Brethren funds send money to N. Korea, Darfur, Katrina rebuilding.

Grants totaling $155,000 have been given by two funds of the Church of the Brethren: the Global Food Crisis Fund, and the Emergency Disaster Fund. The grants provide support for hunger relief and disaster response in North Korea, the Darfur region of Sudan, and the Gulf coast of the US as it rebuilds following Hurricane Katrina.

An allocation of $50,000 has been made from the Global Food Crisis Fund for four farm cooperatives in North Korea. This is the fifth year of supporting Agglobe International, which oversees the work. The grant will help purchase seed, plastic sheeting, and fertilizer, and cover operating costs for all four farms in the program.

A grant of $35,000 has been made from the Global Food Crisis Fund for a Darfur emergency relief operation, in response to a multiple organization appeal to assist displaced Sudanese. The money will support the planting of trees, monitoring ground water use, expansion of sanitary facilities, and training indigenous leadership.

The Emergency Disaster Fund has made an additional allocation of $35,000 for the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries at its Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Site 2 in Pearl River, La., and an additional allocation of $35,000 for the Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Site 4 in Chalmette, La. The grant continue support for these two project sites and will feed, house, transport, and support Brethren volunteers, as well as provide tools and materials, leadership training, and some building supplies.

In other news, Brethren Disaster Ministries reported an increase of volunteers in 2007. "Thanks so much for all your hard work," coordinator Jane Yount wrote in an e-mail to volunteers. "Our volunteer numbers increased 22 percent in 2007, and hours served increased 35 percent!"

Source: 2/27/2008 Newsline