The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has created a Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund to provide grants for food, clothing, and other needs. If you would like to donate to this fund to help victims and displaced families across the archdiocese, use the button below. If you or victims you know, need financial assistance due to the wildfires, click the button below to reach out to Fintan Hiney (fhiney@sp-apostle.org) to register for a grant.
Our PWC has also established a Wildfire Victim Relief Fund for those who would prefer to make monetary donations that will go directly to affected members of our St. Paul's community. Click on the button below to donate to this fund.
Based on the survey results and what people need, we are organizing a drive where people can drop off donations to help affected families in our community. This is likely the first of a few smaller donation drives related to the wildfires in the coming months. A Sign-up Genius has been created to register for donation items, which will help keep us organized. Please do not just show up with donations. Any clothing, bedding, or towels must be NEW. After collecting, sorting, and distributing to families in need, any leftover items will be given to organizations still accepting donations.
Donations may be dropped of next Thursday morning on January 23rd. School parents may use the carpool drop-off line from 7:20am - 8:05am to deliver their donations. There will be volunteers available to collect items as you pull up to drop off your student(s). There is no need for the driver to exit the vehicle. Remember, we need to keep our school drop-off lines safe and efficient.
Parishioners and school parents may drop-off items at the Annex between 8:30am - 10am. Please go into the driveway off Selby Ave. and proceed through until you see a red door on your left and the church on your right (near where the security guard sits). There will be volunteers available to help collect items from your car.
Click the button below and use the Sign-Up Genius to select items you would like to donate.
One of our greatest and most valuable resources at St. Paul's is our plentiful facilities. We have heard from displaced communities who are victims of the wildfires that gathering places are a type of support that they need as theirs have been damaged or destroyed. As most of you know, our calendar is typically fairly full; however, we have opened our doors for groups that need it. We have a variety of spaces of different sizes available. If you know of any groups looking for gathering places due to displacement, click the button below to email Fintan Hiney to connect them.
Next Sunday, January 26th marks the start of Catholic Schools Week. Sunday Family Mass at 9:30am will be led by our 2nd graders and our Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the SPA Father's Club, will follow. We are inviting all our school parents, parishioners, members of our local surrounding community, and anyone who has been displaced by the fires or needs a gathering place to join us! Please spread the word, and let's come together as a unified community supporting one another. Make sure you or any invitees sign up using the button below, so we can make sure to have enough food.
We are also looking into the idea of having multiple additional pancake breakfasts or other community building events, giving our parish and any who might need it a place to gather.
A couple of our parishioners who are connected to the Real Estate sector have contacted us to offer their assistance with helping victims find houses or apartments (both for lease and for sale). If you or victims you know, need this support, please click the button below to reach out to Fintan Hiney.
If you are interested in purchasing a meal from John O'Groats (a parishioner owned restaurant) that will be donated to firefighters and people who have been evacuated or lost their homes, please click the button below to contact Fintan Hiney (fhiney@sp-apostle.org).
Donation opportunity to support an SPA school family who lost their home. Click the button below to access the Go Fund Me.
List of suggested actions for people who suffered a loss during the fires. Click on the button below to find out more.
Rent relief for fire victims. Click the button below to find out more.
For impacted community members throughout LA, the Y is providing no-cost services and support in the following ways:
Free Childcare
Immediate Support and Resource Hubs
Community Services
Together, we can help our fellow Angelenos through these trying times and rebuild our communities. There a several ways to support the efforts to restore and rebuild.
Donation opportunity to support Palisades families, organized by an SPA family. Click the button below to find out more.
List specific items you can donate and get matched with families who need those items, shared by an SPA family. Click the button below to see more.
Continuously updated list of resource needs and opportunities for all fires in the LA area. Click the button below to see more.
List of brands providing products to families affected by the fires, shared by an SPA family. Click the button below to find out more.
Air BnB is providing free, emergency housing for people who have been displaced by the wildfires. Click the button for instructions on how to use this service.
Parent zoom on how to talk to kids about the fires. Click on the button below to watch the zoom.
List of organizations assisting with fire relief for you to consider donating to. Click on the button below to view the article.
Today, as several wildfires burn across California, engulfing Los Angeles County, Save the Children is working to meet the most urgent needs of kids and families living in some of the areas hardest hit by the devastating wildfires.
Your donation to the Children's Emergency Fund helps families in the United States prepare for and recover from disasters. Click the button below to find out more.