Church of the Brethren congregations and members are among those who have been affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, especially in Southeastern District denominational staff have learned in conversation with district executives. The General Secretary’s office, Brethren Disaster Ministries, and the Ministry office have connected with leaders in the church districts covering the states where the storm was most destructive–Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Children’s Disaster Services
Children’s Disaster Services provides support to Lake Elsinore community
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) deployed four volunteers to Lake Elsinore, Calif., to assist children impacted by the recent wildfire. The volunteers provided a calm and supportive presence for 21 children while their parents and guardians sought assistance at a Local Assistance Center.
Children’s Disaster Services deploys to Lake Isabella, Calif.
On Aug. 9, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) deployed a team of three volunteers to Lake Isabella, Calif., where they served in a Local Assistance Center (LAC) until Aug. 13. Setting up a disaster care center, the team aided the needs of 20 children.
Disaster grants support rebuilding in York County, Child Life Disaster Relief, children in Maui
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have requested the following grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF): $10,000 for a rebuilding project in York County, Pa., following Tropical Storm Ida; $15,000 to support training models and resource development by Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) partner Child Life Disaster Relief; and $5,000 to support families connected with the Maui (Hawaii) Economic Opportunity, Inc.’s Head Start center.
Upcoming Children’s Disaster Services Volunteer Trainings are set for Fall 2024
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is preparing to hold three new volunteer training events in September and October 2024. Our upcoming CDS Volunteer Training events are:
CDS volunteers work in Arkansas as active tornado season continues
During the first half of June, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) volunteers have continued to provide care centers for children during what has been identified as the most active tornado season in the United States since 2017. Most recently, CDS volunteers have worked in Arkansas.
CDS volunteers care for children during active tornado season
During March through the end of May, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) volunteers provided care centers for children in what has become the most active tornado season in the United States since 2017.
Children’s Disaster Services deploys to Ohio in response to tornadoes
On March 20, Childrens Disaster Services (CDS)–a ministry within Brethren Disaster Ministries–deployed volunteers to two Multi Agency Recovery Centers (MARCs) in Ohio, in collaboration with longtime partner Child Life Disaster Relief.
Gifts to live on: Caring for children after the Maui fires
Judi Frost is a member of the Week of Compassion Board of Stewards and a trained and experienced CDS volunteer. She deployed to Maui after the wildfires with an early CDS team to set up a center for children to be cared for while parents who have finally found some temporary shelter begin to ponder what’s next.
Children’s Disaster Services offers series of volunteer training workshops
Registration is now open for the Spring 2024 Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) Volunteer Training Workshops. If you have a heart for serving children and families in need following a disaster, find the schedule, cost, and a registration link at www.brethren.org/cds/training/dates.
