Storm Updates

As Hurricane Idalia approaches, our staff is praying for you and preparing for potential impacts. We are here to serve you and to serve alongside you in the aftermath of the storm.

Church offices will close on Tuesday (8/29) at 3pm and will be closed at least through Wednesday (8/30).

All Wednesday Night Activities are canceled for August 30. 

We are following Polk County School weather closures. PCPS made the determination that the schools will be closed on Wednesday (8/30) and Thursday (8/31). As of this writing, PCPS are open today, Tuesday (8/29). Please continue to check the PCPS website and/or local news for any changes and updates on school closures. 

In anticipation of the storm, we will shut down our email servers on Tuesday, August 29, at 4pm. Please use firstumclkld@gmail.com to contact the church for urgent needs.

The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church has asked our congregation to collect the following to help Hurricane Idalia survivors: Water bottles (cases), Cleaning kits (formerly called flood buckets), Hygiene kits, and Menstrual hygiene kits.
 
Click the button for instructions on how to assemble completed kits:

The First United Missions Depot will be open at these times to receive donations:
 
Friday, Aug 31 – 10am-2pm
Saturday, Sept 1 – 9am-3pm
Sunday, Sept 2 – Immediately following 11am worship until 1:30pm as part of First Sunday food collection.
Monday, Sept 3 – 10am-2pm
Tuesday, Sept 4 – 10am-2pm
 
The collection period may be extended.
 
Please keep an eye on the Conference website for additional requested items:

Take care of your family and yourself first. Self-care is not a selfish act.

First responders handle the rescue phase of disaster response immediately following a storm. Stay sheltered until storm conditions pass.

When it becomes safe, neighbors helping neighbors is a fundamental aspect of disaster response.

Never attempt to use equipment such as a chainsaw without proper training and safety equipment.

We do NOT deploy to areas affected by disaster without an invitation from the Florida Conference UMC.

As followers of Christ, we are first and foremost called to provide a caring, Christian presence to survivors. Listening to survivors sharing their stories is vitally important.

Please continue to pray for families who lost loved ones, for survivors and for all those responding to help in their time of need.