. (COGIC) Charities foundation has formed a special fund to help
victims of Hurricane Katrina. The General Board of one of the world's largest
African-American religious denominations has formed a committee led by Bishop
Roy L. H. Winbush, of Lafayette, Louisiana, to coordinate an immediate and
long-term relief effort strategy. The church will contribute in cash more than
$1 million to the relief effort and through in-kind donations, services and
collaborative efforts, the church will facilitate additionally up to $16
million to benefit hurricane victims.
COGIC Presiding Bishop G. E. Patterson says the General Board is serious
about doing what it can to assist Katrina evacuees. "We have members of the
denomination who have lost their homes, churches and family members, and they
are in crisis," Patterson explained. "Our church through COGIC Charities is
reaching out to those members and anyone else affected by this natural
disaster." From his personal resources and local congregation, Temple of
Deliverance COGIC, Bishop Patterson has initiated the relief effort with funds
exceeding $100,000. He has also challenged bishops, pastors and churches to
follow with similar expressions of generosity and compassion. The churches in
the Memphis region, as well as churches throughout the nation, are responding
to this national tragedy by providing hundreds of meals daily to evacuees.
Last Tuesday, Bishop Winbush and leadership in other religious
denominations, met with President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. for a
briefing on the relief effort and to discuss ways the religious community can
assist. COGIC is offering their former Saints Junior College campus in
Lexington, Miss., as a site to relocate between 500 and 1000 evacuees. The
275-acre site will accommodate transitional housing and an emergency education
program.
Many COGIC churches have coordinated shelters, clothes, cash and food
donations for evacuees. "Through the denominations efforts, our congregations
and members of the community have been reaching out to victims involved in
Hurricane Katrina," said First Assistant Presiding Bishop Charles Blake,
pastor of the West Angeles Church Of God In Christ in Los Angeles. More than
2,000 people contributed to the West Angeles clothing drive and donated more
than $100,000 to the relief effort. Blake added, "I ask that people contribute
to the COGIC Charities foundation so we are better equipped financially to
help the hurricane victims."
This past Sunday, The Church Of God In Christ in Michigan gave more than
$100,000 toward the relief effort. Through COGIC Charities, these churches are
facilitating the availability of 372 units of multi-family and senior housing
through section 8. This is in coordination with federal and state agencies.
The charity is also sending trucks from across the country with relief
supplies to the devastated areas across the south.
If you are interested in contributing to COGIC Charities Hurricane Relief
Fund, you can make a donation online at http://www.cogiccharities.org or send a
contribution to: COGIC Charities Hurricane Relief Fund, P. O. Box 37, Memphis,
TN 38101. For additional information or to make a donation, please call 1-800-
947-9350.
About COGIC Charities, Inc.
COGIC Charities, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Church Of God In
Christ, Inc. religious denomination. The charity was founded in 2001 by
Presiding Bishop G. E. Patterson. COGIC Charities has donated to various
relief agencies including the Salvation Army, the Horn of Africa Relief and
Development Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
and the American Heart Association.
About the Church Of God In Christ, Inc.
The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth largest Protestant religious
denomination in the United States of America with an estimated membership of
more than six million. COGIC headquarters is located at Mason Temple in
Memphis, Tenn.
SOURCE The Church Of God In Christ, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.cogiccharities.org
CONTACT:
Deidre Malone or Alayna Adams of The Carter
Malone Group, +1-901-278-0881, or aadams@thecartermalonegroup.com
, for The Church Of God In Christ, Inc.
|
