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PSW District Fund Seeks Contributions to Deliver Aid to UUs and Communities Impacted by California Fires

Tim Tadder, AP

(Oct. 31, 12:15 PM EST) As cooler temperatures and a fine mist came to the California coast line, firefighters battling a series of devastating fires mustered hope that they might gain ground in fighting the horrific fires which have resulted in injury and the loss of lives as well as thousands of homes, livelihoods, and acres of woodland. A number of Unitarian Universalist congregations have been deeply affected by the fires, which represent the worst disaster ever to affect California. To meet the needs of the communities in which these Unitarian Universalist congregations are located, the Pacific Southwest District of the UUA has established a fire relief fund. The fund, according to District Executive Rev. Ken Brown, will provide much-needed aid “to affected congregations, their members, and communities.” Additional funds will be channeled through local aid agencies.

UU congregations in San Diego as well as Poway and La Mesa – suburbs of San Diego -- have been most affected by the fires, and the ten wild fires blazing across southern California have impacted at least a dozen UU congregations. In addition the UU Camp, deBenneville Pines , has been evacuated as a precautionary step.

California map Throughout California, congregations are trying to lend support and provide aid to members of their communities. Members of the First UU Church of San Diego found a family who had lost their home and who arrived at the UCSD Hospital (across the street from the church) to visit their critically burned daughter. The family was staying in a motor home provided by their own Presbyterian congregation. First Church’s Administrator arranged for them to park their motor home on the First Church property as they remain with their daughter in the hospital. As schools in the area closed for safety reasons, First Church opened their classrooms and offered space to the hospital staff to provide child care for the children of the hospital staff. This service meant that children of the hospital staff could remain in a safe environment, close to their parents who are providing essential aid to burn victims at the hospital.

Although winds have shifted in the last day, providing some relief, helicopters have been continually
dropping water on "hot spots" in the Miramar area (close to the Chalice UU Congregation). The Cedar blaze is the one which has threatened the San Diego-area UU congregations; officials fear that this blaze may not be contained for another two weeks or more .

Within the three San Diego-area congregations, members continue to stay in close touch with the ministerial and lay leadership. The Summit UU congregation reports that a family who had been evacuated returned to their home on Monday night to find that theirs was the only one home on the block not destroyed. Another family, out of touch since last week, was located and all are safe. However, two families from First UU Church lost their homes in the blaze. Meanwhile the Chalice congregation, in Poway, reports that they still have three families evacuated and waiting to find out if their homes remain standing.

The Rev. Ned Wight, minister of the Summit UU Congregation in eastern San Diego and UUA Trustee from the Pacific Southwest District wrote in his newsletter column earlier this week, “I’ve spent most of today on the phone with parishioners who are in various states of dislocation -- recently evacuated; evacuated and returned home; knowing their home is standing while all the others on the block have burned down; not sure what's happened to their homes. The daytime sky is still an eerie shade of yellowish brown; the sun is a disk of luminous orange. The air smells like campfire smoke. Grey ash has settled on everything. Traffic is generally light. Birds outside are confused. House pets inside are alarmed. Blessedly, members of our congregation seem to be OK; I've not yet learned of any catastrophic losses. This is not the case for members of other UU congregations--or other neighbors and friends.

"It's a grim, anxious time -- when people are also showing their most generous, helpful spirits. It's surreal here just now. A pastor spends hours on the phone, trying to keep track of his imperilled flock, even as they lovingly keep track of one another."

If you wish to contribute to the Pacific Southwest District Fire Relief Fund, please make checks out to:
PSWD Fire Relief Fund

Mail your checks to:
     PSWD Office
     12355 Moorpark St.
     Studio City, CA 91604

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