Overwhelmed with the fires in California? Don’t worry, here’s how to help

• Politics

Jan 13, 2025 @ 12:31 am By Perry Johnson

You aren’t alone; here’s how you can help.

The recent events in Sunny California have taken their toll on everyone this week – Including me. As everyone waited to see who wore what to this year’s Golden Globes, nobody could have been prepared for what the week would look like. On January 7th, it was reported that 10 acres of land in the mountains north of Pacific Palisades. With severe drought in Southern California and the worsening Santa Ana winds, the fire quickly spread, creating blazes that reached more than 700 acres by 2:00 pm that same day. Every minute felt like an hour as the days progressed, with fires rapidly increasing and spreading with new reports of additional fires spotted in the surrounding areas. Residents were notified to Evacuate, leaving behind personal items, businesses, and homes; while these are materialistic things, losing your home for anyone can be detrimental. On the other side of the country, I sat like many others and watched this all go down with hour-by-hour updates of the devastation. I couldn’t help but feel completely helpless. I knew to message and call my friends in Cali to ensure they were safe, but I couldn’t help but still feel like that wasn’t enough. Between reports of fires being set on purpose and watching so many homes burn down to ashes, I honestly didn’t know what to do. As we waited for an unforeseen outcome, many resources quickly became available to the many families in desperate need. Please check below for the many ways you can share information or donate to the many charities aiding the victims and shelters that are in need.

Here are resources to share and pass along:

California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund: The California Fire Foundation works with local fire agencies and community-based organizations to provide ongoing, mid- and long-term support to California communities affected by natural disasters like wildfires. The organization directly supports victims and is beginning to help those impacted by the Palisades Fire.

https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-communities/disaster-relief

World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit global food relief organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, is already on the ground in Southern California to aid first responders and evacuees. https://wck.org/

Donation page: https://donate.wck.org/give/499865/?_gl=1*1xkrdmj*_gcl_au*MTk5MDIxMzExMS4xNzM2Mzc0ODk2*_ga*ODkwNjgzOTc0LjE3MzYzNzQ4OTY.*_ga_5WKVY8503C*MTczNjM4MzQ3OS4yLjAuMTczNjM4MzQ4MC41OS4wLjA.#!/donation/checkout?c_src=navbar

California Community Foundation: The California Community Foundation has been working to strengthen Los Angeles County since 1915. The organization’s Wildfire Recovery Fund targets the most underserved and hard-to-reach communities in the region to help provide long-term recovery relief. https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/

CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation: CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation provides financial aid to firefighters and their families in case of injury or loss of life. The organization also helps support burn victims and their families, along with research on firefighter health and safety.

https://calfire.foundation/donations/

California Fire Foundation: The California Fire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides critical support to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve. Your tax-deductible donation will help them aid wildfires or other natural disaster victims through their Wildfire & Disaster Relief programs.

https://cpf.salsalabs.org/disasterrelief/index.html

Dream Center: This L.A.-based charitable organization offers emergency shelter to those evacuated in the Palisades and Eaton Canyon Fires.

https://www.dreamcenter.org/

Dream Center donation for fires website: https://dcf.dreamcenter.org/relief

Friends in Deed: Donate to Friends in Deed, a nonprofit providing services for the homeless, as it opens its Bad Weather Shelter amid the fires.

https://friendsindeedpas.org/

Friends in Deed donation website: https://friendsindeedpas.org/donate-to-friends-in-deed/

Direct Relief: Donate to Direct Relief’s California Fire Relief, which provides N-95 masks, medicine, and resources to healthcare agencies and first responders in areas affected by wildfires.

https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/california-wildfires/

The California Community Fund has a recovery fund dedicated to helping victims of wildfires. You can donate here.

https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/

American Red Cross: Donate to the Wildfire Relief Fund at the American Red Cross. Sign up at the Canine Rescue Club if you’re in the Los Angeles area and can offer temporary foster care to dogs displaced by the wildfires. Los Angeles Emergency Management Department

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/wildfire-relief.html?srsltid=AfmBOooAJDZ5CQUEAvClwOfS_zhB8KszzVPIYLLBdx9q5mbMACU6NErN

FOOD

World Central Kitchen: Provides meals to first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

https://wck.org/relief/california-fires-jan25

Restaurants Across LA County: A list of restaurants across LA County offers shelter, food, and support for first responders and evacuees. This includes SPA 6’s South LA Cafe, which keeps three of its five locations (including Jefferson and Kaiser) open to provide shelter to evacuees and anyone in need. Their Western location (1700 Browning Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90062) offers free groceries, water, and masks from 12 to 4 p.m.

https://www.latimes.com/food/list/los-angeles-restaurants-providing-food-shelter-evacuees-first-responders-fire

Sweet Greens will provide meals to first responders, victims, and displaced residents. DM them through social media or call directly.
https://www.instagram.com/sweetgreen/

Culver City Phone number: 310-660-7471

Other Locations: https://www.sweetgreen.com/locations

Calico Fish House: The chef at Calico Fish House in Sunset Beach in Orange County offers to feed evacuees and let them camp in the restaurant’s parking lot.

Address: 16600 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Phone: (562) 357-4012

https://calico-restaurant.com/

Image Source: Camila Cabello

Relief Resourcing: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority

About The Author: Perry Johnson

Perrin Johnson is our senior features editor. Aside from Interviews and sourcing the best in beauty and fashion, Perrin enjoys Coffee and time with his family. Follow Perrin on Instagram at @editsbyperry