As wildfires ravage the Los Angeles space, Chicago-area teams and residents try to pitch in to assist these devastated by the blazes.
Liz Ribeiro is a kind of people, launching a major effort to assist Evanston-native Megan Handley Katerjian, whose home in Altadena was ravaged by the primary.
“My coronary heart has been hurting for her and her youngsters,” she stated.
Ribiero grew up with Handley Katerjian in Evanston, engaged on volunteer efforts collectively at their church.
“She is simply the nicest kindest most giving particular person, however sadly, hearth doesn’t care,” she stated.
Megan traveled to California to turn out to be an ordained Presbyterian pastor, and for the previous seven years she’s been operating a nonprofit referred to as Door of Hope, which helps households transition out of houselessness, discovering their footing within the course of.
Ribiero is now operating an internet fundraiser to assist her good friend, with that fundraiser amassing greater than $50,000 on GoFundMe.
Teams in Chicago are stepping up their efforts as effectively, with a serious push by veteran-led nonprofit Workforce Rubicon getting ready to move out to California.
The West City-based volunteers, who’re often called the “Greyshirts,” are able to do no matter it takes to assist these affected by the fires.
“We reply to disasters and crises earlier than, throughout and after,” Rick Kolomay stated.
Whereas the group has loads of army veterans, retired cops, medical professionals and civilians, they’re taking nice care to not get in the way in which and going the place they’re wanted most.
“We’re very aware to not become involved or intervene with emergency operations proper now,” Kolomay stated.
They’re all skilled in numerous areas, to assist clear path for first responders, and to permit them to stay targeted on combating the fires.
“(We are able to use) heavy tools, chainsaws, (and provide) guide labor to fill sandbags for potential flooding, given the scarring from the fireplace space,” he stated.
Extra data may be discovered on Workforce Rubicon’s web site.
