United Students, Faculty, and Staff Respond to Haiti Disaster

At United’s recent Doctor of Ministry Intensive (held January 25 – 29), students donated $2500 for relief in Haiti. The funds will be sent to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for distribution to Haiti. In addition to the donations, each participant in the Intensive has committed their church to pray for Haiti, which will lead to more churches participating in aid to Haiti.

Representatives of the Doctor of Ministry program present a check to Dean Richard Eslinger. From left, Gary Eubank, D.Min. student, Dean Eslinger, Harold Hudson, Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies, and Daniel Bush, D.Min. student.

On the Sunday following the earthquake, Abby Whitford (a sixth grader from Centerville OH and daughter of United’s professor of church history David Whitford) learned about UMCOR’s health kits at Normandy UMC and decided she needed to help. Later that afternoon, she wrote an email to the United community introducing herself and asking for contributions. Over the next two weeks, United faculty, staff and students donated enough materials and contributions to put together more than forty health kits for Haiti.