Colleagues pitch in to help fire victims put their lives back together again

Like a family, CTA local chapters have united to help their colleagues in Southern California who were victims of the most widespread and destructive fires ever to hit the state.

As of press time, 68 members had filed claims with California Casualty for homes that have been destroyed or badly damaged by the fires.

CTA's Disaster Relief Fund has awarded 59 grants of $1,000 each for a total of $59,000, and 41 interest-free loans for a total of $52,500. CTA members are eligible to receive both.

"It's been a terrible ordeal for many of our members, especially for those who lost their homes," says CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dean E. Vogel. "I know though that CTA, through our local chapters, has been able to respond quickly with a check to help fire victims pay for some of the basics while they wait for their insurance money to come through."

Cajon Valley Education Association President Suzanne Mullins and her husband Roger, who's a classified employee in the nearby Grossmont school district, lost their home in El Cajon.

"It's been a pleasure to get back to work after all this," she says.

Between teaching sixth grade at Hillsdale Middle School and carrying out her duties as chapter president, Mullins hasn't had a lot of time to rue her loss. Eight of her members lost their homes, and scores of students were affected by the fire.

At the 279-student Crest Elementary School, for example, the families of 60 students lost their homes, says Mullins. Thankfully, friends, neighbors and chapter members have all rallied to help each other.

CVEA quickly mobilized to donate food, clothing and such services as baby-sitting and pet watching to members affected by the fire. It also refunded local dues to members.

"It isn't a lot of money, but it's something fire victims can use right now, while they're in between paychecks."

Another chapter that responded to colleagues in distress was the Corona-Norco Teachers Association in Riverside County. Although its members were untouched by fire, they dug into their pocketbooks to donate $2,500 to help their colleagues. Every one of the chapter's 2,300 members gave at least $1 to the effort.

"We have a practice of doing that," says CNTA President Michael Testo. "We've given to the Hawaiian teachers who were on strike, and we've given to others. We believe in helping our fellow teachers."

Several local chapters were quick to act on behalf of their own members, raising money, providing meals, offering their homes, and donating their unused personal necessity days so that their colleagues could schedule appointments without exhausting their leave bank. Some chapters also quickly organized to locate and keep track of their members who had been in harm's way.

"As soon as we began to see what was happening with the fires, we put everyone's name and phone number in a database and began calling up people by ZIP code. When the fires were over, we knew exactly where everyone was but two. We feel like we're a family, and we need to take care of each other," says Paul Schnaubelt, president of La Mesa-Spring Valley Teachers Association, east of San Diego. Five chapter members lost their homes and several others lost their vacation cabins.

Using the database, the chapter began to collect requests for assistance and match them with willing donors. Members who were unscathed opened their pocketbooks and their hearts to help others. One single mother of three who was forced to move into a trailer after her house burned down requested gift cards for meals and movies to keep her children occupied. She received more than 90 gift certificates, Schnaubelt reports.

Members also donated leave time to allow their colleagues to attend meetings with their insurance companies, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials and contractors.

"More than 400 people donated over 600 days of leave," says Schnaubelt.

The Grossmont Education Association is working with 10 of the 12 high school sites within the district where members have been affected by the fires. Thirteen teachers lost their homes along with 13 classified employees and more than 200 students, according to the latest figures from Stephen Haiman, president of the 1,100-member chapter. One district student died in the fire.

"It's really hit home," says Haiman, noting that the chapter's secretary is one of those who lost a house in the fire.

The chapter facilitated the paperwork that needed to be done for CTA's disaster relief fund and has also waived the local portions of the union dues for the year. In addition to collecting clothing, housewares and other things that victims may need, the chapter plans to reach out to local businesses to set up a registry so people will be able to list items they need.

"Right now, everyone is getting by, but people will need things when they start to rebuild," says Haiman.

Along with the horrifying stories of loss, there were also some bright spots as well.

In the San Diego area, Gene Kraszewski, a social studies teacher and member of the Grossmont Education Association, stayed behind to try to save his house in the Crest area when his neighborhood was evacuated. Just when he thought he was losing the battle, the fire melted the swimming pool encasement at the home above his and thousands of gallons of water flowed downhill, saving his home.