Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response
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2 November 2007 |
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Resources and Information
on California Wildfires for Faith-Based and Community
Organizations
The Department of Homeland Security
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
(DHS/CFBCI) has compiled the following information
for faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs)
and others desiring to engage the ongoing response
and recovery efforts for the California wildfires.
In the early stages of the California wildfires,
FBCOs quickly responded to meet immediate needs of
those affected. FBCOs were essential in providing
shelter, clothing, food, and other support. Now that
the fires are increasingly contained, FBCOs are shifting
their focus to assist individuals and families recovering
from the devastating impact of the fires.
While not all-inclusive, the following snapshots
of current activities provide a striking window into
the breadth and depth of the work being carried out
by nonprofit organizations, private foundations,
individual and corporate donors, and other caring
groups and individuals. They offer strong examples
to follow, inspiration for ongoing service, and meaningful
opportunities for partnership.
Further Information for FBCOs
If your nonprofit organization desires more information
on how best to engage the California wildfire response
and recovery efforts, please contact the DHS Center
for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at infofbci@dhs.gov or 202-447-3342.
To Volunteer
If you would like to volunteer as an individual,
please see the Governor's California Volunteers website at www.californiavolunteers.org/disaster_prep.asp or visit www.HelpinDisaster.org.
To Donate
If you would like to donate to recovery efforts,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging those
who want to help people affected by the fires in
California to make cash donations to nonprofit organizations
that are active in disaster work. A list of national
organizations involved in disasters can be found
at http://www.nvoad.org and
at the Network for Good's web site at http://www.networkforgood.org.
Learn more at: Helping Victims of the California
Wildfires: Your Guide to Giving Wisely.
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Snapshots of Response
and Recovery: Community-Based and Faith-Based
Organizations
Catholic Charities is focusing on
the poorest of the poor, the elderly and those who
do not qualify for Federal Funds. They are
working on helping victims of the firestorm to transition
from shelters back to their homes or into more long-term
temporary housing. The two challenges they
are facing is not knowing the target closure dates
for county run shelters and not having access to
the DRC lists.
United Way branches in Southern
California are ensuring the strength of the 2-1-1
phone number for people who need help and are launching
the regional United Way Southern California Wildfires
Recovery Fund. United Way organizations are
also forming community partnerships for long term
recovery efforts. United Way is a member of
both the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN), formed
to coordinate relief efforts in the wake of natural
disasters, and the Major Relief Agency Consortium
(M-RAC) co-chaired by American Red Cross and UWA.
Within this network, the initial response to disasters
is led by the American Red Cross while United Way
takes the lead in long-term recovery. Red Cross
and United Way are joined by partners such as Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Salvation
Army, AIRS, FEMA and many others in this critical
work.
Those interested in volunteering can dial 2-1-1.
The California Southern Baptist Convention has
activated mobile kitchens. They estimated that
SBC volunteers are providing approximately 4,000
meals a day for evacuees. They are also providing
assistance to firefighters and rescue workers.
United Church of Christ officials
announced a campaign to raise $100,000 to assist
people affected by the fires with long-term recovery.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is
initiating an emergency grant to the California-Pacific
Annual Conference to support the initial efforts
in responding to the needs of those displaced by
the firestorm.
American Red Cross is
sending 2,000 shelter workers and volunteers into
the area to help with relief and recovery efforts.
In addition, hundreds of "spontaneous" volunteers
have arrived and being put to work. More than 75
mobile feeding vehicles have already been dispatched,
along with thousands of comfort kits, blankets, and
cots and more than 50,000 prepackaged meals.
Presbyterian Disaster Response (PDA) sent
a national response team to the Malibu area - where
the Malibu Presbyterian Church burned to the ground
- to provide spiritual and emotional support to the
Pacific Presbytery and church staff. PDA said
it was also making funds available to assist the
Malibu congregation to provide a humanitarian response
to the community.
United Jewish Federation (UJF) California
Wildfire Relief Fund has launched a national relief
fund to support the humanitarian needs of Jewish
and non-Jewish residents of the areas affected by
the fires. UJF offices across the United States continues
to collaborate with the California federations and
their constituent agencies such as Jewish Community
Relations Councils, Jewish Family Services, Jewish
Community Centers and the Southern California Board
of Rabbis to monitor the situation, determine new
and emerging needs and the appropriate response.
Humane Society of the United States has
deployed volunteers and assistance to Southern California
to help evacuees with pets and livestock, and to
help wildlife impacted by the fires.
Jewish
Community Disaster Fund has been established
by San Diego's Jewish community to provide assistance
to Jewish families and others in need that have been
affected by the fires as well as to rebuild communal
infrastructure if required. Funds will be held by
the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego in partnership
with the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
Relief will be provided through Jewish Family Service
of San Diego and other community organizations. No
overhead costs will be taken from the fund, and all
dollars raised will help those in need.
Save the Children, in a unique partnership
with the American Red Cross, equipped
many of California's wildfire evacuation shelters
with safe play areas that have allowed children to
play, participate in structured activities, and interact
with other children in a secure environment.
Islamic Relief, an international
aid organization with ongoing efforts in response
to other disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and
the tsunami, brought together volunteers to assemble
care packages for fire evacuees.
The National
Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is coordinating
with Southern California local churches to determine
needs and providing assistance to local churches
in need and those churches who are assisting others
in need.
Tzu Chi
Buddhist Compassion Relief set up an emergency
relief command center at Tzu Chi USA headquarters
in San Dimas, California, with service centers in
San Diego and South San Diego.
The California
Community Foundation (CCF) established the
Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund to receive
contributions from donors in support of intermediate
recovery needs with a particular focus on needy populations,
those lacking affordable housing and nonprofits serving
the affected areas. The Foundation will match
the first $250,000 in contributions received and
take no administrative fee from funds contributed. CCF
will establish partnerships with regional grant-makers
in the counties affected by the fires and, with their
assistance, seek out organizations and programs serving
the needs of fire victims. Grants made from the fund
will support not only the programs that address the
most pressing needs but also the organizations most
likely to succeed in their efforts. CCF will also
be referring our donors to the San Diego Foundation's
fire relief fund.
The Community Foundation
Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
This foundation will
be setting up a special fund for fire relief donations.
The San Diego Foundation
In preparation for
the immense recovery and rebuilding efforts the San
Diego community will face, The San Diego Foundation
opened the After-the-Fires Fund for fire relief donations.
As in the 2003 fire relief, this fund will support
first-response efforts, but the primary focus will
be ongoing recovery and rebuilding throughout the
San Diego region.
Biotechnology Funds
San Diego's local
biotechnology community has established two funds
at The San Diego Foundation. The first, the Fire
Relief Biotech Immediate Response Fund, was established
to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that
are providing immediate relief to residents affected
by the wild fires. The second, the Fire Relief Biotech
Recovery Fund, was established to provide grants
to nonprofit organizations that will work in the
weeks, months and years ahead to help with rebuilding
efforts. Grants from both funds will be made at the
recommendation of the San Diego Regional Disaster
Fund Board (SDRDFB), a community-based board composed
of volunteers from the region experienced at determining
the community's greatest needs during a disaster
and in designing and implementing strategies to get
the most in return with donated dollars.
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Snapshots of Response
and Recovery: Private Giving
STAPLES Center Foundation
- $50,000 donation to the American Red
Cross - Wildfire Relief Efforts. (This is a match
to The Eagles commitment announced at the Nokia Theater
on October 24, 2007)
Kings Care Foundation
- $25,000 donation to the Salvation Army
(Portion of Kings Care golf tournament proceeds)
- Drive to collect additional donations
at the following Los Angeles Kings games: Oct. 27, Oct.
31, Nov. 3, and Nov. 10. The November 10 game will include
a special tribute to firefighters. In addition to contributions
collected at the game, a portion of ticket proceeds that
night as well as silent auction proceeds will go toward
relief efforts.
Los Angeles Galaxy/The Home
Depot Center
- A charity soccer game between Los Angeles
Galaxy and Hollywood United F.C. is scheduled to take
place on November 4, 2007. Proceeds will benefit
American Red Cross - Wildfire Relief Efforts & the
Salvation Army. (Event to be underwritten by the Herbalife
Family Foundation.)
Hilton Hotels Corporation
- The world headquarters office of Hilton
Hotels Corporation has made a $15,000 contribution to
the American Red Cross - California Wildfires Fund. Additionally,
they held a team member fundraising drive through October
26, 2007, expecting to raise an additional $1,000.
The Los Angeles Times Family Fund and KTLA-5
Charities Fire Relief Campaign
- A joint effort by the McCormick Tribune
Foundation, The Times and KTLA, this fire relief fund
harnesses the reach of latimes.com to deliver public
service assistance and provide newspapers to evacuation
centers throughout the state.
- The McCormick Tribune Foundation will
donate an additional 50 cents for every dollar donated,
up to the first $500,000. In addition, the Foundation,
The Times, and KTLA will absorb all administrative costs,
allowing all donations and the matching funds to go directly
to agencies supporting disaster response and relief efforts
for those affected by Southern California's massive wildfires. For
more information log on to www.latimes.com/firerelief
or call (877) 713-0278.
- Latimes.com also offers both web and mobile-based
assistance to evacuees via the launch of a "people-finder":
www.firesearch.latimes.com. This service-minded site
helps evacuees in letting family and friends know where
they are and how they're doing, while conversely also
providing a place to search for those that may have been
evacuated.
Pacific Life Foundation
- The Foundation has given an emergency
grant of $500,000 to the American Red Cross Southern
California Wildfires Fund. The funds are being made available
immediately to assist the American Red Cross in their
efforts as they provide shelter, food, counseling, and
other assistance to those who have been affected by the
Southern California wildfires.
Sempra Energy
- The company has established a $5 million
relief fund in response to Southern California fires,
to aid its Southern California customers of San Diego
Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Southern California Gas
Co. (The Gas Company) and impacted local communities. More
than half of the $5 million fund will be devoted to helping
residential customers who have lost their homes to the
fire and assisting them with their energy needs as they
begin the process of planning and constructing their
new homes. The company will also partner with a
broad range of community organizations to funnel direct
aid to fire victims.
- Sempra Energy employees have donated supplies,
sleeping cots, blankets and meals at evacuation centers,
as well as staffed evacuee information booths.
Union Bank of California Foundation
- The Foundation has announced a $200,000
commitment for wildfire relief efforts. The funds will
be distributed to selected charitable organizations based
on the most critical needs for emergency shelter, food,
clothing and other services for disaster victims.
Additional gifts have been
reported via the East Bay Business Times:
- Bank of America pledged to contribute
$1 million to relief efforts, half of which will go directly
to the American Red Cross and the other half to local
nonprofits.
- Chevron committed a total of $500,000,
including a $400,000 contribution to the American Red
Cross Disaster Relief Fund and a $100,000 donation directed
to local charities. Chevron also offered immediate support
in the form of 20,000 bottles of water and 11,500 meals.
- Comerica pledged a total of $100,000.
The donation includes $50,000 from the Comerica Charitable
Foundation to the American Red Cross, and $50,000 from
Comerica Bank to local relief efforts.
- Safeway Inc. donated $750,000 to relief
efforts, including $500,000 to local emergency organizations
in areas hit hardest by the fires and 16 truckloads filled
with $250,000 worth of water, diapers, infant formula
and other supplies. In addition, Safeway volunteered
300 Vons and Pavilions stores throughout Southern California
to serve as collection points for individual customers
who want to make donations to fire relief efforts.
- Wells Fargo contributed a total of $500,000,
including $250,000 to local chapters of the American
Red Cross and another $250,000 to local relief agencies
throughout the affected area. Wells said it would also
work with customers affected by the fires through the
recovery process with payment options for affected customers
with an existing home mortgage; emergency unsecured loans
of up to $25,000 for qualified customers; assistance
on a case-by-case basis for Wells' credit card and ATM
customers; and assistance in the form of emergency credit
line increases and bridge and term loans for small business
customers.
*As noted above, this is not a comprehensive list of all volunteerism,
service and giving related to the California wildfires, but
represents only a portion of the vast generosity and service
of American individuals and organizations.
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If you would like to join the
distribution list for the Center for Faith-Based and
Community Initiatives at the Department of Homeland
Security, please email infocfbci@dhs.gov and
request to be added to the email list.
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