Day laborers and volunteers clean after the Eaton Fire

On Thursday, dozens of volunteers and day laborers gathered at the Pasadena Community Job Center to help in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire. 

The volunteers were part of the Service Brigade to clean up roads and sidewalks in Pasadena and Altadena. 

On its second day of service, the cleaning crews were working in unaffected areas by the fires, but by the high winds that left debris and fallen trees. The day laborers with experience in landscaping were in charge of the chainsaws to cut the large trees. 

Cesar Saucedo is one of them. He wanted to volunteer his time, not only because he has been a member of the center for the past nine years, but because he has been living in South Pasadena for the past 25 years. He has expertise in landscaping and painting.

He said it was devastating to see the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena and he feels for those previous “bosses” who hired him in the past. 

“I have worked in several areas that are burned and it’s very sad to see that they don’t have anything anymore,” said Saucedo. “Their homes are burned. Now is the time to unite.” 

Nestor Alvarenga, a leader volunteer with the Service Brigade, said it did not take him much to realize he needed to help in the rebuilding of the Pasadena/Altadena community. He has been a member of the Pasadena Community Job Center for the past 20 years. He has his own job but when work is scarce on his end he tends to go to the center to look for any available job in construction, landscaping and furniture assembly. 

He said he is motivated to work in rebuilding because even though he doesn’t live in Pasadena, much of his work is in this area. 

“We will be removing trees that obstruct the road, we’ll put them on the side. We will also clean the sidewalks so people that use wheelchairs and walkers can pass by without issues,” said Alvarenga.  

Mano a mano

The Center, which is across the street from the Pasadena's Fire Station 33, is willing to help as much as possible because they realized the firefighters and the city workers needed a helping hand, which is the motto of the center.

Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), said the Service Brigade was created as an emergency response because many of the affected people are relatives or friends and it hit close to home. 

NDLON donated trash bags, gloves, helmets, vests, rakes, goggles, chainsaws and other essential items for the nearly 100 volunteers that flooded the Pasadena Community Job Center. 

“With this work, we are sending a message of hope. Hope is not something that exists in the air, hope is built by people exactly from all walks of life,” said Alvarado. 

Roberto Morales, another day laborer who volunteered his time in the Service Brigade said he felt very thankful and emotional to see the amount of volunteers.

Several other day laborers said they have restored their faith by seeing so many people, especially younger people. 

Essential center

The Pasadena Community Job Center is deemed essential and is accepting donations of vital items such as toiletries, food, and water. Throughout the day, dozens of people arrived to drop off hot and cold food, fruit, snacks, water, drinks, nut bars, clothes, shoes and essential items.

Other people also arrived to pick up donations after losing everything in the fires. Some were looking for resources such as prescriptions or access to certain departments to start rebuilding.

The Pasadena Community Job Center will be accepting donations. People interested in dropping off donations or volunteering can visit 500 N. Lake Avenue in Pasadena. For more information, you can contact (626) 440-0112.