“Our lives have changed.” “This was traumatic.” “It’s going to take so many years to recover from this.” These are just some of the things that Liliana Zamora, program manager at Community Bridges, heard from residents of Pajaro, California following the intense flooding that occurred in March. Pajaro is a community in Monterey River County and is separated from the … Read More
Replacing Fear with Hope in Merced County
Imagine you’re asleep when you hear waves crashing onto a surface. For a second you wonder, “Am I dreaming?” until you feel the water creep onto your bed. You jump to your feet, making a splash, and your instincts kick in. Your home is no longer safe, you need to get out. This is what many families and individuals in … Read More
General Synod participants assemble thousands of hygiene kits to combat period poverty
The goal of assembling and collecting 1,000 menstrual hygiene kits at General Synod was surpassed as young and old alike gathered to take part in the mission project at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. In fact, with the help of Youth@Synod, delegates, visitors and volunteers, the project turned out 3,157 period packs to be distributed with the help of … 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
CWS Superheroes
Almost everyone is familiar with Batman, Superman and other popular superheroes. But not all superheroes wear capes… “My grandma teaches me to love all people. She helps with the blanket program at our church,” shared one of CWS’ youngest supporters. A nine-year-old superhero in the making, Spiderman. After many years of, faithfully, hosting a Blanket Sunday and making CWS Kits—Spiderman’s … 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