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California Service Corps mobilizes volunteers and donations to aid Pasadena fire victims
Summary
Josh Friday, California's chief service officer, said California Volunteers and the California Service Corps are coordinating volunteer deployments and donation distribution in Pasadena and asked Californians to sign up at Californiavolunteers.ca.gov.
Josh Friday, California's chief service officer, said in a television interview that California Volunteers and the California Service Corps are mobilizing volunteers and distributing large volumes of donations to help people affected by recent fires in Pasadena, and he urged Californians to sign up to help at Californiavolunteers.ca.gov.
The appeal came after reporters described “mountains” of donated goods delivered to local collection points. “This community has stepped up in such a phenomenal way,” Friday said. “We are seeing the best of Californians where we support each other, we take care of each other.”
Why it matters: Friday said the need goes beyond immediate shelter and food distribution — many people who lost homes will need ongoing assistance in the weeks and months ahead, and volunteers and organized distribution systems will be needed to keep supplies flowing to people who are staying with friends or in hotels.
Friday described several components of the statewide service programs that are being deployed. He said the state has built a California Service Corps that includes a climate corps with “hundreds of people across the state taking climate action and doing wildfire work,” a college corps that provides debt-free service opportunities to students, AmeriCorps placements and a youth jobs corps. “When you invest in people and giving people a chance to serve their community, then when our community needs them … they’re stepping up in a massive way,” he said.
Friday said state volunteers are working alongside community organizations to coordinate distribution. “We are also working very closely with organizations like the YMCA, the LA Food Bank, the Red Cross to coordinate and make sure that everyone who needs it is getting the resources,” he said.
Reporters also raised concerns about the logistics of donated items. An anchor said some fire victims had seen large quantities of donations at a nearby collection site but had nowhere to store or retrieve the items because they were staying temporarily with friends or in hotels. Friday acknowledged that ongoing assistance and infrastructure are necessary and said the state is putting systems in place to meet those needs. He described individual examples of private residents offering housing and neighbors delivering meals to homebound seniors during power outages.
Friday reiterated an invitation for volunteers and donors to use the state website for opportunities. “If you’ve been affected by this fire … you’re not alone,” he said.
The interview did not include any announcements of new funding amounts, specific storage sites, or formal commitments by local government agencies; Friday discussed program deployments and coordination but did not present measurable aid totals or timetables.
