(June 18, 2007) — Recent grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund and the Global Food Crisis Fund total $61,500. The five grants go to Indonesia following flooding, New Orleans rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, the work of the Foods Resource Bank, and the northeast US following storms. The two funds are ministries of the Church of the Brethren General Board.
The Emergency Disaster Fund has given two grants to flood response in Indonesia. A grant of $29,000 responds to a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for the North Sumatra Province where many people remain in camps six months following the flooding; the funds will support the distribution of health kits and longterm activities to supply water, sanitation, and shelter. A second grant of $7,500 responds to severe flooding in Manggarai District, where the money will help provide relief to 595 households in two phases: a “crisis phase” in which health kits, blankets, and high-energy biscuits are distributed, and a “post-crisis phase” in which CWS will help provide tools, seed, water, and disaster preparedness training.
A grant of $10,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund is going to the St. Joseph Rebuild Center in New Orleans, La. The allocation will support the opening of the center at St. Joseph’s Church to help meet the needs of migrant day laborers and others who are homeless.
A $10,000 allocation from the Global Food Crisis Fund is going to the Foods Resource Bank for operational support.
A $5,000 grant from the Emergency Disaster Fund responds to a CWS appeal following flooding and tornados on the east coast and in the northeast United States. The funds will help support the deployment of Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons emergency shipments to affected areas.
The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Jon Kobel contributed to this report. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline. Submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.