By Dr. Alyssa Fisher, Director of Communications
On January 7, 2025, as fires popped up across Southern California, the Palisades and Eaton Fires destroyed communities, homes, and two church buildings in our conference. Cal-Pac churches, Disaster Recovery teams, and UMCOR responded quickly, opening up their doors for shelter and setting up centers for water, food, personal protective equipment, short-term housing, clothes, ash shifters, and other resources throughout the weeks that followed. Both groups worked to raise funds and gift cards to provide immediate financial support to survivors. As of December 2025, Cal-Pac received nearly 1.5 million dollars in donations from around the world, including $85,000 in gift cards. Now, in addition to on the ground support, UMCOR has awarded a grant of $624,000 to Cal-Pac for ongoing recovery in our area.
The UMCOR grant is being used to establish long term care relationships with survivors through a Disaster Case Management team. These four Disaster Case Managers (DCM) and one DCM Supervisor are trained professionals who partner with disaster-affected individuals and families to assess needs, develop individualized recovery plans, coordinate access to resources, and support progress toward realistic recovery goals, empowering clients to lead their long-term recovery journey while serving as their advocate and main point of contact throughout the process.
The DCM team currently includes Hawk Hawkins, DCM Supervisor, and DCMs Warren Tabutol, Annette Garrett, and Tina Williams. A fourth DCM will join them this month. Hired and trained by UMCOR in the fall of 2025, these individuals have been working to secure housing and rental assistance and meet other immediate needs such as food and clothing.
Hawk Hawkins, DCM Supervisor, said recently, “We were able to assist a single parent of two children retain housing right before the holiday season,” and since beginning, “We have a 100% success rate of getting rental assistance to get and keep our clients housed with 2-6 months of rental assistance.” Their initial work has been to secure long-term housing for renters, and as homeowners continue to move into rebuilding, the team stands by ready to help fill gaps as needs arise.
This is community work, and the team is out in burn areas daily with community organizations that help support rebuilding and recovery. The DCM team collaborates with the Salvation Army, Long Term Recovery Groups in Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu, Legal Aid, Global Empowerment Mission, HPP Cards, Los Angeles Region Community Recovery Organization, and other faith-based and city and state-funded agencies. These partnerships mean that more people can be reached and resources get to those in need.
As this next phase of disaster recovery continues, the best way to help is to continue to donate gift cards and funds. Cal-Pac is continuing to distribute funds directly and through the purchase of additional gift cards, and will also continue applying for grants through UMCOR as needs remain for at least an additional two years. Hawkins said the most requested gift cards are for Albertsons, Ralphs, Target and Walmart. Volunteer teams will also be welcomed to help with rebuilding starting this summer. As we mark the anniversary of the destruction of our communities, we also remain committed to continue to support their rebuilding in the years to come.
You can donate to Cal-Pac’s LA Fires Recovery fund at this link.
Learn out more about joining volunteer rebuilding teams at this link.
