How You Can Help The L.A. Fire Victims By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
Photo courtesy cbsnews.com
The Palisades fire began on Jan. 7. Since then, several other fires have broken out, including the destructive Eaton fire in the Altadena area. The fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and have killed 24 people as of Jan. 14 estimates.
Wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area as the Palisades fire grows, clocking in at 23, 713 acres with 17% containment as of Jan. 14.
Local groups throughout the South Bay have stepped in to help those affected by the fires and provide ways for community members to get involved.
How can you help?
Donation drives have been sprouting up across the Los Angeles area, including on and around the Peninsula. Here are some ongoing donation opportunities
VFW Post 2828, a nonprofit for veterans in Redondo Beach, is continuing to accept donations this week. They are looking for water, canned or non-perishable food, unopened baby diapers/wipes, unopened animal food and new toiletry items.
Location: 1000 N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA, United States, California
The LA Galaxy hosted a donation drive in Legends Plaza on Jan. 13-14. They are looking for water, hygiene products, feminine hygiene products, blankets and gloves, reusable bags, non-perishable food items, baby essentials, masks and kids’ supplies (check out the full list of needs here). If you missed this drive, keep an eye out for another potential opportunity from them.
Location: Legends Plaza, 18400 Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746
The Torrance-South Bay YMCA is accepting donations for fire victims. The YMCA website lists Diabetic friendly food instant coffee, powder creamer, baby formula, peanut butter and jelly supplies, cereal, reusable bags/grocery bags, luggage, gloves, sleeping equipment (sleeping bags, mats, blankets, pillows, air mattresses), air purifiers and heaters as the most needed items.
The Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo is hosting evacuees and invites people to drop off supplies at their front desk.
Local churches including Restoration Life Church in Manhattan Beach (check here for list of donation items) and Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estates (collecting toiletries, gift cards and cleaning supplies) are serving as donation drop-off centers. Check for other churches near you as well for potential collections.
Other local businesses and organizations including Kelly’s Korner, CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, The Crest Sports Bar and Grill Donation Drive and South Coast Botanic Garden recently held donation drives. Keep an eye on local businesses like these for potential donation needs in the future. Porterhouse Restaurant in El Segundo has an ongoing fundraiser through Jan. 18 to support the Los Angeles Fire Foundation.
Other ways to get involved
Those interested in volunteering can connect with organizations like the YMCA to help with child care, distributing meals and managing donations. You can call one of their locations to learn about specific needs and ways to help.
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to support wildfire relief efforts, here are some organizations you can donate to:
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.
