“Celebrating the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary in 2008″
(Oct. 15, 2008) — Children’s Disaster Services is responding to the wildfires in southern California, with a team of volunteers helping to care for children in at least one of the shelters housing families who have fled the fires.
“We have a response going at the California wildfires in San Fernando, responding to the Malek Fire,” reported Judy Bezon, director of Children’s Disaster Services. “There is a (childcare) center open in the San Fernando High School and we are currently assessing another site,” she said. Bezon said that the problem of closed roads had made it impossible for Children’s Disaster Services volunteers to get to other shelters, at least for a period of time.
Gloria Cooper is the southern California Rapid Response coordinator for Children’s Disaster Services, and has been heading up the childcare response in San Fernando. Currently, six volunteers are making up the Children’s Disaster Response team at San Fernando High School.
Cooper reported that yesterday, Oct. 14, “there was huge excitement for the team and children today. Governor Schwarzenegger and his whole retinue came in.” The governor talked with some of the children in the center where the Children’s Disaster Services volunteers were working, and some of the children had their pictures taken with the governor, Cooper said.
Disaster News Network has run a story on the work of Children’s Disaster Services in response to the wildfires. Go to www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=3779 to find the story featuring Children’s Disaster Services volunteer Rachel Contreras.
——————————————————————————–
The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline. Submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.