Since January 7, wildfires have wreaked havoc across Los Angeles, resulting in numerous fatalities, displacing tens of thousands of residents, and destroying thousands of buildings. Various organizations are stepping in to provide aid for those affected by these devastating fires:
**Assistance for Children**
Baby2Baby is a national nonprofit offering essential supplies like diapers, formula, and food for infants and children. They are currently accepting monetary donations to help distribute these goods to shelters, childcare facilities, and low-income housing.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Malibu are providing free counseling and case management services to families in the impacted areas. They are also accepting donations to fund emergency grants and plan to set up an emergency relief center once their facilities can reopen safely.
Project Camp, based in Los Angeles, specializes in trauma-informed pop-up day camps for children who are either displaced or unable to attend school due to natural disasters. They are establishing multiple locations to assist families affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires and are seeking monetary donations and volunteers to help staff the camps.
**Support for Displaced Households**
GiveDirectly is gathering funds to offer one-time cash payments ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 to individuals living in affected zip codes who qualify for federal assistance programs such as SNAP. This organization recently implemented a similar initiative for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) has partnered with Bethenny Frankel’s bstrong disaster relief fund to provide cash cards to evacuated residents, meeting their immediate needs such as accommodation, fuel, and food. They are also accepting cash contributions.
GoFundMe.org is utilizing its Wildfire Recovery Fund to provide $1,000 emergency grants to verified households that have suffered the loss of homes, belongings, or loved ones.
Instacart is offering a Community Carts platform, where users can select a YMCA to support and purchase items directly from a list of needed supplies.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with a network of over 600 partner organizations to ensure that affected families have access to food. They are accepting monetary donations, food contributions at two designated sites, and volunteers.
**Aid for First Responders and Volunteers**
The California Fire Foundation is dedicated to supporting both the firefighters tackling the Los Angeles fires and those who have been impacted.
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is raising funds to equip first responders with necessary tools and supplies.
Watch Duty is a nonprofit organization that provides real-time wildfire updates, including evacuation details and shelter information via a free app. This service relies on donations and a volunteer team of 200 individuals who gather and verify information from official sources.
**Support for Essential Workers**
Inclusive Action for the City is collecting donations for its cash assistance program aimed at providing $500 to outdoor workers, such as street vendors and landscapers, who have lost work due to the fires.
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is launching the ‘We Care: Domestic Worker Relief Fund’ to support local organizations that assist domestic workers affected by the fires. This support will include emergency financial aid, essential supplies, and long-term recovery assistance.
**Help for Animals**
The Pasadena Humane Society has welcomed hundreds of evacuated animals, including some with injuries. Their team is on the ground rescuing animals in need and is accepting monetary donations as well as items from their Amazon wishlist.
The American Humane Society is utilizing its emergency rescue team to transport shelter animals to locations in Washington and Oregon, freeing up space for displaced pets. Monetary donations are being accepted to support this effort.
**Long-term Recovery**
The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund will focus on the long-term needs following the disaster, including temporary housing, home rebuilding, mental health support, and medical care. They also aim to enhance equipment for firefighters and rebuild emergency communication systems. They are accepting cash donations and offer employee matching programs for businesses as well.
HabitatLA’s ReBUILD LA fund will assist in rebuilding homes, providing rental and mortgage support, temporary housing, and essential furnishings.
Both Team Rubicon and Samaritan’s Purse will support individuals who lost their homes once the cleanup phase starts. Team Rubicon plans to help clear debris while Samaritan’s Purse will assist residents as they sift through the wreckage to find personal belongings that may have survived the fires.
**Support from Family and Friends**
People who have experienced loss may need financial assistance, temporary lodging, or emotional support. It’s crucial to approach them sensitively, without imposing expectations on how they might react, according to Dr. Adrienne Heinz, a clinical research psychologist. Here are some suggestions:
1. Checking in can provide comfort. Express empathy and offer specific help, such as providing a meal. Let them know you will continue to reach out, but there is no pressure to respond.
2. Suggest tangible forms of assistance, such as grocery gift cards, lodging, or childcare.
3. Allow them the space to communicate; they may be unable to respond immediately for various reasons.
4. Avoid phrases that might belittle their experience, such as “At least you’re alive.” Everyone in the community is affected by this traumatic situation, and acknowledging their pain is important.
