Southern California Wildfire Response
The Pacific Southwest District continues to receive donations to our standing emergency relief fund in place to assist our churches and schools, their people and communities affected by the Southern California fires. While no churches or schools were destroyed, many families of our congregations have lost homes, and continue to be in transitional housing while attempting to recover. Your donations continue to be put to work in the form of Visa gift cards to affected families, and larger grants to assist with housing and other expenses.
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If you would like to donate to this fund, please click the button below. You have the option during the donation process to designate your gift to benefit those affected by the Southern California fires. 100% of funds donated to Emergency Relief will be used to support those in need. Any excess funds will be saved for future emergency/disaster relief.
Latest Updates
Last update: 03/06/2025​​
​​​​​​​Your donations continue to come in and directly benefit those impacted - THANK YOU!
Since the fires began on January 8, the PSD has received more than $580,000 in donations for disaster relief. We praise God for your generosity and eagerness to help those in need! Especially for families who have lost everything, monetary support continues to be a critical need, and will be for the foreseeable future. Many families are just now getting into apartments, and are needing purchase furniture and other essentials. Your donations enable this support, through our local congregations, to distribute the Visa gift cards for these purchases, along with issuing larger grants to assist with paying deposits, rent, etc. $85,000 in grants have been issued to affected families so far, and more than $50,000 in Vista gift cards have been distributed.
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Spiritual First Aid volunteers continue serving
Trained Spiritual First Aid volunteers are continuing to reach out and serve the communities affected by the fires with love and a listening ear. See the article in the Lutheran Church Charities newsletter about how volunteers are putting their training into practice.
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Grants distributed to families affected by the Eaton Fire
On Sunday, March 2nd, several families at First Lutheran in Pasadena, CA received grants from your donations that will provide aid in transitional housing expenses and more. See update below.
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LCMS Reporter articles on fires:
‘Unbelievable’ loss: Historic First Lutheran finds strength in God, church
‘Holding to God’s promises’: Wildfires in California
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“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2
Reports on affected churches and schools
​​We praise God that no PSD church or school properties were destroyed or experienced significant damage. Of note is the fact that Palisades Lutheran is the only Christian church still standing in their immediate area, along with its parsonage. Due to the heavy smoke from the fires it will be 6-12 months before they will be able to be back in those buildings. (The churches and schools below are listed as they are in or near the fire areas, not because they have been damaged or destroyed.)
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Current information:
Historic First Lutheran - Pasadena, CA
First Lutheran has distributed more than $132,000 in grants and gift card distributions to 37 families, made up of support from their own funds, the Pacific Southwest District, LCMS Disaster Relief, Orphan Grain Train, Thrivent Choice dollars, and other donors. On Sunday, March 2nd, Pacific Southwest District President Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson preached and helped distribute grants to families with First Lutheran's pastor Rev. Chris Schaar (photo below). Everyone enjoyed a wonderful Mardi Gras lunch after worship.
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Palisades Lutheran Church - Pacific Palisades, CA
Although the church building is still standing, Palisades Lutheran Church (PLC) is estimated to be shut down for at least 6 months. Our church and members have suffered greatly. They are now homeless. At least 85% of our members are displaced and have dispersed to shelters, hotels, apartments, or friends and family. Some have indicated they will not return. Cleanup has begun in the sanctuary and parsonage. Palisades Lutheran is now blessed to be worshiping at Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402, next to Back to the Beach.. Please see www.plc.cc for more information or how to give.
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Pilgrim Lutheran Church/Pacifica Christian High School - Santa Monica, CA
About 20 Pacifica HS student families have lost homes.
First Lutheran - Venice, CA
A member who was a teacher at one of the schools destroyed in the fire has lost their job as the school relocated but did not have facilities for the department. Other victims are benefiting from Visa gift cards to buy essentials for apartments to which they just recently moved.
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I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
How to Help
THANK YOU for responding to this disaster with your prayers and donations. We have seen continued response from all over the country, with continued prayers, financial gifts and offers of help steadily coming. Know that this recovery will take many months and years. Those who have lost homes will not be able to be back until toxic cleanup is complete, with many being told it will be a minimum of six months but likely much longer.
Note also that teams of volunteers to do "service projects" or other cleanup efforts are simply not going to be able to be utilized for quite some time. We have captured the offers of those that have contacted our office and the pastors and circuit visitors in those areas have visibility to those offers, and will reach out directly if and when they can utilize them. So, we ask that you continue to:
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Pray - Continue to lift up the victims, first responders, communities and all of us in prayer as we experience this significant disaster. This includes praying that we recognize the opportunities we have to share the light and love of Jesus to so many in need. ​
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Donate - Victims continue to have significant need for financial resources to purchase basic items, pay for housing, pay for meals, etc. The PSD has a standing fund which you can donate funds to for this purpose (see below). .
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​Checks can be sent to:
​Pacific Southwest District – LCMS
16355 Laguna Canyon Rd. #300
Irvine, CA, 92618
Memo: SoCal Wildfire Relief
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100% of funds donated to Emergency Relief will be used to support the congregations, schools, and individuals who have been affected by the fires. Any excess funds will be saved for future emergency/disaster relief.
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Love - Be the hands and feet of Jesus as you care spiritually for those you may come in contact with that are affected by this disaster, and even those who may not be in the immediate area but are traumatized. This especially applies to active, caring listening as they share their trauma and needs.
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​​PSD Disaster Response Contact
The District contact for disaster response coordination is PSD COO Jon Niederbrach. Email disaster.response@psd-lcms.org or call 949-854-3232 x222. Thank you for reaching out - we are endeavoring to respond to the many calls and emails we receive within 24 hours.
Lord, We lift up our eyes to the hills and see danger, threat, and fire. We ask with the Psalmist, “Where our help come from?" It comes, as it always has and always will, from You Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Give Your help, that is Your strength and support, to all those in need. Amen.
Lutheran Church Charities Resource List
The linked document below is a list of resources curated by LCC. The resources include:
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Latest Fire Information
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FEMA Information
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Disaster Recovery Center Locations
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Insurance Support Contacts
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Financial Support Contacts
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Senior Support Contacts
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Mental Health Support Contacts
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Including therapists willing to meet with fir victims free of charge. ​
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Medical Support Contacts​
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Shelter information
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Almighty Father, Give strength and courage to the first responders serving throughout our communities. Many are weary and overwhelmed. Send relief and assistance, enabling them to find moments of rest. Amen.
Resources
For confidential counseling, referrals, and other support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, contact the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990.
Concordia Health Plan members also have access to the employee assistance program (EAP) for mental health resources available at this link.
For insurance questions and guidance, the California Department of Insurance has personnel available at 800-927-4357.
Online resources for wildfire survivors are available at this link.
For help in finding disaster services, call 211 or visit the 211la.org website at this link.
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​Call 800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov to apply for federal disaster assistance.​
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​United Policyholders is a nonprofit that assists those impacted by the fires navigate the insurance claims process.
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Living Spaces is giving free mattresses to LA wildfire victims. Visit livingspaces.com/event/firerelief for details and conditions.
Resources for Children
Resources for children from Lutheran Church Charities
Children are strongly affected by disasters like the fires, even if they are only seeing news reports. Below are resources specially created to help identify when a child is struggling with trauma and resources to help navigate it.
Documents:
Common Reactions to Trauma - PDF
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Helping Children Cope With Traumatic Events
Videos:
Trauma For Kids - Coping With Childhood Trauma, Resilience, Self-Care, Grounding Techniques - Video
This video guides children through the 5,4,3,2,1 grounding technique.
