News & Updates | Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Situation Earlier this month, a powerful tornado tore through parts of Alabama, causing damage in 14 counties and killing at least seven people. Following the disaster, temperatures dropped to below freezing while 30,000 homes and businesses remained without power. The effects of the tornado were especially devastating in communities like Selma, where nearly a third of residents live in poverty. …
News & Updates | Posted Thursday, January 19, 2023
Situation Since late December, atmospheric rivers have slammed the state of California and led to severe flooding, power outages, landslides, washouts and levee breaches. The New York Times recently estimated that 19 people have lost their lives due to this horrific series of disasters. The Biden administration has approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a disaster declaration and will provide …
News & Updates | Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Every time a community of friends and neighbors come together for a good cause, a miracle happens. For First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ (also known as First Church), and St. John’s United Church of Christ, this is a common occurrence. Once a month, these two churches come together at an event titled The Largest Table where …
News & Updates | Posted Friday, January 6, 2023
My name is Juan Gamboa, and I serve as a Program Manager in the CWS Border and Asylum Team. I’m based in Harlingen, Texas, a small city near the U.S.-Mexico border. I was born and raised in Harlingen, and its proximity to the southern border has made immigration a part of my everyday life. Many people believe that the border …
News & Updates | Posted Wednesday, December 21, 2022
When people seeking asylum are reduced to numbers and political pawns, we all lose. When we recognize that they are people who, just like you and me, want a safe life and a place to call home, we renew hope for humanity. During the recent bussing of migrants and asylum seekers to Washington, D.C. by Texas Governor Abbot, CWS teamed …
News & Updates | Posted Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Two boys drove me down to the border this month. At the Port Authority Bus Terminal set up by the border by Texas Governor Abbot, I saw a ten-month-old who was kept warm by only a Church World Service blanket. His mom, who might be from Venezuela, wore a light dress on a cold fall day. She was focused only …
News & Updates | Posted Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Over the past year, CWS Kits and Blankets have been an important factor during disaster response. By distributing these materials, we have broken down barriers and have gotten better at understanding the communities’ needs. Through strong relationships with organizations that are already working to support communities, CWS can ensure that the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors are met. This …
URGENT: Indonesia Earthquake 20225.6 magnitude earthquake struck Cianjur town in West Java, Indonesia on November 21, 2022. The area where the quake struck is densely populated and prone to landslides, with poorly built houses reduced to rubble in many areas. Nearly 300 people have been confirmed dead, thousands injured and nearly 60,000 people have been displaced by the disaster and …
News & Updates | Posted Monday, October 31, 2022
Temperatures are dropping in the European nation of Moldova. Each night is a little longer than the one before it, and the first snowflakes of winter will be here soon. Sadly, most indicators show that it will likely be a long, hard winter in Moldova this year. Energy dependence and poverty have long taken a toll here. The International Energy …
News & Updates | Posted Monday, October 10, 2022
Appeal code: 628S November 10 update: Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 storm last night. CWS and our partners are assessing needs and will respond as needed. We may launch an updated appeal to reflect both an expanded response to Hurricane Ian and any new response plans that arise from Hurricane Nicole. Look for an update …