HOTLINE - week of September 04, 2006

In the year since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast, CWS grants, resources, and other assistance (some $2.6 million to date) has helped families and communities working to recover. In the early response, some 70,000 CWS Blankets and 152,700 CWS Kits--Health Kits, School Kits, Kids Kits, Baby Kits, and Emergency Clean-up Buckets--were provided to assist survivors.

In addition to partnering with Habitat for Humanity in a multi-million dollar housing repair initiative, CWS is working to address the needs of young people traumatized by the storms.

The CWS School Resources Program is making a world of difference in the lives of thousands of young people who survived the ravages of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina by re-equipping their schools. The Youth at Risk Program is providing support for programs with young survivors—helping them to heal from the trauma and equipping them with knowledge and skills for the future.

Schools and youth-focused programs can help provide young people with a degree of security and stability in the midst of continuing uncertainty. Most of the youth involved in CWS programming continue to live in FEMA trailers or other temporary housing.

"One day we had everything we needed, and the next day it was gone--everything," says an 11-year-old survivor of Hurricane Katrina.

CWS is funding ten community programs for at-risk teens in Louisiana and Mississippi, and 13 schools that were severely damaged in the storm are receiving grants totaling $599,095 as part of the CWS School Resources Program. The grants are helping the schools with repairs, replenishing books, providing new computer technology labs and equipment, and assisting in acquiring library equipment and other supplies.

"It's a fun experience," says young participant Donna Tran. "I'm learning, but it’s a fun time." Focusing on mentoring, health education, and empowering youth to take on leadership roles, the Youth at Risk Program aims to give children like Donna a firm foundation both at school and home.

For more on ongoing Gulf Coast recovery efforts, please visit www.churchworldservice.org/news/katrina. Your support helps CWS continue our response to survivors of last year’s storms. Please donate today.

As the 2006 hurricane season continues, CWS is ready to respond should the need arise. As of this writing (9/1) CWS staff is monitoring the situation and progression of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

CWS is assisting families affected by severe flooding in the North West Frontier Province--families still reeling from the massive October 2005 earthquake. Due to the flooding, more than 350 people have perished, with a number of villages completely submerged and crops ruined. The floodwaters are contaminating water supplies, and communicable diseases and gastrointestinal infections are on the rise.

CWS staff in Pakistan, along with partner Norwegian Church Aid, is providing 500 families shelter and food assistance. In continuing earthquake response, water projects are providing more than 250,000 people with access to safe water. In addition, a Hygiene Promotion Team is conducting assessments and working to prevent the spread of disease through unsafe drinking water through trainings and provision of hygiene kits.

Donate now.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

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