WMU Makes $10,000 Grant To Assist MKs At Union University
March 2008
(Birmingham, Ala.)—February 12, 2008—Their parents are half a world away and many of them are left with nothing. On February 5th, a tornado ripped through Union University destroying 13 dorms and leaving over 100 students stunned and bruised—including the children of missionaries, whose parents are thousands of miles away on the missions field.
WMU® and the WMU Foundation immediately responded by dispersing a $10,000 grant through its HEART Fund to aid the MKs affected by this disaster. Candy Phillips, executive director of Tennessee WMU, said, “They are all accounted for and are in safe, warm places with food to eat; but some have just the clothes on their backs.”
The grant from the HEART Fund will assist MK students in meeting basic needs, such as food and clothing. It will also be used to repair cars and replace books and computers.
International Mission Board missionary Bert Yates emphasizes the extra difficulties MKs may have. “MKs have to pretty much carry everything to campus with them as their parents aren’t nearby . . . they often have things on campus that American kids would leave at home.”
“Several years ago our daughter, Jennifer, was a student on a campus in eastern North Carolina when hurricanes hit and resulted in massive flooding. From her experiences we learned that MKs have extra problems as they can’t simply run home when the campus is closed. They also don’t have parents nearby to provide the needed money to cover expenses and purchase needed clothes, etc., when they have to be evacuated from campus without anything,” Mrs. Yates recalls.
Through the HEART Fund grant, WMU hopes to help these students and their missionary families begin to rebuild their lives as swiftly as possible. WMU Foundation president, David George, stated, “We are making our grant through Tennessee WMU, and they will be working with Carl White (MK Volunteer Sponsor at Union University) to make sure it is used effectively and quickly.”
The HEART Fund, Humanitarian Emergency Aid for Rebuilding Tomorrow, was established in 2002 in response to the events of September 11 to help with disaster relief and emergency needs where Christians are involved. Prior to this, WMU had no way to assist WMU leaders in humanitarian emergencies.
Through the HEART Fund, WMU and the WMU Foundation, have distributed over $153,000 in emergency aid to date. Disaster victims in New York, New Orleans, Indonesia, and others have experienced relief through HEART Fund grants.
WMU Foundation president, David George, anticipates that additional grants will be made to the relief efforts at Union as new needs are identified and additional funds become available. States and individuals are welcome to be involved. “South Carolina WMU has just sent a significant gift to the WMU Foundation to assist MKs at Union who are originally from their state,” reported George. Additional gifts to the HEART Fund may be sent to WMU Foundation, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242.
Vicky Anderson, Tennessee WMU leadership development specialist, is overwhelmed with the generous outpouring of God’s people wanting to help. “It has been a blessing . . . and these students at Union are so thankful for WMU.”
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