I feel very lucky. I live in the older part of San Diego. Except for the smoke, we have been largely unaffected by the fires.
I've had a little time to donate my time, and in doing so, I came across a little story of some wonderful people helping fire victims that haven't been, and are unlikely to be interviewed by Katie Couric.
You can see what's going on at the "Q" on TV, and you can see the "typical" refugees. They've lost their houses in communities like Rancho Bernardo and Poway. The insurance adjusters have already set up a temporary office to help these people start their claims. The County has waived permit fees for those who rebuild, and I'm sure the cities will do the same. The politicians have stopped by regularly to congratulate each other and distribute their largesse as if it came out of their own pockets.
The big centers have said they have plenty of volunteers and supplies. I think those people will be o.k. But as I discovered, there are others you haven't seen or heard about.
I took supplies to a different collection center today. It's not being run by any government or agency. It's just people who got together to help. They're not at some high school or stadium; they're sitting under the entrance to the Coronado Bay Bridge in Chicano Park. It's the poorest community in the city, but everyone there was giving what he or she could.
What they are giving is not likely to going to homeowners from upscale neighborhoods. Their help is going to people who, if not for this group, would not seek it or accept it because they fear deportation and other forms of reprisal. They will stay out in the canyons just below those big houses that burned, and they will get dehydrated, sick, and maybe even die.
I hope I don't have to explain further, because even in the Kos community, the issue of I********s just gets people going off. No matter how you feel about that issue, I hope you will understand that these needy people are here, they harvest the food, make the beds, and even trim the brush that would have burned many more houses, had they not been around to do it.
To me, it simply is a human issue; I cannot sit by and not help people who need it, especially if they won't get it otherwise. I donated to one of the only groups that has built the trust of those who have learned to be very suspicious.
Their suspicions are not unfounded. I was talking to one of the organizers and he told me how hard it has been just to bring people food, water, hats, and sunglasses. The ICE regularly follows them in the hope of making a big score. If that weren't enough, he also told me that today, the Minutemen came by to harass them too (I guess they had nothing better to do).
I wish I could show pictures and tell you more, but frankly, I don't want to put anyone in danger. Once I have permission to let you know where to send help, I will post another diary.
UPDATE: I am a little depressed today because late this afternoon we learned that 4 people were killed in the fire in what was likely a migrant worker encampment. I was hoping that would not happen.