DISASTER RESPONSE

In January, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) sent four volunteer teams to care for children in the Los Angeles area in response to the wildfires that engulfed the city and surrounding area. Three teams were partnered with the Red Cross for two weeks, serving in the shelters and resource assistance centers for the wildfire survivors. One team was made up of CDS volunteers living locally in California. California VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Assisting in Disaster) and Church World Service (CWS) asked CDS to serve for a week at a Wildfire Resource HUB in Pasadena.

As of Feb. 5, 25 volunteers served 412 children. During the response, CDS associate director Carolyn Neher (York Center) visited with each team, helping to coordinate the response. During the response, CDS volunteers gave their time supporting young children and their families recovering from the wildfires. The last team of CDS volunteers still serving in the L.A. area was scheduled to return home on Feb. 12. At least three Church of the Brethren families lost their homes in the Eaton Fire. (From Newsline)

 

Brethren Disaster Ministries is continuing work this year at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky. Information is at: https://www.brethren.org/bdm/rebuild/schedules/. Illinois/Wisconsin is scheduled to assist with a team Dec. 7-13. A YouTube video about the Letcher County site can be found at https://youtu.be/gmKy5PDf4PE. A second project site is expected to open later this year.