wfn.org | Disaster-Relief, Volunteer Activities Are Focus of New Site on WWW

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10-February-1999 
99044 
 
    Churches' Disaster-Relief, Volunteer Activities 
    Are Focus of New Site on World Wide Web 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
NEW YORK -- The first comprehensive Internet site of up-to-the-minute 
information about faith-based disaster response and volunteer opportunities 
is up and running at www.disasternews.net. 
 
    The Disaster News Network is sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), 
the relief agency of the National Council of Churches, through which the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) channels much of its international 
disaster-relief aid. The new web site was launched last Oct. 1. 
 
    "DNN provides an excellent resource for sharing the faith community's 
role in emergency response," said Rick Augsburger, director of CWS's 
emergency response office. "It has become an excellent medium for telling 
the story of disaster survivors and faith-based response efforts. Church 
World Service hopes the site will continue to be a valuable 
information-sharing tool for disaster survivors and response organizations 
alike, lifting up the importance and effectiveness of ecumenical response." 
 
    The site is particularly important, said DNN director the Rev. Jim 
Skillington, because faith-based agencies such as CWS are usually engaged 
in disaster recovery as well as relief, an involvement that goes on long 
after media coverage ends. "Until now," Skillington explained, "it has been 
nearly impossible to get current information about this important work. 
We're committed to continuing to provide news and  features about response 
activities as long as organizations are on the scene." 
 
    Another unique aspect of the new site is its nationwide database of 
disaster-related volunteer opportunities. 
 
    Still under development is an option for web site visitors to donate 
online by check or credit card directly to individual denominations or 
organizations. 
 
    "The information about volunteer opportunities and the online-giving 
option will become powerful tools for facilitating and improving the 
ecumenical response," Augsburger noted. 
 
    The DNN web site was designed and is maintained by VillageLife.org, a 
non-profit communication-services ministry of which Skillington is 
executive director. 

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