After seeing the heartbreaking impact of the LA fires, the youth at Claremont UMC turned their faith into action, building sifters to help families sift through the ashes of their homes. Led by Youth Director Sara Swift Tharpe, the group built sifters to help families search through the ashes for cherished belongings as fire relief efforts continue throughout Cal-Pac.

“I saw the project in the Cal-Pac newsletter and thought, ‘This is something we can do,’” Sara shared. She brought the idea to the youth, and their enthusiasm was immediate. “They were really into it—and getting to use power tools was a definite bonus!” With supervision from a few volunteers, including a former woodshop teacher, the youth—ranging from sixth graders to high school seniors—spent their Sunday afternoons measuring, cutting, and assembling eight of the sifters.

The project resonated deeply with the youth, many of whom have experienced the threat of wildfires near their own homes. “It’s real to them,” Sara said, recalling past fires near Mt. Baldy that put their congregation on high alert. They also discussed how one of their church’s staff members lost her home in this fire, bringing the impact even closer to their community.

“Our youth are really interested in service and how they can take care of their community and the earth,” Sara noted. “Being able to do something really active like this was really impactful.” She hopes this experience will inspire more opportunities for service close to home, as the youth explore new ways to care for their neighbors and their world.

The sifters will soon be delivered to those in need, a powerful symbol of hope and support. And for the Claremont UMC youth, this is just the beginning. Sara is already looking for more ways to channel their passion into local service. “I’m keeping my eyes and ears open,” she said.

With hearts full of compassion and hands ready to help, these young changemakers are proving that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.