The House of Munch: Day 4 – The Hardest Day Yet
Today, we stepped into a different role—helping on the Emotional and Spiritual Wellness team. It was a day of deep conversations, of listening, of witnessing both the best and worst of humanity. Those who lost everything poured out their grief, while those who escaped unscathed spoke of their guilt. We saw heartbreak and resilience in equal measure.
The sheer number of people seeking support was overwhelming. At one point, our line stretched down the block, with wait times reaching five hours. And yet, no one turned away. Our team smiled, cried, talked, and listened. We helped de-escalate tense moments, consoled fears, facilitated prayer spaces, and sat with survivors in one-on-one sessions. It was exhausting, yes—but more than that, it was necessary.
But there was one moment that stopped me in my tracks. A person approached me quietly, asking to speak in private. They weren’t here for themselves, but for their neighbors. Their neighbors had lost everything in the fires—but they were undocumented. They had heard about ICE raids happening across the country and were too afraid to come for help. Despite having nothing left, they feared that showing up might cost them even more.
A system was put in place to help them. In the end, everything worked out. But that moment stayed with me. It sobered me in a way I hadn’t expected. Disaster doesn’t discriminate, but the systems in place do. No one who has lost everything should have to weigh survival against the risk of being torn from their family. People shouldn’t have to navigate special accommodations just to feel safe getting help. And yet, they do.
Fear within fear within loss—this is a reality that many don’t consider when imagining disaster survivor populations. And what broke me today was knowing that no words of comfort, no assurances from us, could truly erase that fear.
The loss, the stories, the hopelessness, the despair—those I can handle. But the reality that policies put into place on another coast can make someone hesitate to seek help in their darkest moment? That made me want to cry.
Today was rewarding, yes. But it was also the hardest day of our journey yet.
With a heavy heart,
The House of Munch Team