Application form online here; donation link here; impacted parishes also offer donation portals (please scroll down for links)
(From left): Parishioners of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Altadena, bring historic bell from rubble of burned buildings; smudged with heavy smoke, iconic chancel cross awaits eventual cleaning at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Pacific Palisades, where sanctuary withstood fire but rectories and school buildings were lost in January disaster.
With the support of 1,050 generous donors to date, the diocesan One Body & One Spirit Appeal has raised $500,016 from which a total of $154,500 has been allocated in 54 fire-relief grants, including 17 new disbursements pending approval this week.
A concise application form is here.
Bishop John Harvey Taylor encourages those in need to apply immediately for Appeal grants, and thanks all who have donated to the fund.
lor told The News. “On behalf of the diocesan community, my thanks to everyone who has contributed. Keep the prayers coming for all who are suffering in this catastrophe.”
Appeal grant applications are being reviewed weekly by a panel representing diocesan fiduciary bodies, and funds will continue to be disbursed promptly upon approval.
The diocesan Appeal – launched as an emergency fund during the Covid pandemic — has a proven record of routing contributions directly to help congregations and institutions meet unbudgeted expenses. “Every dollar received goes right back out the door in the form of a grant,” Bishop Taylor reiterates.
Detailed accounting procedures are in place in the diocesan Finance Office to assure that gifts are credited to the restricted purpose for which they are given, with diocesan Appeal funds recorded separately from contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), and donation acknowledgement letters sent promptly.
While gifts to the diocesan Appeal go directly to individuals and Episcopal institutions in need, donations to ERD will come back to the region in the form of grants to wider communities and groups – generally beyond the Episcopal Church – identified to be in need. Meanwhile, the diocese has received a $20,000 emergency grant from ERD.
In addition, local congregations in devastated areas have launched their own emergency giving portals, to which generous giving also is encouraged.
- St. Mark’s, Altadena – where 40 homes of parishioners burned along with historic church and school buildings — has 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 four 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 72 families and individuals have lost homes – is receiving relief donations here.
- Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel — where four homes of parishioners were lost along with a sober-living facility — is accepting donations on their website here (click “Give Now”).