2020 Honduras Thanksgiving Offering

Bishop Lloyd Allen Addressing the 2020 Clergy Conference in October

What a difference a few weeks can make!

In a video shown at our October 2020 annual diocesan clergy conference, Bishop Lloyd Allen shared an update on the state of Honduras post-COVID-19 lockdown. In particular, he emphasized that some schools in the Diocese of Honduras have reopened post-lockdown, but fear of the coronavirus has meant that many schools remain virtual only. Because Honduras is a rural country without easy access to technology, the majority of students cannot access their classes online.

Per Bishop Allen’s request, the original intention of the 2020 Honduras Thanksgiving Offering was meant to be the “Computers for Kids” project. Monies raised would go towards the purchase and distribution of new-generation laptops and tablets to students to help them gain access to the education they so desperately need.

“Computers for Kids” will still remain the recipient ministry for this year’s Honduras Thanksgiving Offering, but I write to you this year with an additional financial appeal. In the short time since Bishop Allen’s update last month, the nation of Honduras has been devastated by two back-to-back Category 4 hurricanes: Eta and Iota.

Bishop Allen made the following report to me earlier this week:

“Two storms of huge proportions in less than 20 days for an undeveloped country like Honduras is a tragedy. Eta killed at least 120 people in landslides and flash floods. 2021 will be difficult. Most farmers have lost their crops. For these people there is currently no food or water. This crisis comes into play while we are still facing the challenges of COVID-19.”

Bishop Allen also sent me this flyover video of the overwhelming flood damage in the San Pedro Sula valley.

Rather than goods, money is what Bishop Allen and the people of Honduras most need right now. Financial donations of any amount can be made in the following ways:

1. Text “DCF Thanksgiving” to “73256” to donate via credit/debit card or bank account

(Leave a space between “DCF” and “Thanksgiving”.  Letters are not case sensitive.)

 

2. Online via credit/debit card or bank account – www.tinyurl.com/HondurasThanksgiving  

 

3. Check made payable to “Diocese of Central Florida”

Memo: “2020 Thanksgiving Offering”

Mail to:  Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32801

 

Honduras Hurricane Relief

1. Text “DCF Honduras” to “73256” to donate via credit/debit card or bank account

(Leave a space between “DCF” and “Honduras”.  Letters are not case sensitive.)

 

2. Online via credit/debit card or bank account – www.tinyurl.com/HondurasRelief  

 

3. Check made payable to “Diocese of Central Florida”

Memo: “Honduras Hurricane Relief”

Mail to:  Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32801

Someday when we here in Central Florida look back on the year 2020, we will recall its many challenges. For Honduras, however, looking back on 2020 will be nothing short of cataclysmic. Bishop Allen is trying to enlist the aid of international relief organizations since he knows that Honduras does not have the infrastructure required to rebuild the livelihoods and homes of those severely impacted by the recent hurricanes. It will be a long road to recovery. My fervent prayer is that the people of the Diocese of Central Florida will find a way to financially assist our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Honduras generously.

Grace to you,

Bishop Gregory O. Brewer