As multiple wildfires continue to burn throughout the Los Angeles area, nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes — many of them unsure if there would be a home for them to return to.
As of Thursday afternoon, at least five people were killed and over 1,000 structures have been destroyed by the flames. Multiple states have sent hundreds of firefighters to join those in California who have spent days trying to control the fires.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley on Thursday described the situation as “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.”
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If you are following the news from afar and would like to help, here’s a list of organizations that are accepting donations on behalf of affected communities.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is working to provide shelter, food and mental health services. You can donate money online, or by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting “REDCROSS” to 90999. If you’re interested in volunteering with the organization, you can register online after the completion of a training session.
Animal Wellness Foundation
For residents with pets or who are responsible for farm animals, the Animal Wellness Foundation is raising money to help house and feed the pets that had to be left behind by owners who had to evacuate and couldn’t bring the animals with them. The organization is using an old veterinary hospital in Marina Del Rey to help keep the pets safe. You can donate to their fundraising efforts here. If you or someone you know are evacuating and can’t bring a pet, you can also find shelters that are still available for large or small animals here.
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby announced on X that it is providing essentials like diapers, food, formula and hygiene products for any children and families who have lost their homes to the fires. To help Baby2Baby further, you can donate to their Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Program online.
California Community Foundation
The California Community Foundation has a Wildfire Recovery Fund that addresses the long-term impact of wildfires, such as helping rebuild homes, providing mental health support and financial aid and strengthening infrastructure to improve emergency response systems. You can donate to the fund online or by mailing a check to 717 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, Calif., 90012.
California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation is supporting some of the thousands of firefighters and emergency personnel fighting the fires right now. You can donate to the group online.
Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
CORE has an emergency response team supplying hygiene kits, masks and protective gear to anyone who experiencing poor air quality because of the wildfires. You can donate to them here.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is working with two Koreatown YMCA locations to help hand out free protective masks to any residents who may be negatively affected by the smoke. The Koreatown YMCA centers are not accepting any online donations, but are accepting physical donations — unopened food, clothing, blankets, emergency supplies — in person. Direct Relief set up a fund online that helps anyone affected by the wildfires and needs critical aid.
GoFundMe
Multiple individuals have set up GoFundMe pages for financial help in the wake of the wildfires and GoFundMe has organized a centralized online hub of all the verified fundraising pages. GoFundMe recommends people go through the verified accounts and choose who and how many accounts they want to help directly. GoFundMe also set up its own Wildfire Relief Fund, which has a goal of raising $300,000 that the organization aims to give to anyone affected by the fires. (GoFundMe’s 2024 Wildfire Relief Fund was issued to over 150 people and families dealing with wildfires in California, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado.)
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting donations of food at its two distribution centers. If you are not based in Los Angeles, you can donate money to the food bank online.
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
The foundation is seeking donations to help the Los Angeles Fire Department as they fight the wildfires, including providing them with emergency shelters and necessary tools like hydration backpacks and brush tools. You can donate here.
Salvation Army
The Southern California division of the Salvation Army is working to provide free food, necessities and shelter to any evacuees and first responders. You can donate specifically to the Southern California Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Fund online.
Pasadena Humane
Pasadena Humane animal control officers have been helping with pet and animal evacuations, as well as working at shelters where left-behind pets are being kept after owners evacuated. The group announced they had taken in over 300 animals as of Wednesday afternoon. Pasadena Humane is accepting in-person donations for the pets and monetary donations online.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is in Southern California to help distribute food and meals to anyone who needs them. You can donate to help them cook and provide nourishing meals online.
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
The United Way said it is focusing on longer-term recovery efforts to support people affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles. You can support their efforts by donating here.
