STORIES
Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
In the days following the tragic warehouse explosion in Beirut, local bakeries were baking and sharing free bread by the truckload. Even before the blast, life was difficult in Lebanon. Political unrest, an ongoing financial crisis, and the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic all contributed to a seemingly impossible situation. As wildfires continue to spread across much of the west, Week of Compassion is learning more about the widespread impacts and needs. In Oregon, an historic number of fires have burned more than 1 million acres of land, and parts of the state currently have the worst air quality in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people are under evacuation orders-- including more than 100 Disciples households. In the midst of this ongoing emergency, churches are working to serve their neighbors. Local partnerships are critical, and existing ministries provide opportunities for response in a crisis situation. Congregations in Oregon are working with other leaders and relief organizations to identify specific needs in their area. In partnership with the Region, Week of Compassion is supporting congregations as they serve their wider communities. This response through local churches allows our impact to reach even farther, as Disciples work to meet the critical needs of their neighbors. Beltsville is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and many in the community work in service industry jobs in the city. Many were unable to work during the early days of the pandemic when businesses shut down. Whosoever Will Christian Church, an African-American Disciples congregation situated in Beltsville, was operating a small-scale food pantry to distribute food in the community prior to the pandemic. For the most part, the needs of the church’s neighbors were met through member contributions and occasional outside donors, and hours were determined by the availability of volunteers. Following Hurricane Laura, more than 70,000 people remain without power; several areas are under curfew because of debris, downed power lines, and lack of water and sewer. Now, there is a heat advisory for much of the affected area-- even as people begin working on clean-up with no electricity and limited access to water. The state of Louisiana has received a federal disaster declaration for public assistance, and six parishes (Louisiana counties) qualify for individual household assistance. Damage assessments are still in the early stages. En nuestras actualizaciones semanales, compartimos historias de nuestra presencia e impacto en todo el mundo: desde la respuesta a desastres hasta el ministerio de refugiados e inmigración y proyectos de desarrollo sostenible en curso en áreas empobrecidas. ¡Ponte al día con las actualizaciones que se perdió o encuentre testimonios que quiera leer y compartir de nuevo! O suscríbase para mantenerse al día por correo electrónico. Después del huracán Laura, más de 70,000 personas permanecen sin electricidad; varias áreas están bajo toque de queda debido a los escombros, cables eléctricos caídos y falta de agua y alcantarillado. |
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