Wildfire update from June White at Hilltop Rescue

Dear Friends,

As you know from watching the news, the situation in Southern California is growing more desperate. We're now in the third day of seeing the images of homes burning and residents fleeing from the rapid fires sweeping through this region. The reports from churches in San Diego County indicate that there are countless brothers and sisters displaced and in a state of shock after abruptly being forced to leave their homes. Many do not know what will be left for them after the fires subside.

The fires have forced the evacuation of more than 350,000 houses, most of them in San Diego County. With the area's average household size of 2.6 people, that means the evacuation could encompass nearly one million people. It's basically a mass migration in San Diego County. Many of these families are lower income residents with limited means to start-over. The numbers are staggering.

This is our backyard.Southern California is the home of Hilltop Rescue. Just as many from this area responded to the hurricane Katrina relief efforts of the Gulf Coast, it's now time to set our sites on the broken lives here. Having a brother or sister available to lend a hand through this process will be a life giving eternal moment.

An assessment team will be working with local churches and communities to determine the best way to assist. Please visit our website as we'll update it with the latest information on the situation and our response. As a reminder our website is www.hilltoprescue.org.

Through your service and involvement with Hilltop you've come to know that the value of what we provide is labor, "strong backs" willing to assist with the recovery process. If you are willing to assist and help those needing to start over, please let us know by going to the Hilltop Rescue Website and volunteering for service. If you're not able to come and serve at this point, please consider donating to Hilltop and to enable others to come and serve in the recovery process.

Please pray for the fire victims of Southern California. May God bless the broken lives and use Hilltop in the process of recovery.

In Him,

June White
Director of Communications
Hilltop Rescue & Relief