Sri Sathya Sai International Organization - USA

What do you when all the water in the Pacific Ocean can’t put out the raging fires in Los Angeles? We turn to the vast ocean of love.

On January 8 2025, members of the Pacific South Region of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) reached out to everyone they knew to check on their wellbeing. Devotees opened their homes to those who were evacuated. When we heard that a devotee was affected, we immediately reached out and helped them replenish clothes and personal items. When we knew the fires were not going to be abated soon, we set up an 'LA Fires Service Team' that researched and shared information on displaced families and their needs.

When we heard that the city had converted the Pasadena Convention Center into a temporary shelter for over 1000 people displaced by the Eaton fires, Regional Service Coordinator went to speak with officials and several victims. She learned that while the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and several other organizations raced to support families, it was often difficult for people to get a warm meal. Every evening, a group of devotees got together and took 50 pizzas, chai, fruit, chips and water for families. Each day, someone came forward and provided the meal which allowed us to serve people for the entire month. On the only day that there were no sponsors, Domino's pizza franchise owner donated 75 pizzas with the sign 'Love All. Serve All.'

A week after the fires broke, the Mayor’s office partnered with FEMA to set up a site in West LA to help victims piece their life back together. A couple of hundred volunteers worked round the clock to help people file papers and get life essentials from lost IDs to insurance claims. We went and met with the site leader, she said the they were taking care of the victims but they needed a microwave and a hot meal for the volunteers. The Southeast Region of the SSSIO jumped in with our region to buy 50 pizzas and serve it along with salad for the volunteers.

Nightly prayers and nightly service may not have helped curb the fires but they gave people comfort while they were finding their new paths forward. A few months later the FEMA site leader called and asked if we wanted our microwave back or could she donate it to someone else. We were happy to have her donate the microwave to someone else who may need the comfort of a warm meal, albeit reheated.