DISASTER RESPONSE

Brethren Disaster Ministries opened a new rebuilding site Aug. 30 in Buncombe County, N.C., expected to remain in operation through May 15, 2027. Working in partnership with Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, Brethren Disaster Ministries will serve qualified families identified through the organization by making home repairs and constructing new homes in the ROOTS Community Land Trust, a 50-home affordable housing initiative in Black Mountain, N.C., for families displaced by Hurricane Helene. Many lost not only their homes but also the land beneath them or rental housing they can no longer return to.

BDM has also returned to Ashe County, N.C., for a short-term rebuilding project from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31. Working in partnership with the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, volunteers will make home repairs and build new homes. BDM previously served at this location during a two-week project in April 2026. Volunteer housing will be provided at the Ashe Baptist Campground. Learn more about volunteering at www.brethren.org/bdm/rebuild/volunteer.

Rick Koch, our district disaster coordinator, has said he plans to step down from that role at the end of this year. If you would have interest in serving, or know someone who might, please contact the district office.

Prayers were requested in August for those affected by severe flooding in communities across Indiana, including areas where several Church of the Brethren congregations and Bethany Theological Seminary are located. Brethren Disaster Ministries was in communication with district disaster coordinators in both South/Central Indiana District and Northern Indiana District and is ready to support both districts and affected congregations as needs emerge.

Recent grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) have gone out to support disaster relief efforts and aid in North Carolina, Western Maryland, Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Cuba. 

Children’s Disaster Services, a program of BDM, will offer two volunteer training events in October: Oct. 9-10 at Chalice Christian Church in Virginia Beach, Va., and Oct. 16-17 at Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren. Register for one of the following scheduled trainings, and encourage others to continue serving. If your congregation or group is interested in hosting a training, get in touch with Carolyn Neher at cneher@brethren.org or cds@brethren.org or 410-635-8734.