Considering where we were earlier this month, Southern Californians have a lot to be thankful for this week. The Woolsey Fire, which burned more than 150 square miles across Los Angeles and Ventura counties and took three lives, is almost completely contained. Thousands of people who were forced to evacuate are able to return to their homes and start the long process of putting things back together.
From national cable news stations to local media outlets that were in the heart of the blaze, images of the fire and its aftermath are everywhere. At the fire's peak, more than 250,000 people were displaced. Now that it's nearly contained, the number of buildings destroyed stands at 1,500. Even if we've only seen the pictures, perhaps we can imagine the heartache and sense of loss some are experiencing right now.
Christmas is a time when we're called upon to spread joy, so that's when the Christian Institute holds its annual toy drive for local children in need. This year, there is plenty of need in communities like Thousand Oaks, Malibu and more, so we'll be coordinating with local fire departments to make sure we meet that need as best we can. Not everyone who lost a home is a homeowner, and some were forced to flee in cribs and car seats.
From Monday, Nov. 26 to Wednesday, Dec. 19, we'll be accepting new, unwrapped toys and games for babies, toddlers and children. If you plan to donate, please deposit toys in either the red or silver box in our community classroom. Wrapped toys will not be accepted.
Remember, we're far from the only place taking donations. Local chapters of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Humane Society and United Way, as well as the Los Angeles County Fire Department Foundation, have all pledged to help, and time or money donated to them will go toward healing the region after the fire.
The holiday season is usually coming to an end when we start passing out presents, but this year, consider beginning the season with a gift—whether its time spent volunteering or a toy dropped off for a child who's lost a home. It might not seem like much in the wake of the fire, but being remembered at Christmas always means something.