• Local Volunteerism

The Holy Fire dominated the news for more than a week. It burned right down the hill and many neighborhoods were under mandatory evacuation orders. 

Today the skies are clearer and the billowing columns of smoke are no longer prominent above the ridgeline. The fires are now 100% contained, but that doesn't mean they aren't still smoldering among the nearly 23,000 acres that have been affected.

Link to CalFire's incident info page.

Which brings us to the subject of this blog: Local Volunteerism.

Lisa Watkins and Barry Puckhaber of Parker, Arizona started to gather donated supplies to bring to the first responders. She is the bar manager at the Fraternal Order of Eagles 4419 in Parker, and he works for Parker Unified School District. (From Parker, Az? Yes, it's still about Local Volunteerism)

Barry Puckhaber on the left, Lisa Watkins on the right, and the goods in the middle.

Lisa grew up in Wildomar, over on Shoemaker Drive, graduating from Elsinore High School.

They thought they were headed this way a week ago, but once others in their area heard about the donation effort, they wanted to join in. 

Parker's Cub Scout Pack 16 donated a case of Gatorade, toothbrushes and toothpaste and box of corn nuts.  Others from the area donated items like nonalcoholic wipes, granola bars, clean socks, Propel, Pedialyte and the like.

The pickup bed was filled with various supplies that had been donated to the cause.

As it turns out, members of the Buckskin Fire Department 1101, local to the Parker area, were sent to fight the fires in California. The two weren't apprised of such until just a couple of days ago after they were already well into the donation drive.

This donation letter from the Eagles to the local Walmart helped bring in a
donation of $75 and discounts on other purchases made for the first responders.

The local angle is further established as longtime Wildomar resident, Gloria Allred (no, not that Gloria Allred ☺), Lisa's mom, had also been participating in a local donation effort when the flames were their highest. She listed Albertsons, Ace Hardware, and Barons as key donors in the effort.

My favorite quote from the conversation came from Lisa when she related a story about being asked why she was taking donations. 

A woman had asked her, "Why are you [asking for] donations to take down there?"

Lisa was taken aback and responded, "Excuse me?"

The woman followed up with, "That's why we have FEMA."

After a few more exchanges that didn't make much headway with the woman, Lisa said to her, "You know what? I'm FEMA!", which brought some laughter from us all. 

She continued, "I said, '"We are FEMA! Those donations... we are acting [as FEMA]."

You have to admire the spirit that Lisa and Barry have, one that isn't waiting for the government to show up. One where everyday members of the community can fill the void in the meantime. 

They'd be the first to tell you that it was a team effort that got the goods together. I'll take the blame for not knowing more of the names of the people that didn't make the trek to SoCal. 

I'm sure none of them were doing it in hopes of getting any recognition... and Lisa told me that she had no idea that her mom had asked if I'd be interested in blogging about it. ☺ 

Just people doing good things for other people, because they are so moved.

The donated items were delivered to appreciative faces at Wildomar's Station 61, La Cresta's Station 75 and Station 10 in Lake Elsinore. 

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The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you're made of, not the circumstances.
– Unknown

Wildomar Rap is neither a tuber nor a shelled glob of future fowl. Therefore, direct contact with boiling water is assiduously avoided.

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