"Why I Give"
On this #CWSGivingDay we give thanks to all of our donors, volunteers, advocates and supporters who give faithfully to provide food, a voice, and a safe place to call home for our sisters and brothers around the world.
Sana Yousuf, Refugee Community Sponsor
I believe it's important to give back to those who are finding their way in a new country. In some ways, we are all immigrants. We can all think back to a time or place when we didn’t know anyone, didn’t know how to get started, didn’t know how to navigate a community or the workplace. And I hope through the hard work that CWS does, we are able to help as many people as possible feel welcome here and set them up for success. I most recently donated school uniforms to two CWS clients from Syria because making sure our youngest clients have the opportunity to learn and immerse themselves within their new community is crucial! I hope they enjoy every minute at their new schools.
Armin and Norma Klemme, Sustaining Partners
To support Church World Service monthly is a great joy in our lives because we know CWS is there to bring hope for a new life after devastation. CWS helps people help themselves and is there for the long haul. We have had such a wonderful life; it is a gift to try to bring at least a small measure of love to someone who has suffered much in their life. Thank you loving God for Church World Service!
Rich and Donna Albanese-DeMair
Supporters CWS Jersey City
I am an avid cyclist and believe in promoting cycling for several reasons. Foremost it is a social activity, let's get kids outside, the exercise is great, there's the whole reduce, reuse, recycle aspect, one less car, people need transportation, and it's just plain fun. My wife, Donna, and I have been giving away bikes since 2008 and work with many different types of organizations. Most of our bikes go to local children who cannot afford to buy a bike, others go to refugees like CWS does, and others to church and civic groups. To date we have refurbished and given away over 4,600 bicycles and our Dairy Queen (Plainfield) has the reputation of collecting used bikes in any condition for donation. I am known locally as the "Bike Man" and enjoy working on bicycles as a hobby. Every bike is completely repaired, cleaned, and ready to ride.
Betsy and Steve Longendorfer
Supporters CWS Jersey City
We had just retired and our church, the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, asked for donors for kitchen items and furniture. Nora Salitan asked us to drive the donations directly to one of the clients in Jersey City. We were staring directly at the Statue of Liberty as we made the last few turns to his house. We found a lone man in an apartment completely empty except for a faded plastic porch chair. He told us that he couldn't get his family out of Afghanistan and that he had helped US forces there. Later, Nora told us that she needed bikes. We belong to a great bike club - the Bike Touring Club of North Jersey - with 1500 members. I said "Bikes! We can do bikes with their help!", and so every time we deliver them, I'm thinking about that first visit, and how we wanted to do whatever we could to thank him and help him.
Rev. Dr. Pat Medley
Event Coordinator, Freehold, NJ Crop Hunger Walk
Our CROP Hunger Walk is a blessing in multiple ways. In this fractured world, we gather people of many different faiths and backgrounds to bless those most in need, around the world and across the street through life-giving charities. God is LOVE! When we live our faith by sponsoring and donning the t-shirt, walking together, enthusiastically gathering donations and giving generously, we get to experience God’s love in action. This is where our sneaker rubber hits the road!
Alexandra Loginov
Supporter, CWS Harrisonburg
I am proud to donate to CWS. I especially like to contribute to their work supporting refugees from all walks of life. This population has already been through so much and deserve as great a welcome as we can give them. We should work collaboratively and do whatever we can to counteract negative political climate against refugees.
Old North Church Thrift Shoppe
Supporters CWS Jersey City
The "Ladies of the Old North Church Thrift Shoppe" heard about CWS from Rev. Elaine Burkert who occasionally leads worship at Dumont church. The thrift shoppe was created in 2018 to assist a church family in need. It now supports the church's local and global benevolences through the re-selling, recycling, and re-purposing of quality used items for low prices to our neighbors and those in need. Coordinators Marilyn Hashway and Kathleen West said the volunteers were excited to support CWS families with household items and children's toys from their inventory. "The donations are given to us for the purpose of helping others and the church, so we were thrilled to add CWS as a recipient organization," said Marilyn.
Erwin and Betty Burkert
Supporters CWS Jersey City
Erwin and Betty Burkert understood the challenges faced by new immigrants to the U.S. which is why their adult children donated all their furniture, household goods, and most recently, yards of fabric for CWS' refugees to sew. Erwin and Betty came to the U.S. more than 60 years ago: Erwin fled the bombing and destruction of his hometown in Germany during World War II; 17-year old Betty left Switzerland after her mother's death. They met in New Jersey and remained there until their passing in 2019 and 2023. Ron and Rev. Elaine Burkert (son and daughter-in-law) contacted CWS to continue the Burkert's legacy of caring for persons in need. "We were absolutely thrilled to give everything to CWS. Knowing that other families of immigrants are creating homes with our parents' belongings makes us feel good," said Ron. Helping refugee families has a soft spot in Elaine's heart for another reason. When her eldest child, Matt. was six months old, the refugee family living with Elaine and her first husband Chuck, saved their baby's life. "Dr. Julio Alas fled El Salvador during the civil war in the 1980s. He accurately diagnosed Matt with a critical gastrointestinal problem and urged us to rush our son to the hospital. This action saved Matt's life," she explained.
