SAN JOSE, CALIF. — On Jan. 7, a huge wildfire started in Los Angeles (L.A.) County, causing thousands of people to leave their homes. The fire spread quickly because of strong winds and dry weather.

Due to these conditions, it’s hard for firefighters to slow and stop the fire. Many families had to abandon their property, questioning whether their homes would still be there when they returned or left with nothing.

The fire has made a lot of people in L.A. devastated, and students at Silver Creek High School are also worried. 

“I feel like a wildfire is such a tragedy and it’s just insane.  I would be so heartbroken if I lost my home like the people in L.A.,” Nhi Chau, a junior shared. Further empathizing with the feelings of distraught over the inimitable memories that can be made without the houses many made into a comfortable home. 

Another junior at Silver Creek High, Brooklee Tran, also spoke of his sentiment of the wildfires. 

“The wildfire is devastating to the many people who live in L.A. I believe they should receive all the help they can get and our school’s Hope Hearted club is doing their best to send supplies to them. I am grateful we have such caring people in our community. I would feel devastated if I lost my home like the people in L.A. and I hope they will be safe,” said Tran.

Hope Hearted, a student-led nonprofit at Silver Creek High School, is raising funds and distributing clothes, medical and hygiene items to those in need like the victims of the L.A. wildfires, the unhoused and low-income people in California. The Hope Hearted club collects unused items through donation drives and hospital partnerships. In addition to supplying kits they distribute fentanyl test strips in partnership with the California Governor’s Naloxone Distribution Project.

Silver Creek’s Hope Hearted Club is working hard to gather donations to help people affected by the fire. The disaster in L.A. shows how nature can be hard to predict and reminds us to help the people in our community.