They are delivering hope.
A church in Southern California has initiated a relief drive to aid victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, inviting local communities to contribute essential items at its multiple campuses. Rock Church in San Diego, in collaboration with Dream Center in Los Angeles, is organizing efforts to provide support to those impacted by the fires, which have displaced tens of thousands of people and resulted in at least 25 deaths.
The church has set up eight 26-foot trailers to collect donations, with each San Diego campus hosting one trailer and three located at the Point Loma campus. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Senior Pastor Miles McPherson. He shared that their initial goal was to fill five trucks, but they surpassed expectations, filling nine 26-foot trucks with donations such as water, diapers, wipes, clothing, blankets, toiletries, and snacks.
The church has also received significant support in the form of truck donations, volunteer help, and contributions of much-needed goods. McPherson expressed gratitude for the community’s efforts, noting that extra items were distributed through partnerships with other organizations once the church’s trucks were full. For those looking to contribute, McPherson highlighted the importance of donating essential supplies like pasta, rice, canned goods, non-perishable food, diapers, and pet food, which are in high demand.
Working alongside Zoe Church and Dream Center in Los Angeles, Rock Church volunteers are directly delivering the collected items to those affected by the fires. McPherson noted that basic supplies like water and toilet paper were in short supply in local stores, making these donations even more critical. The church has worked closely with partner organizations to ensure that the items are promptly distributed to those in need, with some trucks being emptied and the goods given out within an hour of arrival.
The church’s commitment to disaster relief has its roots in its own past experiences. In 2007, Rock Church became a triage center and shelter for senior citizens when wildfires struck San Diego. Alongside physical support, McPherson has encouraged the community to pray for the healing and restoration of those impacted, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the blessings of home, safety, and health. The Los Angeles wildfires, which have destroyed over 12,000 structures and scorched more than 60 square miles, continue to leave residents facing uncertainty, with organizations like Rock Church and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team providing both material and emotional support to those affected.