Southern California churches give aid in wake of deadly fires

Published: 2003-11-03

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- As fire-weary residents began returning to their homes in many Southern California communities in early November, Catholic dioceses and parishes began turning their attention from emergency refugee relief to follow-up aid for victims of the fires. More than 3,300 homes were lost and at least 20 people killed between Oct. 24 and Nov. 3 in the six Southern California fires that destroyed nearly 700,000 acres. St. Gregory the Great Parish in San Diego's Scripps Ranch community, where 343 houses were destroyed, stopped accepting clothing donations Nov. 2 because the response was so great. Carmen Gronich, the parish director, told Catholic News Service Nov. 3 that she was still adding up the totals, but parishioners and other members of the community had contributed some $200,000 in cash and checks in addition to emergency supplies for those who lost their homes. Aid collections after Sunday Masses Nov. 2 alone totaled $30,000. Of the parish's 2,400 families, 55 lost their homes. "Our parishioners are always very generous," Gronich said, but the response to the fires came not only from parish members but the rest of the community as well. "It was overwhelming. ... It was beyond belief," she said.

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