We are all still reeling from the reports we are hearing about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Many of you are checking on relatives, picking up parents and children, assisting mountain pastors with immediate needs, and beginning to collect financial offerings and needed items.
A financial gift is best, and fastest… here is a link to give directly to Hurricane Relief:
https://bit.ly/WNCCHurricaneReliefDonations

To Donate Items:
You may drop off at Stokesdale UMC, 8305 Loyola Drive, Stokesdale.
Call Tony in the church office at 336.643.4850 to arrange drop off.   Office Hours are Monday-Thursday, 9am-2pm.  Or, drop off Sundays, 9am-noon.

Stokesdale UMC will receive ONLY the following items:

• Bottled Water (flats of individual waters and gallon-size jugs)
• The following non-perishable food items:  Peanut butter, canned tuna/chicken, ready to eat soup/chili, applesauce cups, canned fruit, granola/protein bars. Please box and label these items separately before bringing them to the drop-off site. (For example, all peanut butter in a box labeled that way)
• Diapers (all sizes) + Wipes
• Gallon bottles of Clorox / or similar bleach
• UMCOR Cleaning Buckets – Here is a link to details on how to assemble a cleaning bucket:  https://umcmission.org/umcor-cleaning-kit/

And now, a message from Bishop Carter:
The Western North Carolina Conference announced today that our Council on Finance and Administration and Board of Pension and Health Benefits have each voted to contribute $1 Million, for a total of $2 Million, toward the Relief and Recovery of Churches and Communities in Western North Carolina. 
Every local church in the Western North Carolina Conference is also being asked to receive an offering this Sunday (October 6) toward this effort. These funds will be distributed to local churches for their sustainability (many churches are unable to take up offerings, many people are out of work or unaccounted for); to support the mission which many of our anchoring churches do in these communities; and to help cover insurance deductibles where there is structural damage to churches.  The distribution of funds is collaborative work between our Disaster Response Team, our District Superintendents and our Treasurer.
We estimate that more than half of the 44 counties in our annual conference have been affected.  We want you to know that we see you, we are praying for you, and you will not be in this alone.  Your well-being and recovery is the mission.
My deep, deep thanks for the ways many of our local churches are already being used by God in the areas of greatest need.
+ Bishop Ken Carter

Thank you for your generosity and your quick response to our neighbors in need.

​Prayerfully,
Pastor Ed McKinney                      Rev. Bev Coppley
Stokesdale UMC                              Northern Piedmont District Superintendent