wfn.org | CRC NEWS: Response Team Leaves for Gulf Coast

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH - With the human toll increasing and local
circumstances deteriorating along the devastated Gulf Coast, the
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is sending a Rapid
Response of seven volunteers into the area to set up volunteer sites and
initiate clean-up efforts as flood water begins to recede.

Due to the generous response to the hurricane survivors, CRWRC is
increasing its fundraising goal to $5-million from $2-million. These
funds will provide:

* Rapid Response Team deployment and early assessments
* Initial flood and damage clean-up and repairs
* Development of community-based recovery organizations
* Community needs assessments
* Long-term reconstruction volunteers
* Building reconstruction materials and transportation

For more information, call Beth DeGraff, CRWRC constituency relations,
at 616-241-1691.

CRWRC is a Christian non-profit organization working in development,
relief, and justice education with people in need around the world since
1962. CRWRC is present in 36 countries and has an international
reputation for "living justice and loving mercy."

For more information about CRWRC's response to Hurricane Katrina and the
2005 hurricane season, visit www.crwrc.org or call 1-800-55-CRWRC.

Financial support for CRWRC's response to Hurricane Katrina and
elsewhere can be given by calling 1-800-55-CRWRC, or online at
www.crwrc.org.	Checks should be made out to "CRWRC," earmarked
"Hurricanes 2005," and sent to 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI,
49560.

---------------------------------
Henry Hess
Director of Communications
Christian Reformed Church
905-336-2920 ext.236
hessh@crcna.ca

To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church, visit www.crcna.org