Two Buddhist groups have been part of the fire recovery work in Spokane since three fires, known as the Spokane Complex Wildfire, destroyed 921 structures and burned about 9,900 acres in early August.
Tzu Chi USA — a 60-year-old international humanitarian nonprofit — has sent about 40 volunteers to Spokane’s Disaster Assistance Center in Shadle High School three times: Aug. 6-9 to help with intake forms and Aug. 22-23 and Sept. 5-6 to give assistance.
Compassion in action
Driven by the philosophy of “Buddhism in action,” volunteers are encouraged to enter disaster zones and to assist individuals in person, often at their own expense, said Angela Wan, director of Tzu Chi Seattle and a volunteer of the organization for the last 33 years…