Regional Happenings

Dear Church: A blessed Holy Week to each of you! Check out the Regional updates featuring staff news and an update from our Regional Medical Team.  Please let us know how we might be helpful to you during this time. Please feel free to use this Center for Disease Prevention and Control resource link regarding face masks. We have also provided two links with patterns for sewing masks. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpzLQTy-SA https://addiemartindale.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Sew_Hospital_Mask_Pattern.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0qyvT7e3qSLMMbIkpA1W4d00I9RoHEsp9yTiagyklATeT80lLxZpTWoik  May Resurrection Power Sustain Us! +Valerie J. Melvin …

Dear Church: During this moment of self-containment, households are doing what they can to remain calm and stable. Keeping some sense of normalcy requires resources, and a large number of North Carolinians laid off due to COVID-19 (170K) gives cause for economic concern. Unemployment is not only a concern of the business sector of our state but churches as well. We appreciate that the CARES Act Payment Protection Plan did not exclude most non-profit organizations (including churches) from protecting their employee payroll. Please find attached a press release from Church Extension, providing us with user-friendly resources as we apply for the PPP funds available to our churches. We are thankful that our Regional and General leaders are working to provide us with assistance and resources as we navigate these uncertain times. May God’s Resurrection Power Sustain Us All, +Valerie J. Melvin Regional Minister ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DCEF offers assistance in applying for CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program loans The federal government has allocated more than $350 billion to assist small businesses, including non-profits such as congregations and other denominational organizations, in keeping employees on the payroll and covering critical expenses through this trying financial time.  The CARES Act created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), providing loans through the Small Business Administration with provisions for loan forgiveness of up to 100%, depending upon how the loan funds are spent. Disciples Church Extension Fund is collaborating with an organization we use for some of our employee benefits, Cost Stewardship, Inc., to provide assistance to Disciples congregations and organizations wanting to apply for these loans. Each Disciples congregation or organization is required to apply directly with a bank, preferably one that has their deposit accounts. The assistance will be very helpful in gathering all of the correct information and fully completing the application form. This service is provided at no cost to Disciples congregations, Regions, General Ministries and recognized ministries. DCEF does not benefit financially in any way from this service. To learn more about this service, click on the link below. https://www.disciplescef.org/blog/dcef-offers-assistance-in-applying-for-cares-act-paycheck-protection-program-loans/…

Dear Region of NC: We are beginning to receive notification of resources that address household needs. There are two items to review. The Household Solidarity grant, and a letter explaining the food stamp supplement that was passed in the Families First Coronavirus Bill and how it will be implemented in NC. We pray that these resources will be helpful. Share with as many as you can.  You can read the attachments here and here. Blessings, +Valerie Melvin Regional Minister ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Colleagues, Week of Compassion is instituting a grant program- Household Solidarity Grants for Income Loss- to help respond to critical economic needs during the COVID-19 outbreaks in the US and Canada. We are coordinating this program along with other General Ministries to help Disciples individuals and families during this pandemic. Attached you will find the application (here and here), and below is a short description. +Household Solidarity Grants for Income Loss are available to Disciples of Christ congregations on behalf of members and pastors who are experiencing significant financial hardship. Eligible households must have lost wages due to COVID-19 (illness, protective social measures, or reduced hours/gigs) and must not be eligible for state unemployment insurance (USA) or the GSTC (Canada). Additional funds are available for households that do not qualify for federal stimulus benefits. For more information, email Week of Compassion at info@weekofcompassion.org We also have this application in Spanish and Korean should you need it. Please let me know if you have any questions. You all continue to be in my prayers during this time, and I am grateful for the ways you are ministering to your community as this pandemic continues to impact many lives in the days and weeks ahead. Thank you. Vy Rev. Vy T. Nguyen Executive Director, Week of Compassion The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada Cell Phone: 510.473.8962 www.weekofcompassion.org…

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