Small Steps, Big Impact7/31/2025
 Strategic landscape designs are not only good land stewardship, they serve the purpose of safeguarding structures, lives, and the land itself. What a gift to all is a healthy environment that nurtures and protects life big and small. These strategic landscape designs serve the purpose of protective barriers for flooding, erosion, fire, wind, and storms; they also aid with the environment’s resilience in post-disaster recovery. Ecological landscaping and maintenance fits into the mitigation phase of emergency management. Mitigation involves proactive sustained efforts made to lessen or altogether eliminate risk and long-term damage to persons and property. Preparing for disaster does not need to be complicated, or out of reach! Ecological landscaping is something that can be done in small steps and involves everybody in your community. These efforts are small but mighty ways to integrate disaster preparedness into your everyday life. For Further Reading: Hazard Mitigation Planning Successes: Stories from Around the Nation (FEMA) A Landscape Approach for Disaster Risk Reduction (CARE Nederlands and Wetlands International) Home Mitigation Planning Tools FOR NOW & FOR THE FUTURE Earlier this year, 29 people from University Christian Church in Hyattsville, Maryland, gathered to work on their landscaping. But this was no ordinary church property spring work day. University CC posted on social media about the day: “Participants learned about how to use rain gardens in their own yards, and the importance of stormwater maintenance and protecting native plants. We then put that learning to work on our church’s property, which now looks great!” The congregation came together to tend to their grounds in ways that foster good earth stewardship both now and for future generations. The project was possible because of partnerships with local organizations who helped the church learn more about ecological landscaping, providing guidance and offered financial support, and because of the support of Green Chalice. “We are grateful…for the grant money that has allowed us to do this work on our property. We are dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of our lot at the intersection, for the good of our community, for generations to come.” As church leaders shared with Week of Compassion, the landscaping project will help prevent water runoff and erosion, restore green space in the neighborhood, and provide shade cover to help bring relief during heat waves that are becoming more frequent in the area. We love hearing from you! Email us with your story (and photos!). LEARN & SERVE IN-PERSON VOLUNTEERING Just like little steps can have a big impact, a few individuals coming together can make a huge difference. Our partnerships help us connect our volunteers with volunteering opportunities that best suit their needs. A single person can volunteer, and in many locations, the ideal group size is 4-6! Groups of all sizes can make a big difference for disaster survivors! + + + + + VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING Crisis Cleanup is a remote call center that connects survivors to cleanup assistance after a major disaster. Virtual volunteers are always needed. It only takes 4 easy steps to get set up to take calls anytime. This is another small way to be prepared to help. + + + + + TRAINING Week of Compassion will be hosting a DISASTER SITE LEADER TRAINING this fall. This training is two-fold: ° Virtual training is scheduled for October 14-15 from 2-5pm ET. ° In-person training is tentatively scheduled for November 12-15. (Alternative options for in-person training available upon request). Disaster Site Leaders coordinate with local partners and volunteer groups at disaster recovery sites. Disaster Rebuild Leaders help guide teams in home repair, and Volunteer Experience Leaders provide hospitality and faithful conversations for volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a Disaster Site Leader and want to be notified of finalized details, please email us. + + + + + Week of Compassion partners with CHILDREN'S DISASTER SERVICES to provide respite childcare in disaster shelters and resource centers. Visit Week of Compassion's Trainings page for more information about participating in or hosting a training. To learn more about how this ministry is already showing up in times of need, check out this story. Comments are closed.
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Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development mission fund
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. |
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mailing address:
P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis IN 46206 |
building address:
1099 N. Meridian, Ste 700, Indianapolis IN 46204 |