Reflections on Paradise Lost
By LeeAnn Woodward
Tuesday, September 10 was a day I will never forget. I had the chance to visit the town of Paradise with some of our donors, 11 months after the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history, devastated this community. It took the lives of 86 people, destroyed almost 19,000 structures, and covered over 153,000 acres.
As we drove through the ridge, we saw charred trees, the signs of where a hospital used to be, the local salon, a grocery store, even a McDonald’s with only the golden arches left standing – it was not only emotional but also strangely inspiring to see the rebuilding that’s starting to happen. Read more
Having survived the 
It’s not surprising that a group of fourth graders from an elementary school in the picturesque coastal community of Pacific Grove have already developed a keen interest in their natural surroundings. But a recent gift to the American Red Cross shows that the young students also are developing a similar interest in helping their fellow humans. 
During the devastating Northern California fires this past October, every person who fled their homes — and in many cases, lost them — has a story to tell. So do the many Red Cross people who heroically stepped up to help in response to one of the most destructive weeks of fires in the state’s history.
