Children’s Disaster Services begins caring for children in shelters in Los Angeles area

By Sharon Franzén

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) on the request of the Red Cross has sent two teams of seven volunteers in each team to serve in shelters in the Los Angeles, Calif., area. The volunteers are helping to care for children and families affected by the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of structures, burned over 60 square miles, caused at least 24 deaths, and left as many as 200,000 under evacuation orders.

One CDS team traveled to the area on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and the second team traveled the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 15. These CDS teams will serve for two weeks, after which a decision will be made as to whether other teams will be needed.

CDS is a ministry within Brethren Disaster Ministries, which is continuing to monitor the wildfire situation. Staff are attending informational calls by FEMA and the National and California Volunteer Agencies Active in Disaster (VOAD), and communicating with partners to determine how best to respond. Brethren Disaster Ministries was planning a coordination call with the leadership of the Church of the Brethren’s Pacific Southwest District to take place this week.