Rising Like the Phoenix from the Ashes

Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association

Wild Fire and Disaster Recovery

By Christine Dreher

Photos by Staff Members & Volunteers

San Diego’s recent “May 2014 Fire Siege,” wild fires burned more than 2,500 acres of land, 41 homes and 18 apartment units in Escondido, San Marcos and Carlsbad. Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association (HGSA) incurred substantial fire damage and loss of buildings and homes on May 15 in the Coco’s wild fire, devastating HGSA’s 118-year-old historic and religious landmark founded in 1896. 

HGSA incurred the loss of their church, business and education office, gift store, information center, retreat and rental cabins. Total infrastructure damage was also sustained to the electrical and plumbing systems, landscaping and even the well. In addition, 21 leaseholder’s homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire, displacing a total of 45 residents.

Currently, there aren’t any working utilities (still requiring repairs and inspections), a new septic system will need to be designed and approved for the residents, along with zoning and rebuilding up to current codes. Fire debris removal is underway for those residents without insurance or limited insurance thanks to the amazing Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer team that traveled to San Diego (camping out at their local church and on friend’s couches) to help residents at HGSA with specialized wild fire cleanup.

About HGSA

HGSA is a non-profit, Spiritualist Association located in the Harmony Grove/Elfin Forest area of Escondido run entirely by volunteers. Nestled in a sheltered valley, amidst rolling hills, HGSA sits on 13 acres of beautiful natural surroundings including a meditation garden, meandering creek, and an abundance of trees and wildflowers. HGSA offers weekly healing and spiritual church services, ongoing classes and workshops, Institute training for spiritual classes and programs for Ministerial Ordainment, Healing, Spiritual Development, and Mediumship certification, spiritual counseling, monthly psychic fairs, and monthly Adventures in Spiritual Discovery Meetup events with guest speakers, authors, and instructors.

HGSA is in desperate need of our community’s support in their disaster recovery efforts and to help rebuild their buildings and restore their beautiful grounds, so they can continue to serve all of those who come for healing, education, worship, and community. Financial donations are very much needed right now and are tax-deductible. In addition, donations of computers, office equipment and supplies, building supplies and services, tree trimming and removal, landscaping design and plants, paving, signage, and volunteers with fundraising talents are needed.

Please mail donations for HGSA in the form of a check or money order to: Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association, 2975 Washington Circle, Escondido, CA 92029 or call (760) 745-9176 or e-mail HarmonyGroveSpiritual@yahoo.com

Help Also Needed for 45 Wild Fire Residents

Also in desperate need are the 45 residents who lost their homes and belongings, many not insured or under insured. As much as Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association loves and supports all of the homeowners and renters on their land, who lost their homes and belongings, (including several HGSA board members), due to the non-profit tax regulations, HGSA cannot collect or distribute donations of any kind for the residents living at HGSA.

More community volunteers and donations are needed to help these 45 who lost everything in these wild fires. We want to thank all of those volunteers in our community who have helped Annette Cavender with the house goods’ donation drive for the residents. Annette still needs volunteers to help her with receiving, sorting, and especially picking up and delivering donations. Financial donations and new or good condition furniture and household goods (no clothing) are still needed moving forward on an ongoing basis as residents move out of friend’s or family’s homes or motel rooms into interim or permanent housing. Their home rebuilding process is expected to take at lease 18 to 24 months.

Please contact Annette at HGSAResidentDonations@yahoo.com if you would like to make a financial donation, volunteer to help, or donate/deliver house goods to help these wild fire residents.

For insurance and safety purposes, HGSA is asking that you refrain from visiting HGSA until further notice, during the immediate recovery process, unless you have an authorized business purpose for being on the grounds. All HGSA activities, services and the scheduled Summer Institute will be on hold until further notice while we prepare to rebuild. Notifications and updates will be communicated at http://www.HarmonyGroveSpiritualist.org  and/or a Harmony Grove Spiritual Association’s Facebook page.

Other Ways to Help

If you are a Facebook fan, please visit HGSA’s Facebook page, “Like” and post comments and support, as well as sharing our status with others. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harmony-Grove-Spiritualist-Association/17301151044328. Forward communications and postings onto your network of contacts and post on your social media pages.

Be healthy & help HGSA

HGSA minister, instructor, and member Christine Dreher, CCN, CCH is also president and founder of Christine’s Cleanse Corner, Inc (CCC), located in San Diego. She is donating 10% of health and nutrition supplement purchases to HGSA when you click and follow HGSA’s “TransformYourHealth” banner posted on each page of the Harmony Grove website. That tracking link takes you to the CCC website, where you can purchase your nutritional supplements online. Our affiliate company will pay HGSA 10% of your purchase total. CCC is offering great prices and free shipping on purchases of $100 or more. You can find TYH fundraising banners at: http://www.HarmonyGroveSpiritualist.org.

Please find a way to support both HGSA and the HGSA residents. Your immediate support of HGSA and the 45 residents is so needed and much appreciated.