Generosity is a way of life for Rev. Joanna Sameulson and she’s planting the seeds of generosity, justice and compassion early in her twin sons Henry and Malcom. “It is one thing to talk about caring for others, or to teach or preach about it, but it’s quite another thing to participate.” she said. Through their local church, Joanna, Henry … Read More
“Our Mission is to Be There When Folks Need It”
At a distribution of CWS School Kits in the Republic of Georgia, our partner, International Orthodox Christian Charities, visited a primary school where they saw first-hand the joy of the CWS Kits and Blankets program. As they distributed the kits, they saw the children excitedly admire their new bags and beautiful school supplies. All of a sudden, they heard a … Read More
Finding Comfort in the Wake of Hurricane
When Hurricane Idalia threatened communities in Florida this past summer, the vast ocean surrounding Plymouth Harbor Retirement Home transformed from a source of peace to one of danger. In less than four hours, staff had to evacuate more than 250 seniors, who average about 85 years of age, to safety. Many residents left with very limited belongings and strong winds … Read More
Bridging the Gap in Disaster Response
“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