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On June 24’th, northern and central Venezuela were unexpectedly hit with two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 (Richter scale) magnitude earthquakes. In a country with an interim government already suffering economically, the impact has been devastating. As of the latest toll: 2,295 have died; 11,267 are listed as injured; more than 26,000 people have had their homes destroyed or severely damaged; 50,000 people are still unaccounted for; and water systems are failing, leaving the population without access to safe water.
Using funds allocated to emergency aid and disaster relief from Old North Church’s capital campaign, the Outreach Ministry Board is donating $1,000 to organizations now active on the ground in Venezuelan recovery efforts. We are specifically funding All Hands and Hearts, a 4-star charity highly rated for their responsiveness in disaster relief working with local organizations as well as for having a focus on getting children back to school. We are also funding World Central Kitchen, who are also already on the ground as they have been in Gaza, Ukraine, and other sites in need of healthy food and water.
In addition to these organizations, we can recommend Global Empowerment Mission, another 4-star rated charity recommended by the Associated Press, Time magazine, and ABC for their relief work on the ground in Venezuela. We encourage all in the congregation who would like to donate to relief work in Venezuela to consider a donation as well to these worthy organizations.
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