Professor implores students to help fire victims

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - A photography professor at California State University- Chico wrote a letter to his students calling on them to forget classwork and assignments and instead help the victims of the deadly wildfires ripping through California.

At least 31 people had been killed in the blazes as of Monday.

Aaron Draper posted the letter to Facebook on Nov. 10. It had been shared thousands of times since.

It read in part:

"During this week off I don’t want you to think about your homework assignments. Don’t think about what will be due when you return. While our classroom learning has been paused, there is an opportunity for another type of learning. Learn what you can do to help our neighbor.

Let this week be a time when you can grow closer to others by serving them.

The only way to reach them is by being with them in person. Listen to their stories. Understand what they could never convey in a text. Share their emotional burden."

There are many ways to lend a hand. Visit this LINK for more information.