It's Fire Season
“I just feel so grateful!”
California, USA
California’s governor has declared a statewide state of emergency due to the dangerous wildfires now ranging in that state. As the Wall Street Journal has reported, many people and small businesses have had their power cut as a precaution.
In light of this news, we wanted to update you on our friends in Northern California, who suffered greatly due to the 2018 fires.
It has been over a year since the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA. Life is nowhere close to being back to normal, but the people of God are responding to the ongoing need.
Haley Kingley has been gracious enough to share her personal story. Haley works for the Hope Center, one of the partnering organizations that distributed relief supplies last fall with funds from our ARDF donors.
“One thing I can tell you is that I lived in Paradise, and I lost my home last November. I worked here at The Hope Center before the fire. Churches and Christian organizations helped my family so much, especially in the beginning. Through the Hope Center, a network of churches, and individuals, I was, amongst many other families, gifted a small travel trailer. My family of 3 still lives there. It is a tough and long road, recovering from a disaster, but I just feel so grateful to have the support of everyone that has helped me along the way, and also to work where I do and be able to help other people from my community. Our community is still in crisis, but I have faith that it will be restored beyond what it ever was.”
The situation is now stable, but there is still a huge need. Many families are living back in Paradise, but in travel trailers. Many others are in temporary FEMA housing around the county or have moved in with family. Paradise is still without usable water and many are without the everyday things that they need.
The Paradise Hope Center center supplies water, food, and basic supplies to anyone that was affected by the fires. They freight water to the center and keep it stocked with food and items of use. Case managers are on hand to help facilitate special requests and emergency needs. Pastors are also on site that help with the emotional and spiritual needs in Paradise.
There is now a second center in Paradise, the Hope Center Volunteer Center, where volunteer groups that come to help rebuild and clean up Paradise are housed and cared for. Volunteers continue to come to clean properties of debris and burned trees. Rebuilding is the goal of many from the area and volunteers are playing a vital role in that.
If you would like to learn more about the needs and the volunteer opportunities in Paradise, contact us at admin@ardf.org and we will put you in touch with Haley and the Hope Center.
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