The American chapter of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Tzu Chi USA, has launched an extensive relief operation in response to the devastating wildfires around Los Angeles that have destroyed an estimated 10,000 buildings and displaced more than 150,000 people, leading to urgent humanitarian needs.

Building on its decades-long history of disaster relief worldwide, Tzu Chi USA has set up care centers in designated disaster zones to provide temporary shelter for displaced residents. Volunteers have also been dispatched to three large shelters to distribute essential supplies, including blankets, clothing, food, and 10,000 N95 masks provided by a Taiwanese donor through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Los Angeles. Three boxes of protective goggles were also included in the donation, reflecting a collaborative effort between TECO and Tzu Chi USA to address immediate needs.

Debra Boudreaux, chief executive officer of Tzu Chi USA, noted that the charity had set up a care center to handle the needs of area residents and had also reached out to a Los Angeles counseling center to offer help, acknowledging that many in the area would suffer psychological trauma long after the fires had passed.

More than 20 years ago, scholar Diana Eck described the US as the most religiously diverse country in the world, adding:

We have extensive Buddhist traditions, places like Los Angeles [is] now really the most complex Buddhist city in the entire world. We have Hindus who have come not just from India, but from Trinidad and the Caribbean. We have Muslims who have come from the Middle East and from India and Pakistan and Africa and Indonesia. (PBS)

In Los Angeles, Asian Americans make up the third-largest racial group and also the most religiously diverse. Because of the fires, Asian Americans from across religious traditions are working to bring relief and recovery. Alongside the Buddhists of Tzu Chi USA, Hindus have also seen an influx of support from around the world.

“We have been receiving donations from all over the world. It really shows you the global impact that the city of LA has had, and people genuinely want to support this effort because of these dire circumstances,” said Mehul Patel, a volunteer at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chino Hills, east of Los Angeles. (NBC News)

Tzu Chi, founded in Taiwan in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, has built an international reputation for its compassionate and efficient disaster response. With a guiding philosophy of relieving suffering with love, the organization has responded to crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In the United States, Tzu Chi USA has played a significant role in disaster recovery, including providing support after hurricanes, wildfires, and floods.

The collaboration with TECO in Los Angeles highlights the interconnected efforts of global and local organizations in addressing disasters. TECO deputy director Chen Ling-hsin noted the importance of such partnerships in ensuring that aid reaches those in need quickly. She also advised Taiwanese nationals traveling to California to remain vigilant and aware of wildfire-related updates, emphasizing that air quality remained a significant concern, and that protective measures like masks were essential.

As California grapples with the immediate and long-term effects of the wildfires, Tzu Chi’s presence provides a beacon of hope and stability. The organization’s ability to mobilize resources, deploy volunteers, and extend compassionate care demonstrates its unique role in disaster recovery. By drawing on its global experience and deep commitment to service, Tzu Chi is once again affirming its goal of “transforming feelings of helplessness and despair into hope and empowerment, and bringing out the good in people through the happiness they discover when helping others.” (Tzu Chi USA)

See more

Diana Eck (PBS)
From Baptist churches to Buddhist temples, religious groups volunteer for fire victims (NBC News)
TECO to assist in delivery of supplies to fire victims (Taipei Times)
Taiwan to distribute essential supplies to L.A. wildfire victims (Focus Taiwan)
Our Mission (Tzu Chi USA)

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