Disaster response bits and pieces.

• The 35th Annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction will be held at the Lebanon Valley Expo, 80 Rocherty Rd., Lebanon, Pa., on Sept. 23-24. It is a joint effort by the Church of the Brethren’s Southern Pennsylvania and Atlantic Northeast Districts to raise funds to respond to disasters both locally and overseas.
   
• Virlina District hold its 2011 Disaster Response Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Oct. 23 at Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren in Rocky Mount, Va. "From Sept. 2010-Aug. 2011, over 130 individuals have volunteered on disaster response work projects or child care services," the district newsletter said. The gathering begins at 5 p.m. with dinner, volunteer recognition, and a program given by Glenn Kinsel, a long time advocate of disaster response work. For a reservation call the District Resource Center at 540-362-1816 or 800-847-5462.
   
• A meeting of the World Council of Churches in Ethiopia is exposing the executive committee of the worldwide ecumenical organization to the famine in the Horn of Africa, according to a release. The WCC Executive Committee opened its bi-annual meetings Monday in Addis Ababa with welcomes from local church leaders and detailed presentations on the crisis. A particular concern was the famine in Somalia, which is impacting the entire region including Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Reports were brought by Robert Hedley of Bread for the World, Yilikal Shiferaw of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission, and executive committee member Agnes Abuom from Kenya. The crisis has been caused by a combination of ongoing conflicts, drought, poor access to food, poverty, and climate change. Shiferaw said some 4.5 million people require assistance with emergency food and non-food needs of approximately $400 million necessary just for July through December. Another $3.2 million is required to cover other needs such as health, sanitation, water, education, and agriculture, he said. Abuom reported, "This is the worst famine in 60 years according to the UN." 

Source: 9/14/2011 Newsline Special