wfn.org | Church World Service assists survivors of Hurricane Katrina

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

HOTLINE - week of September 05, 2005

    * CWS assists survivors of Hurricane Katrina devastation

Hurricane Katrina

"People are homeless and will have to start new lives, and the faith 
community has to be a partner with them," says Rev. John L. McCullough, 
Church World Service Executive Director and CEO.

McCullough is in hurricane ravaged Louisiana through Saturday, Sept. 3, 
meeting with religious leaders and others and making plans for long-term 
recovery efforts. McCullough and the other religious leaders say 
cooperation among different faith groups must be an imperative in the 
response to Hurricane Katrina, enabling the most effective assistance to 
survivors.

"This is not just an urban story; it's a rural story," says McCullough 
during a meeting that was attended by members and pastors of independent 
churches in Louisiana, as well as representatives of the Presbyterian 
Church (USA), United Methodist Committee on Relief, and the Christian 
Church (Disciples of Christ).

"In the midst of all the chaos of the last few days," says Donna Derr, CWS 
Associate for Emergency Response, "I have found uplifting the many messages 
of prayers and support received from overseas partners as they learn of the 
devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

"In particular, I was informed that our CWS staff and partners in Pakistan 
have collected a little more than $1,000 for the CWS Hurricane Katrina 
response appeal, and have set a goal of raising $2,000. The Pakistan staff 
noted, 'So often those of you in the north have come to the aid of those of 
us in the south. We are glad that today, those of us in the south can offer 
you support and solidarity in your time of need.'"

CWS has provided an initial 5,000 "Gift of the Heart" Health Kits and 5,000 
CWS Blankets for distribution to affected families in the New Orleans area; 
135 Health Kits and 100 Blankets to Houston Interfaith Ministries for 
distribution to 200 displaced people in Victoria, TX; 1,500 Blankets to 
Terrebonne Readiness and Assistance Coalition, for distribution at local 
shelters housing thousands of displaced people in southern Louisiana; and 
540 Health Kits for distribution to disaster survivors who fled to West 
Memphis, Arkansas.

CWS is also coordinating shipment of 20 Interchurch Medical Assistance 
medicine boxes to Louisiana. The boxes contain essential medicines and 
antibiotics to treat some 20,000 people for up to three months.

CWS anticipates that as many as 20 local emergency response groups may be 
organized to carry out long-term in Louisiana, Mississippi, northwest 
Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky, with CWS assistance.

The best way to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina is cash donations to 
Church World Service or another responding organization. CWS is urgently 
seeking additional funds to assist families devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

CWS is not seeking volunteers at this time. Those interested in 
volunteering should contact their local Red Cross chapter. Several 
denominations are also registering volunteers online. Potential volunteers 
may register with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance at 
www.pcusa.org/pda/teams/register.htm and Adventist Community Services at 
www.communityservices.org

Those who would like to host an uprooted family in your home or church may 
register online at www.shareyourhome.org.