Members provide aid for fire victims
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POWAY, CALIF.
A Christmas boutique was a popular part of Church members' ongoing service to provide relief for victims of late-October wildfires that raged in San Diego County.
More than 220 families whose homes were destroyed or damaged by the fires were able to replenish their Christmas supplies at the boutique held in the Poway California Stake Center on Saturday, Nov. 24, according to a report from event organizer Kathryn Humberstone.
Stake members joined many others in the community going through their closets and donating artificial Christmas trees, decorations, ornaments and presents offered at the boutique, she said. Stake President Gary B. Sabin said the stake center was packed with donations as recipients entered the building to the sounds of Christmas music.
With the help of community volunteers including Church members, those in need were able to gather whatever they felt they needed to make Christmas merry despite trying times. President Sabin said some were heard saying they found exact Christmas items they had lost to the fires.
Sister Humberstone said recipients' eyes lit up with the Christmas spirit as they felt the love of hundreds who made and donated items that she estimated had a total value of more than $50,000.
President Sabin said word-of-mouth publicity for the boutique was enhanced by advance coverage in the local media, which also noted the many ways Church members were serving throughout the community. He said Church members, including missionaries, in San Diego County, have spent around 20,000 hours providing relief efforts that will continue as long as necessary.
Service includes clearing brush, cutting trees, stacking wood and sifting through ashes.
