As Pete Matus surveyed the damage, he still couldn’t quite believe he’d never step foot in his family home in Altadena, California, again.
“Our entire neighborhood was just completely gone,” said Matus, a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Council 12452 in Altadena, reflected only days after his family’s home was razed to the ground by the Eaton Fire in early January. “I’ve been a part of this community for 40 years, and to see the way it is right now, I just can’t grasp it.
“The expectation was definitely to come back. It wasn’t until we saw our neighborhood on the news that we realized our house is gone.”
Matus and his family are some of the tens of thousands displaced by the Los Angeles fires that sparked on Jan. 7. The Eaton and Palisades fires, which burned over 57,000 acres before being fully contained in early February, rank among the deadliest and most destructive in California history, killing at least 29 people and destroying thousands of homes, businesses and schools.
From the earliest days of the disaster, local Knights of Columbus have worked tirelessly to respond to urgent needs, providing food, shelter and essential aid to families who lost everything.
Through the Knights of Columbus Disaster Relief fund, the Supreme Council sent $250,000 and 200 gift cards worth $100 each to California, which have been distributed by the California State Council. To date, the state council has provided $205,000 toward disaster relief, donating $20,000 to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ relief efforts and providing 37 grants to Knights, priests, churches and more.
“It is critical that the Knights are among the first to respond with aid because that’s who we are, that’s what we do,” said California State Deputy James Larson. “Our principals of charity, unity and fraternity provide us with needed tools [to be] ready in times of crisis.”
The San Gabriel Valley Chapter has collaborated with local parishes and K of C councils to organize several major food and supplies distributions since January. Councils have also helped displaced families find temporary housing solutions, such as accessory dwelling units and RVs.
A week after the Eaton fire devastated the Altadena area, local councils participated in a large-scale food distribution in nearby Pasadena, collaborating with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other charitable organizations to provide food, clothing, N-95 masks and other necessities to victims, including Matus and his family.
“The Knights of Columbus has truly been just a blessing,” Matus said. “Knights are bending over backwards for everybody in this community, whether you’re a member or not. This is who they are, and I owe a debt of gratitude to them.”
Even in the midst of their own devastation, many Knights affected by the disaster have been quick to respond to the needs of others. Among them is District Deputy Ruben Corral, who lost his home of 45 years in Altadena after he and his wife evacuated with only a few belongings.
“Some of my brother [Knights] have reached out to see if we needed any help,” Corral said. “Others have asked for help, and I’ve led and guided them, gave them information on how to get help from the Knights. It’s just a part of our mission to lead something like this.”
To his many brother Knights who are experiencing the same tragedy as himself, Corral has simple words of encouragement: “Just hang in there, keep the faith. God will bring us through this somehow.”
Axcel Porras, a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Council 18516, also lost his home in Altadena and most of his belongings to the fire. Despite his loss, he was among the Knights at the Pasadena distribution, passing out groceries to other fire victims.
“This event will serve as a lesson for the future,” Porras said. “Life has many struggles, but we have to be strong, hold onto God’s hand and keep fighting.”
Although the fires have been 100% contained for a little over a month, the restoration process is far from over, and the state council continues to work closely with local councils to assist with rebuilding homes, churches and schools. As people return to their homes and churches reopen, Larson anticipates an uptick in requests for aid.
“The key for the state council will be keeping the communication lines open with the affected parish administrations, the archdiocese, the local councils and chapters and providing help as needed,” he said.
Every natural disaster brings its own unique set of challenges, but the state council’s disaster preparedness committee is trained and ready to respond with financial aid and assistance in the worst-case scenarios.
“Our councils take a holistic approach to emergency situations by being ready in times of crisis, assessing response capabilities, and learning how to properly respond well ahead of a disaster,” Larson said.
One of the biggest challenges they now face is providing the necessary long-term support that follows such disasters, Larson said. The health impact could be severe, especially on those in marginalized communities and with pre-existing health conditions.
“Right now, we’re continuing to respond to any type of request or application that we get, and we’re continuing to spread the news that we’re here and we’re available,” he added. “Knights across the state and across the country have stepped up to send California financial aid and supplies. We can’t thank them enough.”