The Salvation Army – with a network of churches across Southern California known as corps – is providing help to firefighters, police and others affected by the blaze. As far south as San Diego, Salvation Army mobile feeding units (canteens) are on the scene to bring water and food, first aid, fresh socks, and emotional and spiritual comfort to responders.

Two Los Angeles professional sports franchises have teamed up with The Salvation Army to further assist fire victims. The L.A. Kings hockey club collected funds during two home games this past weekend and will again on Nov. 10 at the Staples Center. The L.A. Galaxy soccer team participated in a celebrity soccer exhibition at The Home Depot Center on Nov. 4. All proceeds from the events will be divided among local charities, The Salvation Army being one of them.

KKLA, a Los Angeles radio station operated by Salem Communications, and Transparent Productions partnered with the Orange County Rescue Mission (OperationOC) to collect items for local fire victims. Those attending a Nov. 2 Steven Curtis Chapman concert in Linda Vista, Calif., donated a variety of items including food, toiletries, calling cards, and restaurant and department store cards.

Christians and organizations outside of California also are lending a hand. Operation Blessing International (OBI) has delivered tractor-trailer truckloads of tea and bottled water to evacuees staying at Qualcom Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers Football team – and now a temporary shelter and relief distribution site. In addition, OBI is making plans to send teams of volunteers, construction loaders and cranes to help with clean-up efforts.

International humanitarian organization World Vision is already on the scene. Local volunteers have gathered at World Vision’s Storehouse in Los Angeles to sort and package donated items that will be distributed through Southern California churches to returning evacuees and others in need.

“It will take time for life to return to normal here,” says Jo Carcedo, World Vision’s area director for Southern California. “World Vision is especially concerned about families whose homes have been completely destroyed, who didn’t have insurance, who may have lost their jobs or who were already struggling financially. We’ll continue working closely with our church partners in affected communities to make sure these families receive the support they need to get back on their feet.”

Corporations including Cardinal Health, Cypress Medical, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Chico's, KIDS and others have so far donated an estimated $2 million worth of new products to World Vision, which will help people in Southern California recover in the days and weeks ahead.

Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church in San Diego County is one congregation that will distribute items from World Vision as a way to care for its recovering community. “We cannot do this alone,” says Dan Maxton, the church’s pastor.

For more information on how you can help the victims in Southern California, please visit one of the following websites:

www.worldvision.org
www.salvationarmysocal.org 
www.operationoc.com 
www.rockreliefsd.org 
www.namb.net 
www.ob.org