How you can help: Hurricane Helene and its aftermath

Brethren Disaster Ministries as well as local emergency authorities are strongly advising those who would like to help out NOT to travel to the areas affected by Hurricane Helene, while the roads are not safe and search and rescue is still happening.

However, here are opportunities to help from home:

Gifts to the Emergency Disaster Fund Hurricane Response: Brethren Disaster Ministries anticipates that grants will be requested from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to help with rebuilding and recovery in the areas affected by this storm. Gifts to the EDF can be made by check to Emergency Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60123 (please note “Hurricane Helene” on your check); or give online at www.brethren.org/givehurricaneresponse.

Church World Service needs more Clean-Up Bucket Kits: CWS, a longterm partner organization of the Church of the Brethren, is getting requests for more clean-up buckets, but their inventory is low. Zach Wolgemuth, the CWS director of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, reported that as of this morning, the organization has authorized/shipped “3,296 Emergency Cleanup Buckets valued at $247,200 and 4,360 Hygiene Kits valued at $65,400 to partners in the impacted region. Additional requests for kits and blankets are coming in almost daily. Unfortunately, our Emergency Cleanup Bucket inventory to less than 1,000 buckets in inventory.” Can you put together bucket kits that can be sent to help survivors? More information is at https://cwskits.org/assemble-kits.