Receiving a call in the middle of the night to evacuate your home is terrifying. Rushing out with no shoes and only the clothes on your back does not even phase you until you get to a safe destination and realize you have nothing. The fear and worry for your family’s safety is crippling. Losing your belongings and the place you call your home is devastating.

I know this all too well. The 2107 winter storms flooded my home. My children and I escaped the rising waters with no shoes and only the clothes on our backs. We lost most of our belongings and our home was destroyed.

Read more about the flood HERE

The support we received from our family, friends, strangers, and community was amazing. It was the support which helped us get through the awful days, weeks, and months that followed. The support helped us rebuild our lives again. Read more about these angels on earth HERE

Many of us have the desire to want to help with the current devastating California fires happening now, yet we are not sure how.

I would like to share some of the ways I was blessed by others when a natural disaster destroyed my home.

First, these are tangible ways to help when you personally know or have a connection to a family affected.

  • Clothes– Find out exact needs. These families may not have the space for bags of hand me down clothes now, in time they will. For immediate help especially for children, ask specific sizes and favorite items lost. For example, my son had a favorite pair of black Nike shoes he wore daily, preferred basketball shorts and hooded sweatshirts. When a friend brought him these specific items in his size it brought comfort and familiarity.
  • Hygiene items– Ask specifically what items the family uses. I remember a friend calling me asking which brand of toothpaste I preferred, deodorant, shampoo, mascara, etc. Seemed silly to me at the time but I was so grateful when she dropped off a bag to me at my hotel room full of the same items we were use to using. Especially with one son who had severe sensitive skin. Hotel soaps or any random items would cause him to break out in a rash.
  • Gift cards– The gift cards to Target, Walmart, Costco, grocery stores, restaurants, fast food were incredibly helpful and needed. There are so many immediate financial needs which add up quickly.
  • Replacing pictures– If you personally know a family affected by a fire consider gathering digital pictures. Maybe find these on their social media pages and recreate a photo album for them. I will forever be grateful to my friends who blessed me with albums of family photos I had lost.
  • Assist in the mundane– Dealing with the aftermath could have very well been my full time job. Having friends help make phone calls, run errands, get questions answered, attend neighborhood meetings for me helped take off a huge load.
  • Loaning vehicles– I lost my vehicles in the flood and it took weeks before I could get an insurance claim completed. The use of friends’ vehicles was crucial and so needed.
  • Meals– While gift cards to fast food is convenient, a home cooked meal is always comforting. Whether it be dropped off to the family or inviting them to your home. An added plus is to have them bring their laundry to wash while you eat and visit.
  • Animals– Offer to temporarily take in any pets.
  • Kids items– Consider blessing a specific family with an electronic device, favorite toy, or game lost. My boys were so happy when a cousin blessed them with an Xbox they could play in the hotel we were living in. A group of families also came together and donated kindles to them.
  • School supplies– Most CA children are distant learning right now.
  • Sports equipment/hobbies-Consider finding out if the family is active in sports, music, or has specific hobbies. One of the biggest losses for my sports loving boys was losing all their sports equipment. A local high school baseball team pitched in and blessed them with all new supplies.
  • Clean up– I needed help the days following the flood and for months later all around my property. Offer to get your hands dirty. Offer to take loads to the dump. Offer to rummage through the rubble and offer to clean up anything worth saving.
  • Don’t stop asking– As the months go by we tend to get on with our own lives and daily routines. Remember these families will not be able to for a very long time. Continue to ask how you can help even months and a year down the line. They will be dealing with the aftermath for a very long time.

If you do not personally have a connection to a family affected there are still ways to help.

  • Contact your local fire evacuation center– Find the CAL Fire list of fires and evacuation centers in your area HERE. Drop off donation items like bottled water, packages food, hygiene items, blankets, clothes, etc. My boys and I were very happy to be given dry socks, blankets and toothbrushes when we arrived at our local evacuation center in the middle of night. *These evacuation centers may be able to assist in the best ways to help your local firefighters as well*
  • Gift Cards– I cannot stress enough how helpful gift cards can be. Each day the lists of items needing to be replaced gets longer and adds up very quickly. Drop off gift cards to the evacuation centers for the families in need.
  • Financially– You can access a list of various disaster relief funds to donate to HERE. If you would like a more personal way to donate, this link HERE will direct you to the San Jose Police Department Charitable Foundation page. The funds donated will be allocated directly to SJPD officers and families who have lost their homes in the fires and who may need lodging, clothes, food, supplies or have other needs.

Finally, prayer. In Psalm 107, God promises to deliver us from our distress when we cry out to him. Prayer is Powerful.