A message from Executive Director of Friends In Deed, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater:

I hope this message finds you safe. There are no words to express the amount of grief, sadness, and fear that are surrounding our community right now. As I’m sure you know, the recent Eaton Fire has deeply impacted our community, and while our building, Friends In Deed House, remains intact, the damage nearby is devastating.

When there are no words, there are still tears, hugs, love, compassion, and support. There are the teachings of the Psalms, Scriptures, poetry, meditation, prayer, yoga, and whatever way you find a place of calm, hope, grounding, and peace. I encourage us all to seek that solace, if only for a few moments at a time. We will need all of the strength and fortitude to move forward together.  

Thousands of locals are displaced and hundreds of people in the community we serve are experiencing loss. Unfortunately, several of our staff members have also lost their homes, along with many of our volunteers, supporters, and clients. While the full extent of the destruction is still unfolding, we know that the need for support is already overwhelming, and the road to recovery will be long.

I want to assure you that our team is still here, serving the community in every way possible. We are committed to providing vital support for those in need, particularly the most vulnerable among us, because although we are in the same storm, our vessels and resources to navigate the treacherous waves are vastly different.

Our Street Outreach and Housing team has been working tirelessly to refer individuals to our Bad Weather Shelter, ensuring that everyone has access to masks, water, food, and any other critical services, especially as we contend with hazardous air quality. We are doing everything we can to shield people from the winds, fires, and their aftermath, even helping individuals relocate to motels and distributing essential items to ensure their safety.

We are so grateful for so many of you that have already come forth to offer a helping hand. We have received an overwhelming number of requests to volunteer or drop off supplies. The best way to help us right now is by making an unrestricted financial gift. This gives us the flexibility to address the evolving needs of our community, allowing us to direct resources to where they are needed most in the coming months. Your contribution allows us to be nimble and responsive, ensuring that we can meet the changing needs of those affected. 

All five of our programs are all vital to providing immediate relief, as well as long-term support for those who have lost their homes or are facing the aftermath of the fire.

We are truly heartbroken. We imagine that most everyone reading this now knows someone directly affected by these fires, and it is hard to see so many people we love lose so much, so quickly. But we are also deeply inspired by the strength and resilience of our community. It is in times like these that we come together, and healing begins with the collective support of neighbors like you.

We offer our heartfelt thanks to the firefighters and first responders, who, despite being stretched to their limits, continue to stand strong in the face of this tragedy. Their bravery, commitment, and selflessness have made a profound impact, and we are forever thankful for their service.

As we navigate these difficult times, we are so deeply grateful for your continued encouragement. Together, we will support, lift up, and heal our community. While both our feet are in grief and mourning today, we will slowly put one foot forward into the future, into the tomorrow that awaits us, holding each other’s hands, and move forward.

Wishing everyone blessings and more blessings,

Rabbi Joshua and the FID team