By Mary O’KEEFE

Since the first day of the Eaton Fire, St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church and its congregation has been reaching out to those who have been affected by the disaster. Members of the congregation are involved in a variety of community clubs and organizations including Prom Plus, the Fire House (a St. Luke’s mission),  Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and Crescenta Valley Lions Club. 

June Mack is a member of the CV Lions Club as well as a member of the church. She has been working with the Seeds of Hope, an Episcopal ministry that “connects hungry communities with free, healthy produce and provides garden-based nutrition education,” according to its website. Bi-monthly Seeds of Hope has been providing up to 50 boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to the church to distribute them to those who have lost their homes due to the fire or have otherwise been affected by the fire. 

Mack was then contacted by Carolyn Weil, a member of the East Bay Heritage Quilters (EBHQ) and a fellow Lions Club member from the Berkeley area. She told Mack she had several quilts that had been made for those who had been affected by the January fires. 

The EBHQ is part of the Deanna Davis Community Quilt Project. It was founded in 1978 and is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and continuing  the traditions, culture and history of quilting. Over the years the EBHQ quilters, through the Deanna Davis Community Quilt Project, has donated hundreds of quilts to different causes – from children’s hospitals to those who lost homes due to fires. 

Mack received numerous quilts on Thursday, May 1 and, with other church members and members of the CV Chamber of Commerce, the quilts were distributed to those who had been affected by the Eaton Fire. 

When people came to pick up their box of fruits and vegetables they were also able to choose a handmade quilt. Many of the recipients were overwhelmed by the generosity. 

“The Crescenta Valley Lions Club received an email from Carolyn Weil, a fellow Lions Club member, from Berkeley, California. Her contact in the LA area was not able to pass out the quilts to the Altadena families who were affected by the fires. She asked if our Club could help,” explained Mack. “We replied, saying we could help out since we knew of some families already through the St. Luke’s of the Mountains Food Justice program who were greatly affected. Gene Kahane, a husband of one of the quilters, kindly drove down the 60 quilts, quilt pieces and two sewing machines to deliver to families in need. Pasadena Host Lions Club was also contacted by Carolyn Weil and will help distribute some of the quilts.” 

One person said she noticed that much of the support that had been available earlier was starting to leave the Altadena area; however, there is much that still needs to be done. Having lost her home, she added that just knowing there are people who are thinking of them meant everything. 

Altadena Chamber of Commerce President Judy Matthews, who is working closely with the CV Chamber, was able to help distribute many of the quilts.