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CWS Gulf Hurricanes Response Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is Church World Service doing?

CWS is helping to support immediate needs and preparing for continuing assistance, working within affected communities to meet the long-term recovery and reconstruction needs of the most vulnerable. Shoulder to shoulder with the interfaith community in the affected areas, as well as federal emergency officials, CWS will be providing vital assistance as families and communities work to put their lives back together again. More information is available at the CWS Gulf Hurricanes Response page.

What’s the best way to help?

The best way to help people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is a cash donation.

How much of my congregation’s donation to CWS will go toward the Gulf Hurricanes response?

100% of your congregation’s contribution to CWS designated for Gulf Hurricanes will go to the relief and recovery effort underway, and that is also true of individual unsolicited designated contributions

Why are cash donations best?

  • Monetary contributions allow responding organizations to purchase exactly what hurricane survivors most urgently need--and help to cover the cost of logistics and/or transportation necessary to distribute the supplies.
  • Needs can change rapidly and purchases of goods locally helps the local economy and is easier to transport quickly to disaster-stricken areas.
  • Material donations--especially used clothing--tend to pile up and become a “second disaster.” Things like clothing, house wares and other donated items tend to get stockpiled and are eventually thrown out. There are also not enough personnel to process these donations.
  • Packing and sending donations without going through a response group can be a problem because such donations have no way of getting to people who need them the most.
  • While the need to want to volunteer is understandable, showing up to volunteer at hurricane-stricken places is also ill-advised, especially in the wake of the immediate disaster, when search-and-rescue efforts continue and the local capacity for housing, water, and food is already overtaxed.
  • Cash donations help sustain long-term recovery efforts, allowing CWS and other groups to respond to unmet months from now, after emergency relief groups have left the scene.

Church World Service is also encouraging congregations and groups to hold TOOLS & BLANKETS events, gathering funds to help CWS supply and replenish its stock of blankets, as well as provide other tools of hope during the recovery phase. To find out more, call your CWS regional office at 888-297-2767.

To find out more about TOOLS & BLANKETS and Hurricane relief please visit www.churchworldservice.org and click on CWS Hurricanes Response.

Participating in your local CROP WALK also helps! To find out more visit www.cropwalk.org or call your CWS/CROP regional office at 888-CWS-CROP. That’s 888-297-2767.

If your congregation or group wants to help in yet another way, you can make CWS “Gift of the Heart” Kits. School Kits are especially needed now and will be in the months ahead. Visit www.churchworldservice.org/kits for contents and shipping instructions. Or phone 888-297-2767.

I’d like to offer space in my home to house a family(ies) displaced by the storm. How can I do that?

Church World Service is not facilitating temporary housing. However, you can register online at www.shareyourhome.org or register with the National Emergency Resource Registry at www.swern.gov, 800-440-6728. Also, some denominations are facilitating temporary housing. You can check your denomination's website to see if they are. Again, Church World Service is not facilitating temporary housing.

I want to volunteer to take part in the relief and recovery effort.

The Red Cross in your community may be seeking volunteers. In addition, those interested in volunteering can register at several websites.

I’d like to make a gift by regular mail.

You can send a check directly to Church World Service, PO Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Please note on your check that the gift is for Gulf Hurricanes Response.

Can I make a gift via the Internet or by phone?

Yes. Go to https://secure.churchworldservice.org for a secure giving page where you can designate your gift to Gulf Hurricanes Response. Or call 800-297-1516, ext. 222.

Can I donate clothing or canned food?

In general, “cash not cans” is what’s most needed. (Please see above for why cash donations are best.) Clothing--you can have a yard sale and donate the cash. Or, give clothing locally to the Salvation Army or Goodwill or another similar group.

We’ve gathered various emergency supplies in our community. Where should we send/deliver them?

Such shipments are a logistical challenge. FEMA and NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) have staging sites/donations centers in the affected areas. Information should be available at www.fema.gov. You may be able to take your shipment there.

You can also register your available supplies at the National Emergency Resource Registry, 800-440-6728, online at www.swern.gov. Or register with TRAC, www.trac4la.com, 877-TRAC4LA. (TRAC is a long-time CWS partner in Terrebonne Parish/Houma, LA.)

We would like to donate a large quantity of a particular item or commodity that may be useful.

Please contact Cindy Watson at 800-297-1516 or .

You can also register your available supplies at the National Emergency Resource Registry, 800-440-6728, online at www.swern.gov.

www.fema.gov and www.redcross.org have links to assist survivors and those trying to find missing persons.

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