United Methodist Church to close facility that manages 65,000 relief kits a year

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Friday, March 06, 2026

The United Methodist Church is set to close a 48,000-square-foot facility that houses approximately 65,000 disaster-relief supply kits each year.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is part of the denomination’s humanitarian work, will close its Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, in January of next year.

Susan Clark, spokesperson for the UMC General Board of Global Ministries, which UMCOR is a part of, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the closure was due to multiple issues, namely that the facility is “too large for our relief kit operation” and that “the capital expenditures to modernize it — such as software, barcode scanning, etc. — are cost prohibitive.”

“UMCOR will no longer use the property for material supply resources; its future use has yet to be determined,” Clark explained. “The facility will operate normally throughout 2026, for relief kit supply assembly and management, as well as scheduled volunteer mission experiences.”

According to Clark, while UMCOR doesn't oversee any other depots, it belongs to a network that includes “seven affiliate warehouses across the U.S. to get relief supplies to communities in need after a disaster.”

“We are in discussions to identify a new logistics warehouse partner,” Clark told CP, adding that they are “considering new affiliations for the network, and working on a capacity-building grant program for the network that will support volunteer engagement, enhance kit readiness, and meet UMCOR operational standards.”

According to information provided by Clark, the depot traces its origins to New Orleans in 1867, with an orphanage and school created to help local African American boys. It was named after Addie Sager and C.W. Brown, two supporters of the school.

Known for a time as the Sager Brown Home and Godman School, the institution operated until 1978, when it closed. The property was put up for sale, but remained vacant for 14 years.

UMCOR began using the property in 1992 to coordinate volunteers and relief efforts for the area following Hurricane Andrew, with the depot officially opened in 1996.

In addition to managing about 65,000 relief kits annually, the depot hosts between 850 and 1,000 volunteers to help assemble kits, support local charity projects, and meet for worship and fellowship.