Disaster Response Ministries(DOC/UCC)

One can’t help but see the current “climate” of disasters and wonder what the Christian Church in Ohio is doing?  Thus, we wanted to share several things related to this.  All of our Disaster Response Team efforts are done in tandem with the Heartland Conference (United Church of Christ).

Our Ongoing Effort to Assemble Buckets and Kits Through Our Partnership with Church World Service (CWS)

First, on Sept. 25, 2025, the CWS semi stopped at Camp Christian to load our buckets & kits. For our part, our 2025 goal was 2,500 buckets & kits. As that semi rolled out of the parking lot of Camp Christian, it left with 2,811 buckets and kits that came from our Depot, our churches, and our partners! This year’s goal is now 3,000!

Secondly, CWS continues to respond to the call for assistance, sending buckets, kits, and blankets to areas affected by disasters. If your church feels God’s nudge to continue to assist with buckets and kits, please do so…and then let our Disaster Response Team know!  If you haven’t had the chance to assist with the creation of buckets and kits, now is a perfect time to respond.

So…”how can I help?”

Prayer.  Monetary Donations (sent through the Church World Service website, or sent directly to the Christian Church in Ohio or the Heartland Conference), and continued creation of CWS cleanup buckets & personal hygiene kits, period packs, and Kids Kits. (cwskits.org) Additionally, should you desire one of our Disaster Response Team members to come and speak to your church, and/or Mission Team, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Our Role in Long Term Recovery

When a disaster strikes, the initial phase of Search & Rescue takes place, then the transition to the Immediate Needs phase begins, with organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritans Purse, Team Rubicon, etc. providing basic needs. Eventually, it transitions into the Recovery Phase, which is where faith-based organizations typically plug themselves in. When disaster strike, stay tuned for more information to come, as our DRT will share that info with both the Conference media sites, and the Associations as well.

Thank you.

Disaster Response Team of the Christian Church in Ohio and the Heartland Conference

Kevin Gehres, Disaster Response Coordinator

Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Hygiene Kits, Period Packs, Kids Kits… and we need your help!

Inspire your Congregation with the Bucket/Kit Challenge with this Mission Moment video! To learn more about the challenge, click below to see the full packing list and instructions:

• Disaster Relief Buckets
• Hygiene Kits
• Period Packs
• Kids Kits
• Party Packs
• No time to make a kit? No problem, you can contribute directly to CWS by clicking here.

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?  We can make the road to health, recovery, and access to education easier with CWS (Church World Service) cleanup buckets, hygiene kits, period packs, and Kids Kits!  By filling these buckets full of essential home recovery supplies and/or daily hygiene supply needs (using the shopping lists at the links above), we can help our neighbors’ dignity and recovery.

HOW CAN WE PARTICIPATE?  Anyone is welcome to participate by gathering the items to create cleanup buckets, hygiene kits, period packs, Kids Kits from the links listed here.  Whether you’re an individual or a team, we want to celebrate you as you collect and drop off your buckets and kits!  Send us photos for our social media at ccio@ccinoh.org 

MORE INFORMATION:

• For CWS contents, visit the CWS website by clicking here. There you’ll learn how to assemble the kits and buckets.
• Grants are available to offset your costs here.
• To learn more about the challenge, watch our video here and/or share it in your church!
• Drop off your buckets and kits throughout the year at Our New Depot Location! Camp Christian: 10299 Maple Dell Rd. Marysville, OH 43040
• Don’t forget to send us your photos at  ccio@ccinoh.org 
• If your church chooses to pay the fee to help offset the cost of CWS’s shipping and processing cost ($2/hygiene kit $2/period pack, $2/Kids Kits, $3/bucket) please mail the checks to CWS *with memo “Christian Church in OHio” at: CWS, PO Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 or pay shipping online at cwskits.org/shipping.
• For more information/questions, please reach out to: Kevin Gehres,                                                     Disaster Response Coordinator gehreskb@gmail.com        

There are $250 matching grants available to both Christian Church in Ohio congregations and Heartland Conference congregations from the UCC’s Disaster Ministries to offset costs. Apply here.

For years, both the Chrsitian Church in Ohio and the Heartland Conference has provided a remarkable presence of leadership as disasters of various kinds have affected folks in our conference geography and beyond.  We are currently in a season of re-forming this network in this ecumencial partnership for long term recovery work.  Here are just some of the areas we are addressing:

• Emotional and Spiritual Care – Chaplains/Pastors
• Congregational Disaster Preparedness
• Construction – Repair and Rebuild
• Meal Preparation
• Pet Sheltering
• Childcare

If you have a passion for partnering with others to help us in our readiness to respond, we’d love to hear from you! To find out more, contact our Disaster Response Coordinator, Kevin Gehres at gehreskb@gmail.com