Two long-standing ecumenical bodies in the United States–the National Council of Churches (NCC) and Church World Service (CWS)–have undergone restructuring and re-envisioning in recent months. The NCC began a plan for re-envisioning and restructuring last fall including elimination of administrative positions on the staff and a move away from historic headquarters in New York. CWS, which formerly shared the same general assembly as the NCC, has instituted a new governing structure that is independent of denominational representation. CWS is the primary means through which Brethren Disaster Ministries extends its work internationally.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Prattsville Rebuilding Project Expands to Schoharie, N.Y.
A Brethren Disaster Ministries home rebuilding and repair project in Prattsville, N.Y., is expanding into a nearby location, the town of Schoharie. The New York State project was established in response to the flooding of homes by Hurricane Irene, and is supported through donations to the Emergency Disaster Fund.
Children’s Disaster Services Offers Workshops in Georgia, Connecticut
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is holding volunteer training workshops in Georgia and Connecticut in February and March, respectively. An article about the recent–and first–CDS workshop in Connecticut is at http://canton-ct.patch.com/articles/group-learns-how-to-help-children-in-the-midst-of-a-crisis .
Volunteers Prepare $100,000 Christmas Gift for Hurricane Victims–And Set Record
On Dec. 14, 2012, 150 Brethren Disaster Relief Auction (BDRA) volunteers from the Atlantic Northeast and Southern Pennsylvania Districts assembled 1,000 Emergency Clean-up Buckets for victims of Hurricane Sandy at Florin Church of the Brethren in Mt. Joy, Pa.–and they did it in 60 minutes.
Fund Makes Grants to Start New Brethren Disaster Project, Aid Congolese Refugees
Grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) have been given to start a Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding site in southeastern Indiana, and to help a church group aid Congolese refugees fleeing violence.
Brethren Disaster Ministries Celebrates with Pulaski
Brethren Disaster Ministries started its Pulaski, Va., project site in August last year. Since then, several hundred volunteers have helped rebuild what two tornadoes tore down.
Bezon to Retire from Leadership of Children’s Disaster Services
Judy Bezon Braune has announced her retirement as associate director of Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) as of the end of the year. She has led CDS for five years, having started in the position in Sept. 2007.
Children’s Disaster Services Continues to Aid Families Recovering from Storm
By the end of the day yesterday, Nov. 27, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) had six volunteers working at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers–continuing the response that CDS has made to the “superstorm” Sandy.
Sandy Shipments from New Windsor Center Now Exceed $900,000 in Value
Shipments of relief materials have been heading out from warehouses at the Brethren Service Center ever since superstorm Sandy was churning through the Caribbean on its way to the northeast US. The Church of the Brethren Material Resources staff has done the processing, warehousing, and shipping of relief materials on behalf of Church World Service. Material Resources staff were filmed by WBAL TV Baltimore as they continued to fill orders for relief goods. Rob Roblin of Channel 11 news in Baltimore, Md., taped the report on the shipments sent to the Hurricane Sandy response, to air Wednesday, Nov. 14, during the 6 p.m. newscast (www.wbaltv.com ).
Church Fund Makes Grants for Sandy Response, New BDM Project in Binghamton, NY
“During a disaster such as this, now is the time to remember that the most important humanitarian donation an individual can make is cash,” notes Brethren Disaster Ministries in an e-mail update this week about its response to Hurricane Sandy. The reminder comes at a time when the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF)–which spports the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries–has made its first grants toward the Sandy relief effort.
“Once damage assessments are complete, Brethren Disaster Ministries will develop plans for future long-term recovery activities including major home repairs and rebuilds,” reports Roy Winter, associate executive director.