Standing with St Louis and Kentucky5/17/2025 a message from Week of Compassion Late Thursday evening into early Friday (May 15-16), a powerful and fast-moving storm system swept through the Midwest and Ohio Valley, leaving devastation across several communities. In Missouri, particularly the St. Louis metro area, winds reaching up to 120 mph toppled trees, downed power lines, and damaged homes, businesses, and places of worship. In Kentucky, towns like Somerset and London experienced significant destruction due to tornadoes. Across both states, at least 21 people had died as of Saturday morning – a number expected to rise in the coming days. Dozens more were injured, and many families have been displaced.
Among those most directly affected were two Disciples congregations in St Louis: serving our neighbors in times of disaster Dear Disciples, In its first days in office, the administration issued Executive Order 14180 calling for an examination of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The executive order also calls for the formation of a FEMA Review Council that has recently issued a Request for Information from the public to gain a better understanding of their experiences with FEMA during disasters. These comments will help ensure that the FEMA Review Council’s findings and recommendations for potential reforms are informed by a wide range of perspectives and experiences across multiple disasters. Week of Compassion encourages all Disciples who have directly engaged with FEMA, have been involved in disaster response and recovery, or simply have concerns about the future of FEMA operations and programs, to share feedback. Public comment is due by May 15. Long-Term Recovery on the Eastern Shore3/11/2025 staff and volunteers get affordable housing off the ground (literally!) photo: Week of Compassion On October 29, 2021, Somerset and Dorchester counties experienced Maryland’s worst tidal flooding in 50 years — in many places, water levels were at or higher than Hurricane Sandy (2012). This kind of massive flooding creates immediate and long-term health threats to flood survivors and to their homes. The influx of bay water carried contaminants and wreaked havoc on plumbing and electrical systems, and left homes susceptible to the growth of mold and mildew.
The 2021 storm was unnamed and undeclared by federal agencies, and received minimal media coverage. Few people knew the storm even happened, let alone the resources and networks needed to help survivors move toward recovery. strengthened work with partner, increased global sustainable development support The Week of Compassion Board of Stewards held its annual Fall meeting in New Orleans, LA November 14-16. The Board received the Executive Director’s report and overview of the strategic direction of the ministry in light of current global challenges. In addition, the Board passed the 2025 Budget and approved over $600,000 in sustainable development grants to global partners and multiple projects worldwide. The projects range from girls’ education to food security and disaster risk reduction, serving with partners in Vietnam, Japan, Honduras, Pakistan, and more.
While the agenda included important business sessions, the primary focus was a visit with the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, an indigenous community in the Terrebonne Basin deeply impacted by Hurricane Ida (2021) and receiving program and long-term recovery support from Week of Compassion. anticipating Hurricane Milton10/9/2024  Hurricane Milton is moving through the Gulf of Mexico, expected to make landfall along the Florida coast late tonight (Wednesday, Oct 9), bringing wind, flooding rain, and storm surge on the heels of Helene’s impact, moving across Florida to the Atlantic. Week of Compassion is watching the storm closely and is already in contact with Regions and partners in the predicted path, ready to respond to impact and needs. The best way to help right now is to PRAY * GIVE * STAY
Gifts to WeekOfCompassion.org/GIVE, marked ‘Hurricane 2024’, go 100% to hurricane r esponse, and to the long-term recovery ahead. We are praying with you and for you, Disciples. Disciples Respond to Hurricane Helene10/2/2024 EMERGENCY APPEALan update from across the southeast On Thursday September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend of the Florida Gulf Coast, landing as a category 4 storm with wind impacts of 140mph, bringing a 20-foot storm surge, incredible rainfall and flooding, and sparking tornadoes. The storm tracked across six states, and remnant rainfall reached into several more. Destruction is estimated at $160 billion, one of the costliest storms in US history.
early update - Hurricane Helene9/30/2024  As we follow the 600 mile path of Hurricane Helene and the massive devastation across six states, Week of Compassion is in contract with Regional staff, congregational leaders and ecumenical partners to respond now and over the long-term. Here are THE BEST WAYS to be of true help right now: PRAY : For more than 100 lives lost. For unimaginable impact. For emergency response teams. For compassion, mercy, hope.
GIVE : Gifts marked Hurricane 2024 will be directed to emergent and long-term response. STAY : The first days of a response are for highly skilled and professionally trained responders. There will be many ways to help later, and we are grateful for all who will serve together. * There is an urgent need right now for virtual volunteers to staff help lines. Simple training provided, phone & computer with internet required. Email [email protected] Praying with you and for you, Disciples. |
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