💔 Los Angeles Fires
Fire relief efforts, Baby2Baby, and more.
The destruction that has been caused by the fires burning across our city right now is unfathomable. The true scale of this devastation will not fully reveal itself until days, weeks, or even months after the fires are all out – but as of now, it’s clear that Los Angeles is in the midst of a historic tragedy.
What we know now as of Thursday afternoon:
Evacuation orders are impacting nearly 180,000 residents.
Thousands of structures have been destroyed — including many homes.
5 people have died.
Nothing could have been done to truly prepare for this fire, but it is clear to all of us that LA needs to take a look at our city and make some changes. There will be a time to point fingers, investigate what went wrong and what could have been done differently – but right now everyone’s attention should be focused on how to help those in need.
The silver lining in the midst of this catastrophe is that Angelenos are coming together like I have personally never seen before. People are offering neighbors and strangers alike support, bedrooms, food, and supplies. At this point, everyone is doing their part in some way shape or form, and seeing everyone come together reminds me just how resilient this city is and why I love it so much. The outpouring of texts and calls from people around the world has been so reassuring. All eyes are on LA, and everyone has us in their heart.
The one thing everyone always wants to know in moments like this is how they can help. It’s going to be weeks before we know the final effects on our city, but there are many amazing organizations taking action now. As always, Baby2Baby sprang into action during the community’s time of need. Yesterday, their trucks were distributing essential items to evacuation centers all around LA county. Today, they hosted a drive-thru distribution of emergency supplies including diapers, formula, hygiene items, blankets and more for those impacted. And since the fires began, they have delivered 1 million critical items to families in need, and the requests are only going to keep pouring in. You can donate directly to Baby2Baby’s fire relief here. Since its inception, Baby2Baby has provided support for disasters all across the country from Texas to North Carolina to Florida and beyond, but doing it in their hometown where so many employees of the organization have been impacted is that much harder.
It’s also warmed my heart to see how the food community has come together to help in any way it can:
Jon & Vinny’s & Tacos 1986 & Danny Boy’s Pizza are just a few of the places providing free food for first responders and anyone who has been displaced. Others include:
There are many other places offering free food to first responders and those affected. A running list can be found here.
I’m also adding a list below of organizations you can donate to. Anything helps in the midst of this disaster.
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is running a campaign to provide critical support for LAFD firefighters as they work tirelessly to save lives and protect property during these devastating wildfires. Donations to this campaign will directly help equip firefighters with essential tools and supplies.
The Red Cross has become synonymous with helping in times of disaster, and they have a lot of ways for you to help those dealing with the aftermath of this disaster.
For those who are interested in fostering displaced dogs, you can fill out a form on CRC’s website.
This shelter is taking donations of supplies and is also looking for volunteers to foster or adopt animals in order to mitigate overcrowding.
You can donate to help wildfire recovery efforts at the link above.
Additionally, here’s a list of community resources for those impacted:
AirBnB has stepped up in this time of need, and is offering free, temporary housing for those displaced.
Uber is providing rides to and from wildfire evacuation centers in LA county, use code WILDFIRE25 to redeem.
Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network
This spreadsheet has so many resources: shelters, animal boarding, information sources, distribution hubs, and more. It’s frequently updated by community members, so be sure to check it out.
A hub for community members and community organizations looking for all types of health, human, and social services in Los Angeles County.
Planet Fitness is providing people free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi. The offer is valid until Jan. 15 at Planet Fitness locations across Los Angeles County that haven’t been impacted by the wildfires.
Stay safe, everyone. We will get through this with the help of our incredible first responders and our community.