Friendship--An Introduction
January 2004
Banner photo: Hokkaido, Japan ©SEKAI BUNKA PHOTO
Fire Relief in California
Alpine, near San Diego
In the last week of October, fires burned more than 800,000 acres in southern California and destroyed at least 3,300 homes. From Ventura County to Mexico, tens of thousands of evacuations were ongoing.
More than 75 SGI-USA volunteers, spearheaded by the youth, provided support and assistance in local communities. Their red T-shirts with "SGI-USA" on the back were sought out by many rescue workers and evacuees.
On October 28, SGI-USA Youth Leader Steve Mortan led some 20 SGI-USA youth to San Bernardino municipal airport, which sheltered more than 7,000 evacuees. He was soon asked by the organizers to lead a team of airport security guards and two deputy sheriffs and take responsibility for the security of the whole facility.
At the same time, several SGI-USA community centers in affected areas were open around the clock for anyone who needed assistance.
On October 29, SGI-USA members met at the SGI-USA Riverside Community Center to offer support. Boys and girls group members and their parents even filled Halloween treat bags for children at the San Bernardino airport evacuation shelter.
SGI-USA volunteers at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium
Members prepared food and donated blankets and clothing as well as chanting for the welfare of the fire victims and the protection of the firefighters. SGI-USA Young Men's Secretariat Leader Ibrahim Nodarse and others headed to Qualcomm Stadium, a temporary staging ground for thousands of evacuees.
They helped set up an information booth and organized donations, which included food, water, blankets and other necessities.
Masato Tsuchiya, a student at Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, described the scene at Qualcomm Stadium: "I brought water bottles to one lady. She didn't want to talk, she didn't want water. I thought, 'What do people want now?' It is more than bringing water. It's about caring for people. I came back with a blanket and water, and I spent about half an hour just listening to her. She was very worried about her house. People were really happy that the SGI was there to help."
The operations at Qualcomm wound down as evacuees left for other shelters. SGI-USA members took the initiative to ask rescue organizations to send trucks to clear up. They spent the rest of the day loading the trucks with unused supplies and cleaning the parking area. Although they had not been the first volunteer group to arrive, they were the last to leave.
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