If you feel called to help others, especially children, the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren invites you to participate in a unique volunteer training event.

The church, located at 777 S. Mount Joy St., Elizabethtown, will host a Children's Disaster Services (CDS) Volunteer Training from 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, through 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.

"The CDS training program is a 25-hour overnight training that equips volunteers with the skills needed to understand and respond to children who have encountered both human-caused and natural disasters," explained Sandra Brubaker, witness commission and local coordinator of the training. "Training includes setup and operation, safety procedures, self-care on-site and after returning home and a shelter simulation. The training will also include types of disasters, children and their needs after a disaster, how to respond in a healing manner and using play to begin emotional recovery."

Participants will sleep on cots loaned to the church through the local chapter of the American Red Cross, simulating the environment disaster relief volunteers would encounter in real life.

"The trainees will be taught how to set up the cots that will be in the fellowship hall for the overnight stay," Brubaker said.

Children's Disaster Services is a program administered by Brethren Disaster Ministries, she shared, noting that it provides a safe environment and comforting presence for children impacted by traumatic events.

"Since 1980, there have been 339 disasters where 3,935 volunteers worked with 120,881 children," she said. "Children's Disaster Services, so far in 2025, has served in four states in 11 locations caring for 736 children. Examples of places that have been served are: Los Angeles wildfires, Missouri tornadoes, Texas floods and the terrorist attack in New Orleans."

CDS has a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Red Cross to serve in shelters or assistance centers, and at times, volunteers are also called to serve with FEMA or local/state emergency management agencies.

As Brubaker explained, Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren was asked to host this training weekend by CDS. She noted that there has not been a training weekend on the East Coast in several years, and that this is the first time the Elizabethtown church will host this event.

"This is an excellent way to serve the church by helping people and especially children during very difficult circumstances," she shared, adding that serving provides a close-up view of disaster and the reality that impacts the victims of the disaster. "(It's about) giving of one's self by following the Scripture of loving your neighbor whether they are near or far."

The training is open to people age 18 and older.

"This event can bring many people together from our local community and people from other states that wish to train for this meaningful service," Brubaker remarked. "This is also an opportunity to share our own congregation with others, introducing them to what our denomination and congregation seek: to live the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, peacefully, simply and together."

A registration fee for the training will cover materials and trainer costs. Meals and overnight accommodations will be provided by the church. There is a discount for registering for the training before Friday, Sept. 26. There is also a reduced fee for students age 18 and older.

A list of articles participants need to bring with them to the training will be provided on the registration form. Transportation may also be arranged to the church from the Harrisburg International Airport, if needed.

For more information or to register for the training, visit http://www.brethren.org/cds.