History: Sierra Leone Relief (SLR) began at St. Paul Church in Nassau Bay, Texas as a 2001 Lenten Project. The Lenten Project was a success in assisting over 1,200 child refugees at St. Peter the Rock Catholic Church and School at Calaba Town, Sierra Leone. Beneficiaries were survivors of an extended terrorist invasion, known as the Diamond War, a war over conflict diamonds.

After Lent the church had no plans to raise funds to continue assistance for the still homeless children and families camped in the region. Therefore, SLR evolved into into an independent NPO founded in December 2001. Original volunteers established a board of directors and continued organized relief missions to four destroyed Sierra Leonean communities.

The USA had withdrawn all Peace Corps workers during the years of turbulence; and, SLR missionaries were first to arrive (with 20' and 40' steel containers of food, safe drinking water, clothing, bedding and medical supplies) and distribute aid in devastated communities, rescuing an estimated 1,800 orphans and displaced children, and over 3,000 repatriated refugees and marginalized adults.