Adventist Health Glendale and Adventist Health Global Mission are partnering with the Southern California Conference and the Pasadena Seventh-day Adventist Church to begin offering help (and hope) for residents of Altadena and Pasadena affected by the ongoing fires. The initial phases of response began Jan. 10, 2025, and will continue during the coming months.

Five truckloads of donated supplies were transported from Sacramento to Glendale by HSD Trucking Inc. of Yuba City, organized by Kulwinder Lally, imaging manager for Adventist Health Rideout. The supplies, including air purifiers, Vitamin Water, N95 masks, and fresh fruit, were distributed along with additional donated supplies from the conference, including food, water, diapers, and hygiene kits, at an event in the conference parking area on Jan. 12.

The supply-distribution work was led by Royal Harrison, executive vice president and Adventist Community Services director for the conference. “It’s been incredible to see our community rally together in response to this crisis,” said Harrison. “We are deeply grateful for the support that has come in, and we are committed to getting the resources in our care to the impacted communities.”

Mark Witas, Mission and Spiritual Care director for Adventist Health Glendale, led hospital chaplains in providing emotional and spiritual care for those affected by the fires. Witas said, “Adventist Health Glendale is so grateful we can be here to support our community. When we have the opportunity to show up like this and help people in need it’s hard to say who is blessed more. Our organization has been part of the Glendale community for a very long time, and we are honored to show those in need that we’re here when they need us.”

Conversations about longer-term support are underway with plans for local volunteers to go on foot to residents cut off from services and supplies to assist as needed providing food, water and medications. A shipment of new clothing, including socks and hoodies, is scheduled to arrive later this week and will be distributed through the Pasadena Adventist Church because of their close proximity to affected families. In partnership with the church, Adventist Health is supporting a medical village that will provide care over the next 9 to 12 months.

In addition, Adventist Health Glendale has provided use of 10 unfurnished apartments for people who have evacuated from their homes, and World Vision has donated new furnishings for the apartments. Families will begin moving in during the coming weekend.

“It’s encouraging that we can do something to help our neighbors and in the process solidify partnerships with our incredible Glendale community,” said Elizabeth LaBorde, president for the Adventist Health Glendale Foundation. “Great things are happening in our community even in the midst of all the pain.”

“A lot of hope and healing will be needed in Southern California over the coming months,” said John Schroer, Global Mission System lead for Adventist Health. “But in times of disaster and despair human beings show up to help one another. It’s what we do. This disaster is an opportunity for us to connect at a human level and to give God the glory for creating within us this inherent desire to help each other. In moments like this, when we reach out and give back, we find what we need to fill ourselves and to fill those who are hurting.”

The original article was published on the North American Division website.