Hurricane Stan Relief Efforts

These relief efforts and the donation shipment are dedicated to the memory of our past Executive Director, Dr. Edward Moseley.

In October, 2005, Alabama-Guatemala Partner, Wendy Padilla-Madden, reported that Hurricane Stan did horrific damage in Guatemala especially in rural areas. At least 300 were killed and whole villages were cut off by landslides. Wendy worked with a group that included Guatemalan Karla Mata, a former resident of Alabama, and Guatemala's first lady to send needed supplies to Guatemala via Miami from where FedEx and other courier services donated transportation to Guatemala. Donations included cash, powdered milk, clothing, canned goods, bottled water, instant meals, water purification tablets and medicine. Especially notable at this stage were the efforts of Alabama-Guatemala Partner Ray Crump who sent us the message below.

We have just shipped 46 pallets of supplies for Guatemala City, weighing approximately 34,000 pounds. We are not sure about the weight, but it should be of great help to those suffering. All the food was dehydrated, so they can just add water and it will go a long way. We did send some water on this shipment.

Swift Transportation is hauling it to Miami and it should arrive at sunup on Saturday, October 15, 2005. It is to be delivered to DHL, who will air lift it to Guatemala City. The shipment is to be met by the president of Guatemala and the wife of the president. Rotary International will be responsible for the distribution of the food.

Ray Crump (256) 301-9800 Cell (256) 642-9961
Decatur District Disaster Warehouse (256) 341-9961
The United Methodist Church,
North-Alabama Conference
Decatur, AL 35603 USA

The following thank you letter was received from Karla Mata

Dear All and especially Mr. Crump:

I am Karla Mata, friend of Wendy Madden and I live in Guatemala. Since Thursday of last week all of us here in my lovely country have been concentrated in helping and recontructing Guatemala so we can place 205,000 people that are homeless because of Stan Storm, the worst natural disaster Guatemala has suffered since 1976.

My heart stayed in Alabama like 5 years ago when I had the blessing of meeting such wonderful people from Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, and now Decatur, I truly believe that GOD gave me this gift, this blessing and such an honor to be able to live the experience of having YOU ALL Alabamians not just as friends but as GUARDIAN ANGELS!!!

Be assured this donation will reach the correct people in need and be assured that Guatemala will always have you all in our hearts, we will make sure they know where this is coming from.

God Bless you today and always!!! There are not enough words to thank you!!! I send you a BIG HUG!!!

Karla

Below are the pictures of the aid that we were able to deliver to Guatemala all the way from Decatur, Alabama.

Thanks to all of you for making this happen, especially Mr. Ray Crump, Mr. Dewey Crump, United Methodist Church of Decatur, Karla Mata, and DHL. Guatemala is lucky to count you all among its friends.

San Andrés, Guatemala Projects

Farmer to Farmer