Rock Island, IL – The United Church of Christ (UCC) Great Lakes and Western Regional Youth Event recently held at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, showcased the power of youth activism and community service. In collaboration with Church World Service (CWS), over 200 youth from the West Regional Conference and the Great Lakes Conference came together for a special … Read More
Responding to Hurricane Beryl: Your Support Makes a Difference
On July 7, 2024, Hurricane Beryl struck the Texas coast as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing heavy rains, high winds, and widespread power outages that left over 1 million people in the dark. Thanks to your generous support, CWS has been able to respond swiftly and effectively to this crisis. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, CWS collaborated with … Read More
Dental Care Day at Church World Service Harrisburg
A few weeks ago, over 125 of our newly arrived neighbors visited Church World Service Harrisburg office to see a team of dentists assembled by one of our community partners, Power Women. After each client saw the dentist, they were provided with a hygiene kit. Our clients were deeply thankful for the opportunity to see a dentist and receive a … Read More
Making Changes Beyond Walls
In 2011, Joel Edwards left his home country of Jamaica to start a new life in Brooklyn, New York. Eventually, his passion for serving others led him to the non-profit, Beyond Walls, which supports underserved communities in the area. Today, Joel is Operations Director and continues to serve and advocate for these families and individuals. Through the years, Joel has … Read More
The Warm Miracle of Love
Every time a community of friends and neighbors come together for a good cause, a miracle happens. For First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ (also known as First Church), and St. John’s United Church of Christ, this is a common occurrence. Once a month, these two churches come together at an event titled The Largest Table where … Read More
The Gift of Hope
When people seeking asylum are reduced to numbers and political pawns, we all lose. When we recognize that they are people who, just like you and me, want a safe life and a place to call home, we renew hope for humanity. During the recent bussing of migrants and asylum seekers to Washington, D.C. by Texas Governor Abbot, CWS teamed … Read More
A Labor of Love in Jackson
This past summer, Jackson, Mississippi, was hit not once, but twice by two linked disasters. In August, heavy rains led to flooding throughout the city, damaging the city’s infrastructure. Once the rain stopped, a new crisis began. The city’s water plants were damaged, leaving tens of thousands of residents without access to clean running water. In this moment of crisis, … Read More
Saving Homes and Changing Lives
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to wake up one night to the sound of rushing water flooding your home? How it would feel to see your belongings get destroyed or washed away? For most of us, the answer is probably no. We don’t think a natural disaster might affect us…until it does. For Sandy Gunnell, when … Read More
A Ripple of Love: Kits Behind the Scenes
A family is living in a temporary shelter after a disaster. A refugee is arriving in their new home. A neighbor is experiencing homelessness in the cold winter season. In all of these situations–and many more–the CWS Kits and Blankets ministry is there to help. From our CWS School Kits to our Emergency Cleanup Buckets, all our kits have one … Read More
Warming the City and Saving Lives
On Christmas Day, it’s Bethlehem on Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio. At this event, First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ, also known as First Church, puts their faith into action. First Church invites their neighbors who may be experiencing homelessness, poverty, or food insecurity to join. Participants receive gifts which include a warm meal, clothing, CWS Hygiene … Read More