Getting help to the victims of fire

Lolita Harper

The ashes raining from the sky, the thick smoky air that gets caught

in the lungs of Newport-Mesans who spend any length of time outdoors

is nothing compared to the damage the homeowners inland are facing.

The Rev. Dennis Short of Harbor Christian Church on Irvine Avenue,

realized this Sunday as his parishioners were participating in their

annual run for hunger.

The wheezing and shortness of breath of some of the participants

brought to mind the more serious struggles that those in Los Angeles,

San Bernardino and San Diego counties were facing with the recent

fires.

Short, who is also president of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith

Council, decided it was time for the entire faith community to come

to the aid of its regional neighbors.

The council is asking members of the Newport-Mesa community and

its congregations to conduct a food and clothing drive to benefit

victims of the fire.

While homeowners insurance will cover the larger expense of

replacing their homes, the families will need help with immediate

expenses of replacing their clothing, food and temporary shelter,

said council member Jim de Boom, who also is a columnist for the

Daily Pilot.

The drive is not limited to food and clothing: any gift

certificates from retailers that may help those residents reestablish

some sort of normalcy in the upcoming weeks and months are also

welcome.

The Newport-Mesa community has a history of community involvement

and philanthropy and members of the council are hoping to tap into

the inherent generosity to benefit all of Southern California during

a frightening time in the region.

Short and de Boom are collaborating with the Red Cross to get

these much needed supplies to the rightful recipients. Those who have

items to donate can drop them off at Harbor Christian Church at 2401

Irvine Ave. in Newport Beach. For more information, call (949)

645-5781.