MISSION

April 2002

HUB CHURCH PROGRAM
The church is part of the "Hub church" program of Presbyterian Disaster Services. Several members have been trained at the Interchurch Center as interviewers of persons seeking assistance following 9/11 and church administrator Ralph Boone is purchasing a desk for room 3 for use by the interviewers.

The Hub church program is the core of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance relief following September 11. Instead of having people seeking financial assistance come to a central office they will come instead to the hub churches where trained interviewers take the information for those seeking financial help or counseling or other types of assistance. The interviewers are supervised by the Disaster Relief casework supervisor.

People who seek assistance will either be referred to the churches by the relief office or contact the hub church directly as a result of publicity in the local communities. The primary emphasis is on those who were financially impacted by the loss of at least 20% of household income as a direct result of the attacks. The churches receive an allowance for expenses from the Presbytery Office of Disaster Relief. Those who have been trained in our congregation are deacons Larry Hanau and Vicky Amritt, former elders Wilma Berrios and Marilyn McFadden, and elders Edson Tembo and 'Cil Shaw-Brewer. Only 10 churches in the presbytery are designated Hub churches. The others in Queens are St. Albans and La Promesa in Flushing and our Korean church. The Pastor and Rev. Yang were also at the training program March 13 at the Interchurch Center. The director of the program is Dr. Janet Parker.