The United States is rich. Our moderate-income population looks like “haves” to the “have-nots” in much of the Third World.

We store unused clothing in our closets. Inevitably, wear spring-cleaning, unpacking summer clothes, storing winter threads, and de-cluttering yield duds that have not been worn in years and may never be again. Darfur refugees in Sudan and Chad in Africa, who have escaped murdering, pillaging, raping Janjaweed militias with barely their lives, have neither closets nor sufficient clothing. Why not donate our unused vines to people who have lost everything?

Preaching on Christ’s parable about the wretchedly impoverished Lazarus and his rich neighbor (Luke 16:19-31), the Rev.

Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood has suggested that God had provided for Lazarus through the rich man, but that the rich man had hoarded God’s provisions. Is God providing for African refugees through African Americans’ excess?

National Religious Leaders of African Ancestry Concerned About Darfur (NRLAACAD), a coalition of black clergy founded in Fall 2006 and led by Rev. Herbert Daughtry, is collecting clothing and school supplies for shipment to Darfur refugee camps in Chad. African-American congregations throughout the United States should participate.

Church leaders need not overburden members with requests for special cash offerings since most of us paid for our excess clothing years ago. Any cash that does get donated can go toward shipping the goods to Africa.

Designated drop-off points include the House of the Lord Pentecostal Church at 415 Atlantic Avenue and the YMCA at 1401 Flatbush Avenue, both in Brooklyn. Drop-off stations free congregations from extensive storage within their own houses of worship.

I suggest that congregations form clubs, sub-ministries, or task forces to gather members’ donations of clothing and school supplies and transport them to drop points. That way, we can ease our pastors’ administrative burdens. Additionally, prayer groups within congregations can pray that that donated items reach the intended ultimate recipients.

People of God and/or People of the Book are central to current U.S.-based Darfur relief and justice efforts. The Save Darfur Coalition includes many Jewish organizations. NRLAADCAD membership is mostly Christian clergy. Muslims are included within both.

This is consistent, since advocacy of justice, condemnation of oppression, and concern for the poor and suffering are ongoing themes throughout the Old and New Testaments. These are God’s words, issued directly, through the prophets, or through Christ:

“Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground”
-Genesis 4:10 (NIV)

“Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.”
-Exodus 22:21 (NIV)

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
-Amos 5:24 (NRSV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
-Matthew 5:5 (NRSV)

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
-Luke 6:20 (NRSV)

It is understandable that people who take crises such as this seriously would try to help oppressed victims of injustice in Darfur who have been force into depressing poverty. In Africa and the United States, blacks are acting directly to alleviate Darfur suffering. The African Union has peacekeeping troops on the ground. Rev. Daughtry has led a delegation to Chad to inspect refugee camps. The NRLAACAD clothing and school supplies drive fits into this black direct help pattern. The Save Darfur Coalition (SDC) acts more indirectly, pressuring the United States government to help and encouraging wealthy corporations and individuals to divest from Sudan.

The direct and indirect approaches are a one-two punch. Let’s add muscle. As we do, let’s glorify the One who hears the cries of the oppressed.