Churches are asked to begin collecting "cleaning buckets" to replenish the buckets sent last week to help victims of Hurricane Isaac.

Holston workers loaded more than 350 "cleaning buckets" from the conference stockpile in response to a recent plea from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Since Isaac hit in late August, UMCOR has been distributing buckets full of cleaning supplies from Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., to storm-affected regions of Mississippi and Louisiana.

Now that Holston has depleted part of its stockpile to help Isaac survivors, additional "cleaning buckets" are needed to prepare for future disaster responses. In August, buckets collected by Holston churches were used to help the Dry Creek community in Johnson City District, where Buffalo Mountain Camp also suffered severe flood damage on Aug. 5.

The Holston Conference office will soon announce drop-off locations for new buckets collected by churches. Contact the Connectional Ministries Office at (866) 690-4080, watch Holston.org, or call your district office for more details.

“Cleaning buckets” include items such as liquid laundry detergent, air freshener, insect repellant spray, and scrub brush in five-gallon buckets. Detailed instructions for assembling buckets are available at http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies or by calling your district office.

Church members may also make financial donations to aid UMCOR in disaster response. Write a check to your local church with “UMCOR Advance #901670” on the memo line and place it in the offering plate.

Text “RESPONSE” to 80888 to give a $10 donation or give online to provide immediate relief to those affected by Hurricane Isaac.