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Church World Service, Cedar Rapids churches focus on most vulnerable flood survivors

July 16, 2008

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--With federal figures showing more than 4,000 homes damaged by summer flooding in this city alone, churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith-based organizations in the Cedar Valley expect even greater numbers of people to have an especially hard time recovering.

To insure appropriate response to the most vulnerable among them, humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is bringing together members of the Cedar Rapids faith community and several social service agencies for long-term recovery training, on two different evenings: July 17 and July 24, 6 p.m. at Noelridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 7111 C Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids.

WHAT:

Long-term Recovery Workshops for Cedar Rapids

WHEN:

July 17 and July 24, 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Noelridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
7111 C Ave. NE
Cedar Rapids

Church World Service now is working with faith-based and secular organizations in Cedar Rapids and other Iowa communities to facilitate long-term recovery for those affected by flooding in the region who have few resources.

"In more than six decades of responding to disasters around the world, we've always found it’s those with the most limited means who have the hardest time recovering," CWS Associate Director for Domestic Emergency Response Bonnie Vollmering said. "The poorest, the most vulnerable will have incredible needs as Iowa struggles to recover in the long term."

"Our job is to help the community determine how it will recover, and that includes how to handle unmet needs," CWS Emergency Response Specialist Bryan Crousore said.

Most communities end up addressing the needs of vulnerable populations by forming long-term recovery committees. These groups bring together locals from the faith-based and secular worlds to help address cases of need. The locally based long-term recovery group oversees each case of need and is most effective at seeking help from, among other resources, national-level disaster assistance groups.

"It's important for the community to come together and figure out how cases of need will be addressed," Crousore said. "There are plenty of communities affected by this flood where needs will far outweigh what government assistance can fix."

There is no charge for the workshop but registrations are encouraged for planning purposes. Register by calling Noelridge Christian Church at 319-393-9532.

The Cedar Rapids Inter-religious Council, Churches United, Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Dubuque Rev. Msgr. Russell M. Bleich, and Noelridge Christian Church are inviting all clergy and lay leaders in the Cedar Valley to attend one of the two sessions.

Founded in 1946, Church World Service is a global humanitarian agency, supported by public donations, grants, and by 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the U.S. Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, nurtures ecumenical relationships, and offers opportunities for people to join its network of local and global caring through CROP Hunger Walks and other community programs.

Contributions to Church World Service supported floods recovery effort are welcome.

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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