Funds give $95,000 in grants to relief work.

Two Church of the Brethren funds have given a total of $95,000 in recent grants supporting the work of Brethren Disaster Response in the Gulf Coast, as well as aid to Vietnam, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and Vietnam. The Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) and the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) are ministries of the Church of the Brethren General Board.

Two EDF grants of $25,000 each support continuing work by Brethren Disaster Response at Hurricane Katrina rebuilding projects "Site 1" in Lucedale, Miss., and "Site 2" in Pearl River, La. The grants will pay for food, housing, and transportation for Brethren volunteers, as well as tools and materials. Two previous allocations to the Lucedale project total $55,000.

Another EDF grant of $5,000 to the Emergency Response program of the church will underwrite expenses incurred by volunteers and staff for early assessments of possible disaster projects.

An allocation from the EDF of $25,000 responds to a Church World Service (CWS) appeal in the wake of flooding in central and southern Somalia and northern Kenya. The money will help nearly 40,000 people with food assistance, school supplies, seeds and/or blankets, as well as agricultural and irrigation projects.

A grant of $9,000 from the EDF responds to a CWS appeal to provide critical aid to nearly 48,000 persons in Uganda. The need arises after years of conflict in the country, where the situation has been worsened by recent floods and drought. The grant will help supply food, farming equipment, seeds, and health care, as well as education and water sanitation.

A grant of $6,000 from the GFCF will help provide clean water and sanitation for Quan Chu Commune Junior Secondary School in Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam. The school, which enrolls 558 students in grades 6 to 9, has no water supply or sanitary toilets. The project is in partnership with CWS, monies to help cover this grant are expected to be raised.

Source: 3/16/2007 Newsline