Samaritan’s Purse aiding victims of California wildfires

Evangelist Franklin Graham’s Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse is sending two tractor-trailers with tools and relief supplies to help victims of the northern California wildfires.

“These vicious wildfires have already burned up thousands of acres, and they’re still raging,” Graham said Friday in announcing the relief effort. “We are praying for those affected, and our teams are there to help devastated families pick up the pieces of their lives.”

The international Christian relief organization will use its nationwide network of volunteers to assist families as they sift through the ashes to recover photo albums, jewelry and other possessions, Graham said.

Samaritan’s Purse program managers Tony McNeil and Jonathan Blevins are in California to manage the efforts. Tim Haas, manager of U.S. disaster relief for Samaritan’s Purse, is coordinating the efforts from Boone headquarters.

A team of chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team has also gone to California to work beside volunteers and provide spiritual and emotional care to victims.

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 9:35 AM with the headline "Samaritan’s Purse aiding victims of California wildfires."