Texans On Mission helping California recover from wildfires

TYLER– Our news partner, KETK, reports that Texans On Mission has boots on the ground in fire ravaged southern California. In times of crisis, the nonprofit tries to be there when people need their help the most. Right now, their focus is on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of California. Four volunteers returned from California on Wednesday, and 10 to 12 volunteers left Wednesday morning to bring laundry and shower trailers. Rand Jenkins, Texans on Mission chief strategic officer, has been out west for days getting a first hand look at the damage on the frontlines.

“The first emotion is just that heaviness that even once we got here, we saw and could experience, it’s not out yet and so people are still kind of wondering what is next,” Jenkins said. “What we did the past few days is being with churches and beginning to build their capacity for wrapping their arms around their community from a distribution standpoint, from a management standpoint.”

More than 10,000 structures have been destroyed so far, and a confirmed 24 people have died. Thousands of others were evacuated with only the clothes on their back, so more volunteers hit the road on Wednesday morning with clothing, laundry and shower trailers, and generators.

“They come into this respite spot that we’re creating with some snacks to eat, some coffee, and even childcare supervisors that can oversee the children. So, it just gives the parents and the families a place other than a hotel room to go and play and just breathe and start that next step to recovery,” Jenkins said.

When the wildfires are extinguished, the non-profit will begin a task called “ash out.” Volunteers will help homeowners sift through the ashes to find any of their surviving items with sentimental value. “It’s not very difficult physical work, but it is very difficult emotional work and there are thousands of houses to do so there will be a lot of volunteers coming in this way,” Jenkins said.

Once any items not completely burned are found, the organization will be helping to rebuild homes for families.