Global HOPE
June 26, 2026 | Venezuela Earthquakes
On June 24, 2026, two 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck northern Venezuela. Significant damage has been reported across northern Venezuela, including the capital city Caracas and the government of Venezuela has declared a state of emergency. Immediate impacts include loss of shelter, infrastructure, disruption of basic services, and psychosocial distress. Long-term impacts are expected to include prolonged displacement and loss of livelihoods.
On 26 Jun 2026, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, reported that at least 589 people are dead, and 2,980 injured. Thousands of people remain missing, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescue crews continue search and rescue efforts.
The Global HOPE team is in working with its partners through ACT Alliance and Global Ministries to accompany those most deeply impacted by this tragedy. Members of ACT Alliance are working to provide shelter, mental health and psychosocial support services, food security and nutrition support, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support in the immediate future and plans are being developed for long-term accompaniment and recovery support.
While communication remains slow due to collapsed infrastructure, we will continue to provide updates as we receive them. We invite you to please continue to keep all those impacted in your prayers.
God of the broken and the buried,
Hear us as we pray in sorrow and hope.
We hold before you those whose lives have been shaken,
Let your peace, comfort and love be known to
Those who search, those who wait, and those who grieve.
Let your love be a source of light amidst the chaos of uncertainty.
In your name we pray,
Amen
March 2026 | Hawaiian Islands Flooding
In late-March 2026, Hawaii experienced back-to-back storms known as Kona Lows that led to severe flooding across the Hawaiian Islands. This flooding represents the worst flooding that Hawaii has seen in more than 20 years. The Governor of Hawaii estimates the damages from these storms at over $1 billion including damage to airports, schools, roads, homes, and a Maui hospital in Kula. While the immediate threat of further flooding has passed, the long road to recovery is just beginning.
The Global HOPE team is in regular communication with the Hawaii Conference staff, ecumenical partners in disaster recovery, and response coordination calls with the national network of voluntary organizations active in disasters (VOAD). At this time, we are working to connect response resources with communities in need – this includes coordination with Church World Service and the potential deployment of clean up kits.
We know that at least three local UCC churches in Hawaii are in communities directly affected by the flooding. We are also aware of several other UCC churches who have made their spaces available as shelters.
As we continue to pray for and support those who experienced unimaginable loss, we invite you to support the UCC’s recovery efforts in the following ways:
Pray for those that have been impacted.
Act by assembling Hygiene Kits and Cleanup Buckets: After a disaster one of the biggest requests is the need for cleanup buckets and hygiene kits. UCC congregations interested in assembling hygiene kits and cleanup buckets are eligible for a matching grant through the Global HOPE office.
Donate to the UCC’s Hawaii Flooding 2026 Appeal. Your gifts will support the long-term recovery efforts of the community, as we work to ensure an equitable approach to long-term recovery in these communities.
California Wildfires 2025 Special Appeal Updates HERE
Hurricane 2024 Special Appeal Updates HERE
The Global HOPE team in United Church of Christ Love of Neighbor unit brings together the UCC’s refugee and migration ministries, volunteer engagement, disaster response and recovery, and sustainable development support. The acronym HOPE makes clear the team’s vision: Humanitarian: Opportunities, Partnerships, Empowerment.
Global HOPE also distributes One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offerings and gifts to special appeals. Your support for OGHS and special appeals makes a tremendous impact close to home and all over the world. Gifts for supporting refugees can be made to the Refugee Emergency Fund. To support response work more broadly, gifts can be designated to “Emergency USA” or “International Emergency” online or by mail. In addition, the following special appeals are open for designated gifts:
Active Appeals
| 2025 California Wildfires | 2024 Hurricane Relief | Hawaii Wildfires Appeal | Ukraine Appeal | Middle East Appeal |
Subscribe to Global HOPE Updates
Never miss an opportunity to be part of building a better world…the new Global HOPE newsletter is here! Meet the team and sign up for future quarterly newsletters featuring all the latest disaster resources, grant applications and volunteer opportunities for your congregation. Select all categories to receive all of our communications, or just the areas that apply to you.
Global HOPE Ministries
Refugee & Migration Ministries creates robust structures of welcome for the resettlement of refugees and the protection of asylum seekers within the United States while advocating for and responding to the needs of the displaced globally.
Volunteer Ministries offers a variety of service opportunities for groups and individuals across the U.S.A. Our historic programs connect individuals with vibrant opportunities to learn, serve, and grow in faith.
- Mission Trip Opportunities – currently limited
- Partners in Service Opportunities – placements available now
- Young Adult Service Leadership Program
- Other UCC Ministry Opportunities
- Spring Break Immersion Collaboration with Back Bay Mission
Responding to the call of our Christ-centered faith, UCC Disaster Ministries support holistic community recovery worldwide, by engaging supporters, volunteers and partners to focus on preparedness, emergency relief and long-term recovery.
Recovering Hope is a ministry of disaster to address emotional and spiritual care in times of disaster.
Global HOPE News Feed
North Carolina disaster recovery site celebrates its first volunteers, invites more to come
A volunteer group from the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ traveled to the…
Read More
Faithful Response Immigration gathering invited folks into relationship, action with speaker Ayman Soliman
The Rev. Irvin Heishman was just returning from a trip to Honduras where he was visiting two…
Read More
UCC at Common Ground on the Border
From Thursday, January 15th to Saturday, January 17th, UCC advocates gathered in Sahuarita,…
Read More