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—   Fire Response and Resources   —

As firestorms continue to rage in the Pacific Palisades and foothills above the San Gabriel Valley, Bishop John Harvey Taylor reflects on ways to “reclaim our oneness in Christ” amid the crisis, inviting relief gifts to the diocesan One Body & One Spirit Appeal.

The application for One Body & One Spirit fire relief grants is here.

The Episcopal News

Diocesan Council, clergy, lay leaders affirm best practices for fire disaster response

Outpouring of Episcopal support felt amid firestorms in Pacific Palisades, San Gabriel Valley foothills, Hollywood Hills | Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

Fires claim Altadena church, Palisades rectories, hundreds of homes; diocese rallies to serve evacuees | Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

 

Recovery Information and Resources

Additional Resources for Immigrant Californians

Donations

  • One Body & One Spirit wildfire-relief fund
  • St. Mark’s, Altadena – where scores of parishioners have lost homes and the parish church and school buildings — has opened a giving portal here.
  • St. Matthew’s Church – where an estimated 75% of parishioners have lost their homes, and parish school buildings and rectories have burned — has launched the Palisades Fire Pastoral Fund. Link is here.
  • Pasadena’s St. Barnabas Church — where parish families and numerous neighbors have lost homes – has established the ‘DENA Strong fund to which gifts may be made here.
  • Pasadena’s All Saints Church — where some 80 families have lost homes – is receiving relief donations here.
  • Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel — where several parishioner homes and a sober living ministry were lost — by donating on their website here (click “Give Now”).
  •  Open Air Worker Emergency Fund — support for outdoor workers impacted by the fires, including street vendors, gardeners, recyclers and other outdoor workers who have lost incomes and maybe their homes in the fires. 
  • Change Reaction grants for families
  • Jewish Federation Wildfire Crisis Relief
  • Wildfire donation scams

Gathering / Respite Space

Various congregations across the diocese are standing by to offer gathering/respite space for individuals or groups. These include the following. Please contact clergy/administrators on site, or email Canon Bob Williams at  bishopsoffice@ladiocese.org.

San Gabriel Valley: All Saints, Pasadena; St. Barnabas, Pasadena; St. James, South Pasadena; Covina, Holy Trinity;

Los Angeles: St. John’s Cathedral, Los Angeles; St. Mary in Palms, Los Angeles; St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park; Holy Nativity, Westchester

L.A. South Bay: St. George’s, Hawthorne; St. Cross, Hermosa Beach; St. Peter’s, San Pedro

Orange County: St. Michael and All Angels, Corona del Mar; St. Clement’s by-the-Sea, San Clemente

Riverside County: All Saints, Riverside

Santa Barbara County: All Saints by-the Sea, Santa Barbara; St. Mark’s in the Valley, Los Olivos

Faith Resources

Here are four resources from Episcopal Relief and Development for talking, praying, and worshipping with each other this week. These tools can be used with small or large groups.

For Diocesan Clergy and Lay Ministers

Reminders from Episcopal Relief and Development:

Church Pension Group Updates

Church Pension Group — Natural Disasters

EAP Resources

Please see attached resources available to members and managers and the link below.

https://eapmanager.cigna.com/critical-incident-and-disaster-support

Kaiser 

Member Support Accommodations 

To support members affected by the wildfires, Kaiser Permanente has temporarily expanded our pharmacy network to include non-Kaiser Permanente pharmacies, and we are lifting the early refill restrictions for Southern California Commercial, Medicare, and Self-Funded members.

Additionally, if members are having difficulty accessing Kaiser Permanente facilities for care appointments, they can contact the appointment call center, and we will make arrangements for them to see a non-Kaiser Permanente provider at their in-network benefit. Note: This care access must be coordinated through our appointment call centers.

Updates on kp.org and Contact Center Support

If members have other questions about:

  • Kaiser Permanente facility closures
  • Access to their prescriptions
  • Health and safety recommendations for people with respiratory issues 
  • Mental health resources

Let them know kp.org has a dedicated page that is updated frequently with the latest information on these topics and more, and they can always call our Member Services Contact Center, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed holidays).

  • English: 1-800-464-4000
  • Spanish: 1-800-788-0616 
  • Chinese dialects: 1-800-757-7585 
  • TTY: 711

DC and RSVP Plans

Withdrawals for Qualified Federally Declared Disasters

This withdrawal allows eligible participants whose principal place of residence is in the area of a major Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared disaster to withdraw up to $22,000** per disaster. This withdrawal is exempt from the 10% early withdrawal federal tax penalty, if under age 59 1/2, as well as exempt from mandatory 20% federal income tax withholding. The withdrawal must be taken within 180 days of the FEMA-declared disaster date. This money can be re-contributed to the Plan within three years if the participant is eligible to make a rollover contribution to the Plan.

** The maximum amount may differ depending on their vested account balance. This is an aggregate limit that applies across all retirement plans and IRAs.

Hardship Withdrawals

This withdrawal allows active participants to satisfy an immediate and heavy financial need to pay for expenses to repair uninsured and unreimbursed casualty loss damage to their principal residence. This withdrawal is subject to mandatory 20% federal income tax withholding as well as the 10% early withdrawal federal tax penalty, if under age 59 ½.

Loans

Active participants can borrow up to $50,000 (minus their highest outstanding loan balance during the previous 12 months) or 50% of their vested balance, whichever is less. When taking a loan, the participant agrees to repay the loan back over a certain period, including principal and interest.