During the 2016 Christmas season, our church raised $17,582.31 for a local organization, Heart to Heart International. Heart to Heart has continued to provide relief and help for the victims of Hurricane Matthew, which hit in October 2016. The damage to Haiti and the coast of Florida and the Carolinas was immense and rebuilding efforts continue.
In Haiti, an estimated 200,000 homes were destroyed leaving 1.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. In North Carolina an estimated 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The damage to infrastructure and agricultural crops was estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
Heart to Heart prepared in advance of Hurricane Matthew by storing needed medical supplies and equipment in Port au Prince so that they could respond immediately to help the victims there. They dispatched mobile medical units to Florida and the Carolinas to help provide medical help there as well.
Our annual Christmas Offering is a way for our church to extend its reach and to carry out the Christian mission to help others in need. Heart to Heart is making a difference in the lives of many people, and they deserve our support.