Our History

Incorporated in 1985, Christian Relief Services was founded on the belief that community partnerships are the best way to solve problems related to poverty, both here in the United States and around the world.

The Mission of Christian Relief Services is to work through partnerships and in collaboration with grassroots charitable groups, churches, and human service agencies to connect the vast resources of America to help those in need in their local communities and enable people to help themselves.

Because we believe that the global community is our community, we try to help as many people as possible, regardless of location. We work locally, domestically, and internationally, primarily in Africa.

In Virginia, we have recently introduced our Veterans Supportive Housing program, an innovative and person-centered program dedicated to empowering veterans experiencing homelessness.   Elsewhere around the country, we operate multifamily properties through CRSC Residential and its affiliates. All apartments are priced less than the HUD Fair Market Rents in their respective markets and allow families a place to live that is within their means as well as within commute distance from their workplace. 

In Appalachia, we provide holiday meals, winter clothes, after-school and summer educational programs, medical and dental support, new shoes, and other necessary items to poverty-stricken families.

On American Indian reservations, we work to help provide basic necessities on various reservations in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and North Dakota, and more by contributing food, new clothing, school supplies, and even connections to running water.

Through partnerships with local, non-governmental organizations and our affiliates, we donate medicine, medical supplies, hygiene items, school supplies, and building materials to hospitals, clinics, schools, orphanages, and communities in several African countries. We have programs in Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Cameroon, the Republic of Chad, Tanzania, and Malawi.