Local Leaders and Lasting Change in California, Hawai‘i and North Carolina
Disasters often make headlines in the moment, but recovery takes time, trust and local partnerships. The Palisades Fire, Maui Fire and Hurricane Helene were devastating to the impacted communities. Ever since, Episcopal Relief & Development has been intentionally working with local leaders to help survivors establish a new normal.
Some time has passed since these events, and the critical work to restore infrastructure, secure housing and boost the economy continues. We lead with faith, hope and dignity as we accompany communities through grief and imagining a new life. Here are a few short stories about the local efforts of our partners. They are examples of how local wisdom and deep relationships create lasting change.
Local Churches and Nonprofits Work Together to Support Hawai’i Fire Recovery
Nearly two years after wildfires devastated communities in Maui, Episcopal Relief & Development is walking alongside the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i in long-term response efforts. One key partner is Family Life Center, a trusted local nonprofit serving women and children for over 40 years. Today, they’re playing a much broader role. The Diocese is working with them to help fire survivors access critical resources: rent support, appliances, building permits, septic tanks, even airfare and vehicle shipping for families relocating to the mainland. With housing costs soaring, this work is essential. Since the onset of the fires, and even now, the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i continues to partner with community-based partnerships in order to offer needed and trusted support.
A Symbolic Werewolf and Community Fortitude after the Palisades Fire
When the January 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed a sober home in Altadena, California, the residents at the Church of Our Saviour’s Jubilee Homes recovery ministry lost everything including a quirky Halloween werewolf they had dressed up year-round. Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles provided emergency housing, security deposits and essential items to help them start over. Once the residents’ immediate needs were met, the ministry decided to buy another werewolf because it had become a local symbol of joy and connection. Before the fire, its story spread online, inspiring t-shirts and tributes. Now, as the site is cleared post-fire, the werewolf now remains as a joyful reminder of community cohesion as Altadena recovers.
Western North Carolina Congregations Solve Critical Issues Caused by Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in September 2024, it left behind the state’s worst storm damage on record—over 100 lives lost, thousands of homes destroyed and rural communities were cut off from critical resources by landslides. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Edneyville, despite damage to its parish hall, quickly became a lifeline. Within days, it reopened as a distribution center, supplying food, clothing and essentials to neighbors who had nowhere else to turn. Now, with support from Episcopal Relief & Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, St. Paul’s is partnering with Moms WNC, a local nonprofit, to reach the most isolated families. Together, they are helping repair damaged bridges and walkways, and deliver aid where it was needed most.
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