(Updated April 11, 2025)
On January 7th, the Eaton fire began, eventually burning over 14,000 acres and destroying or damaging over 10,000 structures, businesses, homes and schools. Our Pasadena Covenant community lost eleven homes, and seven of our church families are still displaced. We are happy to report that all those displaced are gradually seeing a way back and all eleven families who lost their homes have long-term places to stay and are receiving various forms of assistance. Although the heartbreak and trauma continue, our families are being supported financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
We have received over $400,000 from 25 churches, two organizations and generous contributions from over 263 individual donors. Already we have moved over $200,000 of this aid to families in our church impacted by the fires. Your support has also come in the form of soul lifting expressions of love such as providing worship support, support for our hospitality time, or even blessings of art. We were blown away by Well Spring Covenant Church in Oahu that sent beautiful handmade quilts for our families affected by the fire.
Additionally, we’re not keeping this generosity in house – but are working with our local partners the Clergy Community Coalition and the Pasadena Job Center, to seek justice, flourishing and shalom of our city. And we must do this work because disasters like this expose and expand deep injustices.
Consider the effect of this fire on Altadena’s residents of color. As of 2023, 81% of Black residents in Altadena were homeowners, which is nearly double the national average. These homes had significant historical value and represented generational wealth, making a crucial impact on the racial injustice gap that continues to affect our nation. Our church is determined to mobilize and advocate for Altadena to remain a bastion of racial equality and justice.
It is also important that you know that nearly 20% of Altadena residents are Latinas and Latinos suffering the double impact of lost homes and lost income in the service industry. As if one fire isn’t enough, el pueblo fears attack and deportation and are extremely hesitant to seek aid. With your support and a significant grant from Love Mercy Do Justice in Chicago, we have quietly assisted our most vulnerable neighbors with over $100,000 in support.
Beloved family, we do believe that our work together reflects Isaiah’s vision of God’s comfort: “Every valley shall be raised up, and every mountain and hill made low.” Thank you, beloved Covenant family, for joining us in the long hard work of comforting and rebuilding our community. Your response to God’s call of mercy is invaluable and we hope you will continue to pray for us and walk with us as this work of transformation is likely going to take at least a decade. We ask that you remember us in your prayers and support us in the years to come.
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We created the Eaton Fire Relief Fund immediately after the fire in January and have been collecting donations. There has been an incredible outpouring of financial support from within the congregation at PasCov, across many Covenant churches, from multiple churches who are personally connected to members at PasCov, past PasCov attendees, students, colleagues in ministry, and even people we have not met who have heard of the need for our Altadena/Pasadena community and wanted to give to a church that was committed to the mission of caring for the neighborhood as well. Thank you for your generosity and care for our community in the midst of the Eaton Fire.
Our leadership has formed a special benevolence team of three to establish criteria for disbursements and oversee the distribution of the monies to those in need. We want you to be well informed that we have already begun financial support to all of the families within our PasCov community who lost homes and are assessing needs for those who continue to be displaced. We are also walking and working in solidarity with our neighbors. We are mobilizing these funds as wisely as we can and with as little red tape as possible so that immediate needs can be met.
Crises expose the vulnerability of those on the margins, highlighting their urgent needs. Like the Good Samaritan, we are called to see, serve, and come alongside our neighbors in their times of greatest need. Jesus teaches us to show compassion, especially during times of crisis. Our Peace and Justice team members wrote a substantial grant via the Covenant “Love Mercy Do Justice Department” to specifically use to give to families in our local community outside of PasCov Church—and the EFRF team and the Peace and Justice team are coordinating with the Pasadena Community Job Center about how to do that—there will be more to share about that in the next couple of months! We have already helped to buy and replace tools, cleaning supplies and helped with rent and establishing safe spaces to land in after this disaster. Every day there are new needs that appear, and we want to hear God’s Spirit as we make choices and distribute funds.
If you want to give financially, please use the ‘Donate Here’ button below and use the drop down select ‘Give to Eaton Fire Relief Fund (EFRF)’. You can also donate by sending a check to Pasadena Covenant Church (539 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101) and write "Eaton Fire Relief Fund" (EFRF) on the memo line. Donations to this fund will be used for Benevolence (church family needs) or Outreach (community needs) at the discretion of our EFRF Benevolence Team.
Supplies: If you want to send resources (people and/or supplies), we are working with the Clergy Community Coalition who is coordinating efforts on a city-wide scale in sustained and concerted way. Please email Amara here.