How to help victims of devastating Southern California wildfires
[ad_1]
- Thousands of residents have evacuated, and at least five fatalities have been reported.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and President Biden approved a disaster declaration to provide resources.
- Numerous organizations are accepting donations to assist wildfire victims and support relief efforts.
Several fast-growing wildfires fueled by a vicious Southern California wind storm are devastating communities across the Los Angeles region, with homes being burned to the ground and over a 150,000 people ordered to evacuate to safety.
At least five people have been killed in the Eaton Fire, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who told ABC7 the death toll is expected to rise. The blaze has spread more than 13,000 acres in the Altadena-Pasadena area while the Palisades Fire has burned over 19,000 acres between the coastal California cities of Santa Monica and Malibu.
More wildfires are being reported in the county, including the 600-acre Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley and the 300-acre Lidia Fire in the community of Acton.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency Wednesday and President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration to designate resources to battle the blaze, but more support is needed.
Here are some of the organizations taking donations to help victims of the wildfires.
Get weather and fire alerts via text:Sign up to get current wildfire updates by location
California Wildfire Relief Fund
GlobalGiving’s California Wildfire Relief Fund is taking donations that the organization says will go directly toward supporting wildfire relief and recovery efforts in the state. The fund aims to provide food, water and shelter to victims through vetted nonprofits.
The Washington, D.C.-based non-profit says they’ve received at least $37,000 in donations.
Live updates:Sheriff says California wildfire death toll has risen to 5 as LA area ablaze
Wildfire Recovery Fund
The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund aims to offer relief to marginalized communities hardest hit by the devastating fires.
The non-profit aims to provide basic needs from shelter, food and cash toward wildfire victims and has raised over $700,000 raised, according to its website.
Project HOPE
Project Hope is accepting donations to help provide urgent aid and supplies to the wildfire survivors. The global humanitarian organization has been working on the ground to support local shelters, health workers and marginalized communities amid the devastation.
Wildfire and Disaster Relief program
The Foundation for California Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges have partnered to create the Wildfire and Disaster Relief program.
Donations to the fund will provide immediate assistance to students, faculty and staff affected by the wildfires as at least 13 LA area community colleges have temporarily closed.
California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation provides aid to firefighters battling the blazes, as well as their loved ones and the communities they support.
By making a donation, the group says you can help “commemorate fallen heroes, offer scholarships to children of fallen firefighters, provide aid to victims of fire, or other natural disaster, and provide fire safety resources to underserved communities across California.”
Pasadena Humane Society
The Pasadena Humane Society is accepting donations to help support pet evacuations across the LA area.
Ventura County Wildfire Relief & Recovery
Ventura County Wildfire Relief & Recovery provides urgent funding to those in need in neighboring Los Angeles County.
LA Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting donations to distribute healthy food to victims of the wildfires.
Good360
Good360 is working with other nonprofits to bring “targeted and timely” aid to wildfire victims across the region. The non-profit specializes in matching corporate donations of goods from clothing and hygiene products to cleaning supplies and building material.
Save the children
Global humanitarian organization Save the Children is accepting donations to deliver urgent needs to the kids and families hardest hit by the wildfires. Among these goods are hygiene kits and caregiver kits that include flashlights, water bottles, blankets, portable chargers and entertainment products.
The Red Cross-Wildfire Relief
The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles is providing shelter to wildfire victims and their domestic family pets as well as food, water, health and emotional support services. The non-profit is accepting donation while operating an emergency shelter at the Westwood Recreation Center and a shelter for large animals and livestock at Pierce College in Los Angeles.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army accepts donated basic needs for survivors, from protective clothing items, flashlights, device chargers, infant care items or boxes for people to collect their possessions.
The following items are encouraged:
- First aid kits
- Personal protective equipment like dust masks, work gloves, boots or helmets
- Bottled water or other packaged drinks
- Boxes, barrels, garbage bags
- Mops, brooms, rakes, rags and scrub brushes.
- Batteries, flashlights or device chargers
- Work or rain boots
- Hygiene products from soap, disinfectants, hand sanitizer or laundry detergents
- Infant care items such as formula, diapers, and rash cream
- Blankets or pillows
- Underwear or socks
- Packaged or nonperishable food items and snacks
- Hand tools, nails, plywood and hand tools
- Children entertainment from toys to books
This story has been updated to add new information.
