How To Help Those Affected by the California Wildfires

Over the last two days, five wildfires — the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Sunset fires —  have burned over 2,000 structures and nearly 29,000 acres across Southern California. The best way to help those affected by the Southern California wildfires is to donate to relief efforts led by the communities in greatest need and at greatest risk.

For this reason, in addition to larger, more well-resourced organizations such as the California Fire Foundation, the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and World Central Kitchen, we recommend supporting the following organizations that are providing emergency relief, preparing for long-term recovery, and working to address the root cause of issues that create crises like this. These groups have the deep knowledge and relationships to get help where it’s most needed.

Where To Donate To Help Those Affected by the California Wildfires

805 UndocuFund

A previous Tides Foundation grantee, 805 UndocuFund is a joint effort among immigrant-serving Central Coast organizations Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project, Central Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy and Future Leaders of America. Together these organizations launched the 805 UndocuFund in 2018 to provide resources and disaster relief support to immigrants and undocumented residents. Unlike other disaster victims, undocumented individuals and families are excluded from federal disaster relief and social safety nets offered to others to recover. Their mission is to mobilize resources when disaster hits, provide short-term financial relief to undocumented residents, and advocate for long-term systems change to ensure they are effectively included in disaster response and recovery. Since its creation, the 805 UndocuFund has distributed over $8M in disaster financial relief to more than 6,000 undocumented residents during disasters, and has also become a trusted and familiar source of information and support for Ventura and Santa Barbara counties’ immigrant community. 

Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN)

MALAN is a connector and information hub for mutual aid efforts, people and resources across Los Angeles. At this time, the MALAN team is maintaining an extensive list of emergency aid resources available to those affected by the fires that is constantly being updated with new resources, calls for volunteers and donations. MALAN is fiscally sponsored by Hack Foundation.  

The Sidewalk Project

The Sidewalk Project is a lived-experience women and peer-led organization aiding unhoused, drug-using, survivor and sex worker populations in Los Angeles. They provide case management including medical care, housing linkages, and system navigation services. Their street team providing direct direct services including crisis response, system advocacy, wound care, job placement, medication-assisted treatment, and creative community resources for mental health.

At this time, the Sidewalk Project is receiving unhoused from Skid Row, Mac Park, and evacuation zones at their drop-in center, and is collecting items such as tarps, tents, sandbags, N95 masks, cots, blankets, bungee chords, and respirators to distribute.

 

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It’s Bigger Than Us

It’s Bigger Than Us is dedicated to addressing social determinants of health in South Los Angeles. It aims to tackle social and economic inequities affecting marginalized communities across LA, and is focused on creating sustainable, positive change through education, workforce development, and community support programs. In response to the devastating fires, the It’s Bigger Than Us headquarters has been mobilized as a mass distribution hub where volunteers are sorting and distributing donated items. They are currently collecting donations of essential items such as water, shelf-stable food, masks, hygiene items, clothes and blankets. 

 

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Pasadena Community Foundation

The Pasadena Community Foundation has opened the Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund providing an opportunity for those who want to support immediate and pressing needs even as the fire continues to spread. The Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund provides flexible support to local nonprofit organizations as they respond to the local Eaton Canyon fire. 

Comunidades Indigenas En Liderazgo Corp (CIELO)

A previous Tides Foundation grantee, CIELO is an Indigenous women-led, intergenerational organization that works with Indigenous migrant communities in Los Angeles. CIELO creates substantive solutions to the social, economic, and cultural challenges faced by the Indigenous community, and works on language revitilization by creating new spaces of engagement with Indigenous languages for younger generations.

The fires have significantly impacted the Indigenous community in Los Angeles, many of whom are now left without work. CIELO will be providing relief funds to families who have lost their income due to the fires and is also distributing emergency protective equipment and food to community members who must continue to work despite the poor air quality.

Support Grassroots Response to Climate Disasters

Climate disasters are not “equalizers.” They make inequality worse. Tides Foundation’s Crisis Response Fund was created to resource grassroots, community-led organizations as they respond to climate disasters. Support for the Crisis Response Fund is an investment in Tides’ ability to mobilize quickly with emergency support for marginalized communities in crisis, to resource communities harmed by compounded crises, and to shift power to the leaders of communities most directly affected by climate crises. 

If you’re considering a grant in response to a crisis, we strongly recommend providing general operating support and not requesting formal reports. Learn more about best practices for crisis response grantmaking.