Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire as it burns multiple structures in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles. (AP pic)
Supporting California Communities During the Wildfires: How You Can Help
California is facing an unprecedented wildfire season, with over 180,000 residents displaced, countless homes destroyed, and entire communities disrupted. Fires like the Palisades Fire, which has already scorched over 17,000 acres, are a stark reminder of the urgency for both immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts.
In challenging times like these, community support and action are essential. Whether you’re an individual looking to help or a company exploring ways to maximize your impact, there are many meaningful ways to contribute to wildfire relief.
To assist those affected, donations to trusted organizations can make a significant difference.
Trusted Organizations on the Front Lines
The following organizations are making a significant impact in supporting wildfire-affected communities:
- American Red Cross: Anyone who needs a safe place to stay can find shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps.
- Pasadena Humane: Rescuing and sheltering animals displaced by the fires, ensuring they receive care and attention.
- World Central Kitchen: Delivering fresh meals to evacuees and first responders to provide comfort and nourishment.
- United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Mobilizing resources to assist low-income residents with immediate relief and long-term recovery.
- California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund: Providing grants for rebuilding homes, mental health services, and other recovery efforts.
- Team Rubicon: A veteran-led disaster response organization that deploys volunteers to assist with recovery efforts and support affected communities.
- Local Churches and Community Centers: Offering refuge to evacuees, serving as shelters during the crisis.
How You Can Help
There are countless ways to support wildfire relief efforts. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Donate: Contributions to any of the trusted organizations above can provide critical resources and support.
- Volunteer: If you’re in a safe area, consider lending your time to help distribute supplies or assist with recovery efforts.
- Assemble Hygiene Kits: Collect and distribute toiletries, face masks, and other essential items to evacuees.
- Foster Animals: Provide temporary homes for pets displaced by the fires until they can reunite with their families.
Supporting Through Your Workplace
Most companies have ways to empower employees to amplify their impact through innovative workplace giving and volunteer programs. Whether your business already has a CSR program in place or is looking to start one, here are just a few ways to get started:
- Paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO): Provide employees with dedicated time during work hours to engage in volunteer activities, showing your company’s commitment to community support.
- Gift PTO Hours: Build a compassionate workplace culture by allowing employees to support each other or volunteer during emergencies.
- Set Up a Matching Campaign: Work with your company to create a challenge match, double match, or triple match campaign to maximize employee donations. Support a specific organization or a group of nonprofits helping wildfire-affected communities.
- Increase Dollars for Doers: Enhance your company’s funding for Dollars for Doers programs, amplifying volunteer hours spent supporting organizations on the front lines of wildfire relief.
These organizations, along with countless volunteers, are working tirelessly to help communities recover from the devastating impacts of California Wildfires.
There are many opportunities to get involved in the recovery efforts. Consider volunteering to help distribute supplies or to help shelter animals who have been displaced by the fires. If you are local and able to donate your time, we encourage you to reach out to the local Red Cross, Community Foundation, Humane Society, or United Way.
No contribution is too small – every little bit helps, and together, we can make an impact in the lives of those affected by the wildfires.
For companies using GivingTrax that wish to set up an Employee Matching Gift or Match Challenge to one of the above organizations, please contact us at [email protected].
Together, we can do our part to help those impacted.