Methodists opening a new relief facility in S.L.

Both local and visiting volunteers who find satisfaction assembling disaster-relief kits for distribution worldwide will have a new venue for their efforts beginning Saturday.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is hosting an open house from noon to 2 p.m. at its new 22,000-square-foot warehouse, 1479 S. 700 West, where guests are invited to bring assembled relief kits or donate supplies as a "housewarming" gift.

A barbecue is planned at noon, followed by a ribbon-cutting and consecration ceremony at 1 p.m and a relief supplies workshop and tour at 2.

The facility is the "Western depot" of the international relief organization's operations in the U.S., with headquarters and administrative offices located at its Sager Brown facility in Louisiana.

The Rev. Brian Hare-Diggs, who previously served as associate minister at Christ United Methodist Church, is the director of local operations and "the only paid person here," he said.

The facility will host weekly groups of United Methodist volunteers from all over the Intermountain West and beyond, whose service in Salt Lake City will include assembling a variety of disaster-relief kits for distribution as needed worldwide.

"I spent a week at Sager Brown taking in all they do, and we'll be doing the exact same thing here" in stocking supplies and assembling the kits, the Rev. Hare-Diggs said.

"The only difference is we don't have a campus, and we don't provide housing or food" for volunteer teams, who may find housing at local churches, he said.

Christ United Methodist has a "mini-motel with kitchen and rooms," and Hilltop United Methodist can house volunteers in their old parsonage, he said. In a show of interfaith goodwill, the Episcopal Diocese Retreat Facility downtown is also a possible source of housing, he said.

Groups of volunteers from Montana, Oregon and Colorado have already scheduled weeklong mission trips to the facility, he said, noting the weeks in July and August are already filled.

"The majority of our volunteers are senior citizens. It's a ministry they can physically do, and it's important work but it's not difficult. Part of our plan is to emulate what Sager Brown does" in sending skilled workers out into the community to provide their expertise at denominational social service agencies where they can also volunteer.

The Rev. Hare-Diggs said the warehouse itself likely won't be fully stocked for a year or two, noting online donations to the agency are used to purchase supplies like soap, toothbrushes, combs, blankets and other necessities.

Churches are also encouraged to send pre-assembled kits to the warehouse to help build the relief stockpile.