George McGovern was a friend to humanitarian agency Church World Service and to anyone concerned about the issue of hunger and malnutrition in the world. As the one-time United Nations Ambassador to the Hungry, Senator McGovern had always made battling hunger a top concern, even when the political winds did not favor that fight as a topical concern. But, unfortunately, …
Silos in Nicaragua’s rural farm communities seeding the future
October 19, 2012
CARAZO DEPARTMENT, Nicaragua –– As of this week’s World Food Day (October 16-18), one in eight people worldwide suffer from chronic undernourishment. But a growing crop of small grain silos in the poor rural farming communities of Nicaragua’s Carazo department are icons and testament to the fact that hunger battles are being won. The community-scaled, zinc seed bank silos, introduced …
With immigration simmering as a 2012 elections issue, CWS to honor immigrants’ contributions at Oct. 25 event
October 17, 2012
As Americans prepare to vote and with immigration simmering as a 2012 elections issue, global humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is preparing to honor both the achievements – and struggles – of immigrants to the United States. At a 7 p.m. cocktail reception October 25 at the Museum of the City of New York, CWS will present its first …
Community garden provides fresh vegetables for refugee farmers
October 16, 2012
The Pamoja (Swahili for “together”) Garden for refugees in Hudsonville, Mich., has its roots in Hudsonville’s Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, a co-sponsor of refugees since 1999. “We started with five of us in a men’s Bible study,” said member Marion Vande Steeg. “We were asked, ‘What have you personally done to help the poor and oppressed?’ and all five of …
On World Food Day, Haitian co-ops face struggles but persevere
Chris Herlinger |
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and New York – Today’s World Food Day has special poignancy for a humanitarian agency committed to improving life in rural Haiti. Though commemorated every October 16 to honor the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization after World War II, the day has become a more expansive event about the need to alleviate hunger and …
Resettlement is a chance at life
October 11, 2012
New York City –- In FY 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011-Sept. 30, 2012), Church World Service resettled 5,871 refugees toward a U.S. Refugee Admissions Program total of 58,238. “Those numbers represent a chance at life for some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” said Erol Kekic, Director of the CWS Immigration and Refugee Program, New York. “We are glad to be …
Guatemala World Food Day forum will advance food, nutrition security in region
October 3, 2012
Guatemala City, Guatemala – In honor of World Food Day (October 16), global humanitarian agency Church World Service and member organizations of the Regional Program for Food Security and Sovereignty (PRESSAN, El Programa Regional para la Seguridad y Soberanía Alimentaria) will conduct an October 15 press conference in Guatemala City in advance of a regional food security forum, October 16, …
Tony Hernandez, Myrna Orozco to be honored at Oct. 25 event, NYC Immigration Commissioner Fatima Shama to speak
October 1, 2012
NEW YORK CITY — John Backer spent the first few of his 61 years with Church World Service (CWS) waiting by the piers in New York City. The reason? To help new refugee arrivals from World War II-ravaged Europe get to Penn Station to start the train trip to their new resettlement destinations in cities and towns across America. CWS …
Hurricane Isaac, late summer storms 2012
September 26, 2012
Hurricane Isaac’s drenching rains in late August caused extensive flooding in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, with Louisiana being the hardest-hit of the four states. In its wake the slow-moving storm took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. Power has now been restored to the more than 1 million homes where it was lost in the …
Updated emergency appeal: Hurricane Isaac and late summer storms 2012
APPEAL # 627-V CWS APPEAL GOAL: $100,000 (unchanged) FUNDS RECEIVED: $15,000 FUNDS EXPENDED: $9,000 (estimated) Situation: Hurricane Isaac’s drenching rains in late August caused extensive flooding in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, with Louisiana being the hardest-hit of the four states. In its wake the slow-moving storm took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. Power has …