MISSION

January 2002

At its November meeting the Session voted, on recommendation of the Mission and Social Concerns committee, to send money to Presbyterian Disaster Services for the 9/11 tragedy (in addition to the amount already contributed by church members); money to the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Association at Holmes, NY; money to the project in Haiti dealing with filiarisis disease (a Christian project with which Rev. Ruth Boling is concerned); and money to an Hispanic relief organization working with the families of victims of Flight 587.

See the January 2002 "From the Pastor" for more on Mission and the The First Presbyterian Church of Forest Hills.

DISASTER RESPONSE
Just over $3.6 million has been contributed to the account established by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. Of this total, more than $1.1 million is already at work through presbyteries, congregations, interfaith disaster response organizations, and other church-related agencies helping to meet the needs of those who were most affected by the attacks.

An additional $250,000 has been provided to New York City Presbytery to support their $1.2 million budget for the coming year. Almost 90% of the budget is earmarked for direct financial and counseling assistance for the disaster survivors

Additional funds have also been provided to support the response of interfaith organizations in New York City and New Jersey working with Hispanics. Approximately 67 Hispanic families in the New York/New Jersey area lost a family member in the disaster. Asociacion de Tepeyac is working with undocumented workers who were impacted by the crisis and due to their status, are marginalized from the systems of aid. They have many years of organizational work in the New York City area and are an excellent partner to reach the people who often live in the shadows.