Throughout this year’s Annual Gathering, participants assembled over 300 Church World Service (CWS) disaster kits. These specialized kits for fire preparedness and evacuation included items such as a fire-proof and water-proof documents bag, a crank-operated transistor radio, a flash drive, and more. 

CWS, a longtime partner of the national and the Global Ministries settings of the United Church of Christ, is well known for their “Response Kits,” providing churches with hands-on ways to respond in times of crises while building grassroots networks in impacted communities. After these kits were blessed in our closing worship, two vehicles were packed to the brim and then delivered to CWS partner, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), who will distribute them to the clients they serve, in the wake of the Eaton fires.

For over 25 years, CHIRLA has been one of the leading immigrant rights organizations in Los Angeles. Tirelessly advocating, organizing, educating and defending immigrants and refugees in the streets, in the courts, and in the halls of power.  In the midst of the current ICE raids, the abduction and disappearance of people, and the terrorizing of hundreds of families, CHIRLA has been a leading force of resistance, in part by organizing communities on the ground. They have hosted “know your rights” trainings, supported family members whose loved ones have been brutally taken, provided legal support for countless families, and have continued to run the rapid response network.

On Monday, when dozens of heavily armed immigration agents on horses and in armored vehicles, carrying rifles and tactical gear, descended on MacArthur Park, an immigrant neighborhood downtown Los Angeles, CHIRLA responded and organized, calling upon faith partner CLUE and others.

Last week, CHILRA was a part of a joint filing with Southern California residents, workers, and advocacy groups, suing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in federal court for abducting and disappearing community members using unlawful stop and arrest practices and confining individuals at a federal building in illegal conditions while denying them access to attorneys.

We are especially grateful in this moment to support CHIRLA and the many ways they take care of our community.