Lake Highlands United Methodist Church is working to help earthquake victims in Haiti by assembling health kits to provide necessities for those affected by the disaster.

The assembly of the kits is an ongoing project of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief.)

UMCOR members were in Haiti when the earthquake struck and have asked Methodist churches all over North Texas to work together to help provide Haiti with these much needed health kits.

"Because UMCOR is supported by the Methodist Church there are no administrative costs associated with this effort," says Sandy Wickberg, Congregational Care Coordinator for LHUMC. "100% of any donations to this project will go straight to relief efforts."

LHUMC is requesting both monetary donations and help assembling the health kits this week.

Instead of purchasing individual items, Wickberg says making a donation toward the bulk purchase of goods will be more effective for the outreach effort.

"Monetary donations are preferable. Our goal is to have 150 kits assembled and ready to ship by Sunday, and because of time constraints we need to buy the items all at once to have them ready for assembly."

Each kit will be packed in a sealed 1-gallon bag and will include:

1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27")
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
1 large tube of toothpaste (4.5 oz. or larger, expiration date must be 6 months or longer)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

According to Wickberg, the first shiploads of health kits and other relief items stored in the UMCOR warehouse in Baldwin, Louisiana have already left for Haiti.

"But because the need there is so great, they have requested more," she says.

Additionally, this particular project is a wonderful opportunity to involve children in the outreach effort. "Children are certainly welcome," says Wickberg.

"Helping to assemble health kits is a simple project that the whole family can participate in."

"After we finish the kits, we will have an opportunity for everyone to lay their hands on the kits and pray over them. That way we can send the people of Haiti not only basic necessities that they need, but also the love and concern of their brothers and sisters in North Texas."

Anyone wanting to help can join in assembling the kits or sending a check to the church to help purchase items.

The kits will be assembled at the church on Wednesday, January 20th from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday, January 24th between 9:30 a.m - 10:45 a.m.

As an added bonus, the LHHS Wranglers dance team will perform for volunteers on Wednesday night.

Checks to cover the purchase of items can be made out to Lake Highlands United Methodist Church and sent to P.O. Box 551389, Dallas, TX 75335-1389.

LHUMC is located at 9015 Plano Road.