St. Vincent’s Helping in Firestorm Relief Effort
Village Focusing on Growing Need in East County

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village responded last night to victims of the San Diego firestorm, delivering food, water and blankets to four county evacuation centers, in addition to providing refuge to displaced animals at the organization’s Campo ranch.

   A large Village truck typically used to pick up donations of used goods was utilized to deliver emergency supplies to evacuation sites at Balboa Park’s municipal gym, Qualcomm Stadium and Mira Mesa High School.

   St. Vincent’s recently purchased lunch truck is staged at Mountain Empire High School, providing food to evacuees of the East County fire. A water truck that is kept at the Village’s Campo ranch is also at Mountain Empire High School, offering potable water to evacuees.

   The Village ranch is providing refuge to over 200 animals owned by victims of the fire; ranch staff members have also delivered several bales of hay to the Lazy A Ranch in Alpine, which is also being used as an animal evacuation center.

   St. Vincent’s is working with the San Diego Humane Society to provide emergency shelter for displaced animals. The Village is not taking direct calls related to emergency housing for animals. People in need of shelter for pets and livestock should call the San Diego Humane Society.

   President of St. Vincent’s, Father Joe Carroll, says the emergency assistance is an extension of the typical services the Village offers San Diego.

   "We provide help to all of our neighbors in need, regardless of the circumstances which lead to their misfortune," he says. "We’ll continue to offer help to victims of this terrible tragedy and keep all of San Diego in our thoughts and prayers."

   As a result of numerous calls of support for fire victims, St. Vincent’s is accepting donations to assist with its continuing emergency outreach efforts. People are encouraged to send checks to: St. Vincent de Paul Village, ATTN: Fire Relief Fund, San Diego, CA, 92102, or call (619) 687-1066.

   The Village is also accepting tickets to tonight’s Monday Night Football game, which has been relocated to Tempe, AZ. Refunds from those tickets will be put toward St. Vincent’s ongoing emergency relief efforts.

   Media inquiries will be taken at (619) 525-1608.

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