On Monday, October 22, the Sulpizio Family Branch opened its doors to set up an evacuation center for many displaced families who were affected by the Witch Creek Fires. Many families from the Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Ramona communities were able to take shelter in our facility. At the peak of the firestorm, the Club housed about 350 men, women and children providing meals, beds and supplies to those in need. The Club was able to provide these vital services through the overwhelming outpouring of donations. Everything from food and water to clothes, toys, blankets, and pillows, and personal hygiene items were provided to care for the evacuees.

The emergency shelter was run by the City of Poway. City of Poway staff worked along side the Boys & Girls Club staff to coordinate resources and ease the concerns of those in their care. Club staff members helped with facility issues, answered questions and provided information and accommodations to anyone needing help. One room in the Club was provided for adults to watch the news and another room was provided for kids to watch movies and play games. The Boys & Girls Club was one of three locations in the Poway Community Park that was used for relief for displaced families. Services at the Club continued through Wednesday the 24th, when most residents in the Poway area were allowed to return to their homes. For more information regarding the Sulpizio Family Branch, please contact Gregg Soffe, Area Director at 1-858-748-9933.

The recent wildfires have had a large impact on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. The communities of Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, and Poway were hard hit with families losing homes, damage to the club facilities and lost revenues to the Clubs. A fund was created which included fire related losses to the Clubs and services to be provided to children impacted by the fires over the remainder of the current fiscal year.

Expenses to Clubs include fire-related damages to club property-an unexpected expense to the agency. Repairs and cleanup include resurfacing of gym floors, cleaning of gyms and pools, landscape cleanup and fence damages. Lost revenue has also created a financial pinch for the Boys & Girls Clubs. All 12 clubhouse facilities were closed for a minimum of 2 days during the fires and 4S Ranch, Poway, Valley Center and Ramona facilities were closed for up to six days. The Clubs opened during the week of the fires and provided free services to children for three days from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Financial losses came in the form of lost dues, daycamp and transportation fees.

The Boys and Girls Club would also like to provide services to children who were directly impacted by the fires. The Clubs are proposing to provide 100% scholarships to all children in our service areas impacted by the fires, so that these children can take advantage of all of the programs and activities the club as to offer through June 30, 2008. Any support of this fund would be greatly appreciated. The total need is projected to be $150,000. For more information regarding this fund please contact Danny Sherlock, President/CEO at 1-760-746-3315.

The Boys & Girls Club has made new friends with three girls in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, because of the recent wildfires. Hayden age 11, Savannah, age 8 and Ava, age 5 or the "We Three Care Club" as they affectionately call themselves, saw the wild fires on television and were moved to action when the saw all the families who had lost everything. The young girls collected donations of clothing, toys, games, crafts and many other items from their school, neighborhood, friends, local health and racquet club, and their church. They decided to send all of the items to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego to be distributed to those who lost their homes and belongings in the fires. Kinkos/FedEx donated the shipping of nine large boxes. These girls' generous hearts will make a big difference in the lives of so many families and children who lost nearly everything.

Henery, a third grader at the Valley Center Branch was devastated by the wildfires this past October. Henery is an active member at the Valley Center Branch and loves participating in games and outdoor activities. His favorite sport is football but his favorite athlete is Tony Hawk.

Prior to the fires, Henery and his family lived on the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley, one of the communities devastated by the Poomach Fire. Over 9,000 acres of reservation land burned as 55 homes went up in flames-including Henery's. Henery and his family now reside with grandmother in Pala and it will take at least seven months for his home to be rebuilt. Henery says that the item he misses most is his autographed photo of Tony Hawk that was lost in the fire. Henery's story is just one example of how the lives of our Club members have been forever impacted by the fires.

Club members from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley extended their encouragement through art to the members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego affected by the fires. After hearing about the fires, the Napa Valley children wanted to do something special for the fellow Club members so they decided to make pictures and posters with uplifting messages for their San Diego counterparts. Thank you Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley!