By Deirdre Marlowe
I was blizzard-bound in Virginia when California member David Schwartz’s email about the apocalyptic fires in Los Angeles reached me. Fueled by lack of rain and persistent, late Santa Ana winds, the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon fires started from unknown causes on January 7th. Other fires have started since then... the Hughes Fire as recently as January 22. None are considered “out.” More than 15,000 structures have been destroyed. Many lost their homes, including Paige LaCombe, who I’d interviewed for Servas membership, and who has served on the Board, as Servas International Peace Secretary, and most recently been actively engaged in the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women.
David suggested that if asked, Servas members would be interested in helping. Tim Sullivan, Board President, was happy to sign on to the cause. A letter was sent to Servas members, and many responses were received – some offering housing as far away as Salem, Massachusetts. Others offered help, but didn’t know what was needed; they received a list of organizations needing volunteers.
The response generated from our outreach inspired some of us to start what we’re tentatively calling Emergency Servas, which will be there in the event of other natural disasters, to gather volunteers and provide information about what is needed. If interested, please contact me at deirdre.marlowe@usservas.org.