North Texas volunteers helping California wildfire victims sift through the ashes
DALLAS - Many in North Texas are working to mobilize to help people in California who have lost everything in the wildfires.
The fires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
North Texas Volunteers in California
Volunteers from North Texas are on the front lines working to help people sift through the ashes while others are working to help Los Angeles make room for hundreds of displaced dogs and cats.
Local perspective:
A group of volunteers known as Texans on Mission arrived in California early Sunday morning.
"Having volunteers wash those clothes while you get a warm meal is like getting a hug from people you don't know," said spokesperson Rand Jenkins.
Texans on Mission are assessing the best locations to set up.
"Our next step is ash out. That is the most emotionally draining," Jenkins said. "You are sitting in the ashes of someone's home and looking for things they want to find: memorabilia, photos, jewelry. You scoop a bucket of ashes and sift and hope those things were not completely turned to ash. Once you find it, they cry and tell you why it's important."
Helping Overcrowded Pet Shelters
The Humane Society of North Texas and Wings of Rescue are working to help Los Angeles clear its shelters of homeless pets to make room for the hundreds needing to be reunited with owners.
Cassie Davidson is the senior director of both organizations.
"I flew into Los Angeles on Friday night. And when we were flying over the mountains, it was so dark outside. It was dark in the airplane, and then it wasn't," she recalled. "The skies were just lit up. It was like an inferno. You could see the wildfires from the air, and my heart just sank."
Davidson says they were able to fly out more than 160 pets over the weekend.
"Shelters like the Pasadena Humane Society are 500% over capacity right now," she said. "They've got so many medical cases coming in that we have got to get these pets cleared out that have been waiting for adoption."
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Churches are calling on members to give financially.
"There are several churches we partner with in the LA area that have been partners with us for the past 10-20 years," said Concord Church Pastor Bryan Carter. "We wanted to do a special offering up and above your regular offering to be a blessing."
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Davidson says many owners were separated from their pets when they were at work as the fires moved into their neighborhood. She says there is an emergency need for foster homes in North Texas to help.
"There is a plea to the community of North Texas," she said. "If you could open your home. if you could donate, this is how you can make a difference."
More than 150 homeless dogs and cats will be arriving from Los Angeles in North Texas Sunday afternoon.
If you are able to provide a foster home, contact the Humane Society of North Texas.
They also need Hills Science Diet food and pet beds. Those donations can be dropped off at any Humane Society of North Texas location.
The Red Cross is also taking donations for those affected by the California wildfires.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Texans on Mission, the Humane Society of North Texas, Wings of Rescue and previous FOX 4 reports.