Give now to support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's work in Oklahoma. Give now → ✖

Skip to main content

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12

Alternative Giving Opportunities

Cover of brochure

Disasters, whether natural or human-caused, can devastate communities. In most cases homes, businesses and infrastructure are destroyed or damaged. Many lives are lost, and many more are disrupted.

Assistance from Presbyterians helps provide for basic humanitarian needs. Food, water, medicine, shelter, and other critical supplies bring hope to a struggling community.

Over the years, many individuals and congregations have requested projects for alternative giving and/or other special giving opportunities to help disaster survivors.

The complimentary PDA Alternative Giving Brochure explains how each gift is an example of what a gift through PDA can accomplish. After any disaster, the needs of vulnerable people determine the appropriate response. Presbyterian partners and presbyteries in recovery areas use your gifts to meet those needs. Actual costs depend on local markets and the country where recovery work is being done. Although specific amounts are listed, any amount is welcomed.

Online giving information for International Disasters and Emergencies, PDA General Relief, and U.S.A. Disasters and Emergencies.

Resources available to print or order

Sending alternative gifts

PDA General Relief

Often when a disaster happens, families lose everything. By supporting PDA General Relief, you help us respond quickly to natural or human-caused disasters where the needs are greatest—whether internationally or in the United States. Your shared blessing or gift of any amount helps to ensure that PDA will be there to share your care and concern for disaster survivors.

Your gift to PDA General Relief can provide such items as:

$13 - school kit for children in a post-disaster area (scissors, notebooks, ruler, crayons, cloth bag, pencils, erasers, and a sharpener).

$25 – kitchen kit (cooking pots, utensils, bowls, cups, and spoons).  This kit can help restore a family’s ability to cook or prepare food provided as they recover from a disaster.

$50 - seeds or garden tools to replant what was lost due to wind, war, or flooding.

International Disasters and Emergencies

Ongoing war and civil conflict often cause people to flee their homes to seek safety. Others are driven from home by natural disasters such as flooding or drought. While some will find safety through resettlement in other countries, most of the world’s 43.7 million displaced people (2010 UNHCR) continue to live in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. There they wait for their homelands to regain stability, safety, and the ability to sustain their livelihoods.

IDPs are in need of basic humanitarian necessities such as food, water, and shelter. Each item listed is an example of what your gift can help provide:

$15 – ten jerry cans for survivors to transport clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing.

$35 – emergency household kit (2 blankets, 2 plastic mats, jerry can, 2 mosquito nets, plastic sheet, and soap).

$125 – emergency life pack containing a tarpaulin, 2 blankets, cooking set, 2 jerry cans for water, high protein biscuits, and soap.

U.S.A. Disasters and Emergencies

When floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other disasters strike here in the United States, the challenge is to help families return to normalcy. Working in cooperation with affected presbyteries, PDA helps disaster survivors begin the process of rebuilding their lives and restoring their community.

Your shared blessing through gifts to U.S.A. Disasters and Emergencies ensures that funds are available to respond immediately to families in the United States left in need following a disaster. Examples of items your gift can help provide include:

$20 - support for a congregation hosting volunteer work teams.

$56 – clean up bucket including soap, gloves, masks, trash bags, and other necessities to help families clean following flooding or another natural disaster in the United States.

$100 - help for a PDA National Response Team member ministering to pastors and communities affected by a disaster.

PDA Alternative Giving Resources

PDA Alternative Giving Brochure

PDA Alternative Giving Poster – this 11x17 poster can be downloaded and printed as needed for use throughout the year.

PDA Alternative Giving Bookmarks – these 2-sided bookmarks can be downloaded, printed onto white card stock, cut, and shared as a reminder of the special opportunity offered by alternative giving.

Pew Envelopes – to designate gifts for international, general, national, or other specific response. Order online, PDS# 25412-10-010, or by calling PDS at (800) 524-2612.

Gift Cards - PDA receives gifts from generous donors throughout the year who give in honor or memory of a loved one. Print a gift card for your loved one, or you may email PDA if you would like us to mail a gift card.

PRINTABLE GIFT CARDS

Each of the PDA alternative giving gift cards can be downloaded, printed and mailed to your gift recipient. Each card will print on an 8 1/2" x 11" plain sheet of paper that should be folded in half vertically, then folded in half horizontally. The final size of the card will be 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". This card will fit inside a standard "invitation" envelope.

Sending Alternative Gifts

Alternative gifts may be given:

  • through your normal mission giving channel, usually a congregation or presbytery.
  • by credit card online or by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283.
  • by cash/check/money order, specifying the DR account (DR999999-AG, DR000148-AG, or DR000015-AG) to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

You may also text “PDA” to 20222. This provides $10 to support disaster response where needed most.

Thank you for participating in this special mission of alternative giving, and for sharing disaster recovery alternative giving opportunities with your congregation, group, or family. Your gifts are a testimony of the love of Christ and enduring hope to families recovering from disaster, and also to the person you are honoring.

Tags: