By Heidi Gantwerk
Jewish Federation of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — First and foremost, we are deeply grateful to the San Diego Fire Department for their swift response to the multiple fires that have emerged across our region over the past week. Our Federation is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to support our Jewish and broader San Diego communities should further emergencies arise.
This readiness continues to be demonstrated across the Jewish Federations of North America system. Since the opening of the Wildfires Crisis Relief Fund mailbox on January 8, more than $3.1 million has been raised by over 6,100 donors across the U.S. in support of the collective emergency needs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the Jewish Federation of Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys and the Jewish Federation of Ventura County.
These Jewish communities have been extensively impacted. According to the reporting of 27 organizations, we know so far:
446 families (approximately 1,353 individuals) have lost their homes completely.
451 families (approximately 1,514 individuals) have damaged/uninhabitable homes.
47 families have lost their businesses.
Approximately 20 professionals who work in the Jewish community have lost their homes.
Several synagogues have also been destroyed or significantly damaged. Thankfully, others in the area have opened their doors to host impacted congregations and families displaced and have made facilities available to host lifecycle events.
When it is safe to do, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles will conduct a full assessment of loss and emergency needs. In the meantime, these are the immediate top priorities that are being addressed:
–Emergency cash assistance funding is being provided to area Rabbi’s discretionary funds to distribute to impacted families.
–Full activation of its social service/social work networks and increasing emergency grant funding levels available to individuals, with relaxed lending conditions, through JFEDLAs Ezra Network (includes JFSLA, Jewish Free Loan, JVS and Bet Tzedek).
–Creating pop-up camps and coordinating the cleanout of all pre-school sandboxes contaminated by hazardous ash and replenished with new sand.
We know there will also be great need of trauma services, as everyone, young and old, in the area has experienced trauma in the wake of this disaster.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is coordinating relief efforts with FEMA and other faith-based organizations. At this time, there is no capacity to accommodate outside volunteers or accept unsolicited water, food, clothing, hygiene, and medical supplies. The only item desperately needed is continued donations to the Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund.
As the fires continue to rage, please join us in supporting this urgent relief effort. Together, we can make a significant impact in the long-term road to recovery for these devastated communities.
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Heidi Gantwerk is President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego