The Brethren Disaster Ministries of the Southern Ohio District was formed in the early 1970s by several Church of the Brethren congregations throughout western and southern Ohio.  This ministry was started with the understanding that natural disasters can destroy communities and devastate families in a matter of moments. The Brethren Disaster Ministries works to help the most vulnerable survivors rebuild … Read More

In preparation for this year’s heavy storm season, United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries is turning to church congregations to help overcome a shortage of much-needed cleanup buckets, stocked with essential supplies that are used after a natural disaster strikes. UCC Disaster Ministries is offering congregations matching grants of up to $250 as an incentive to assemble Church World Service … Read More

Communities along the Ohio River often experience flooding during the spring and summer. Summer 2016 was no exception. Following heavy rains, the small town of Pomeroy, Ohio, once again was flooded. Basements of houses were flooded because of drainage problems. Several businesses around town temporally shut their doors. The Full Gospel Lighhouse Church was flooded due to their location at … Read More

By Anna Berger For newly-arrived refugees in the United States, the worries are many. How will I learn English? Where will I live? How do I get help for my medical condition? How do I enroll my children in school, and who will help them to get to school everyday? How do I make friends here? At Community Refugee and … Read More

Amuor Pacifique and his family fled from conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 5.4 million people died, many from starvation and disease. After 15 years as refugees in nearby Zambia, they were resettled in Lancaster, PA with the help of Church World Service. CWS assisted them in finding housing, employment, education, social support and more. The … Read More

Can a CWS Kit really make a difference in the wake of an overwhelming loss? Washitha Hunter, survivor of a recent catastrophic fire in her Chicago apartment complex, answered that question with a resounding “Yes!” Hunter, her husband, Anthony Barr, their two teen-aged children and 10-month-old grandson made it out of their apartment unharmed, but four neighbor children perished in … Read More

“We never needed help before.  We didn’t know where to turn for help.” Volunteers heard that a lot recently as they delivered CWS Kits and Blankets to survivors of destructive flooding in hard-to-reach rural areas of Floyd County, Ky. Many residents said they had never been flooded before heavy rains in late summer caused flash flooding and overflowing creeks.  Many … Read More