By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Wave Newspapers is partnering with Jenesse Center and L.A. Care Health Plan’s Community Partners Collaborative on a campaign seeking donations for victims of the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles since Jan. 7, particularly those in the Altadena/Eaton Canyon areas.
The organizations involved will each reach out to their constituencies for donations.
Nearly 40,000 acres have burned, and it’s estimated that more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. At least 25 people have lost their lives, and thousands have lost their homes or been displaced, leaving communities in crisis.
On Jan. 12, Jenesse Center, a nonprofit domestic violence intervention and prevention organization, announced a partnership with the collaborative to provide critical resources and support to individuals and families affected by wildfires. Jenesse enlisted additional help from The Wave and Cooking With Gabby, an organization that goes into schools to provide free cooking classes for kids.
Angela Parker, Jenesse Center, director of community engagement and education, said the organization, which is calling its initiative, “Share A Little Love,” “wanted to help in some way.”
“Many of the people in the Altadena/Eaton Canyon areas relocated to Los Angeles for housing and help,” said Parker, who has been with the Jenesse Center for 20 years. “We saw this as our duty to service this population in crisis.
“For the past 45 years, our focus has been on healing, the family and crisis. We had to help. That’s one of the reasons why we opened a family source center a year ago. We wanted to be a resource for housing, clothing, food insecurity, tutoring, financial literacy, and a space the community could utilize. We’re an anchor.”
The Jenesse Center released a statement that said it is committed to supporting wildfire victims who have relocated to the service area, ensuring they have access to essential resources during this difficult time. As part of the organization’s efforts, it provides free internet access through its on-site computer lab during donation hours, helping those affected stay connected.
Additionally, Cooking with Gabby has generously offered free vouchers for hot meals to anyone visiting the center who the fires have impacted. A limited number of vouchers are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Parker said the Jenesse Center is looking forward to receiving many donations.
“I hope everyone comes out and supports this initiative,” Parker said. “This is an unprecedented catastrophe where people who had safety nets now find themselves un-housed. Some people are now in financial ruin. Some are marginalized, and some are on the verge of being even more marginalized.
“When you donate to the L.A. Care Health Plan’s Community Partners Collaborative, you can be assured the items you give us will go to those most in need.”
Throughout this week, the collaborative has encouraged the community to donate clothing for adults and children, toiletries, food, blankets, bedding, towels, pajamas, socks, diapers, non-perishable food and gift cards.
Gregory J. Huskisson, The Wave’s vice president of content and audience, said the news organization was pleased to partner with Jenesse and was committed to supporting the community through such a worthy effort.
“Naturally, our core duty as a newspaper is to report on the crushing devastation of these fires, but at the end of the day, we are more than just a newspaper company,” Huskisson said. “We all live and work and shop and play in this community, so we know that, as this community goes, so go we.
“That’s why we’re honored to help promote this effort to solicit donations for victims of these ravaging wildfires,” he added. “It’s not only our pleasure, it’s our responsibility.”
Donations, which are being collected through Jan. 18, can be dropped at the West Adams-Leimert Park Family Source Center, 4305 Degnan Blvd, Suite 105, Leimert Park. Drop-off hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 18. Donations also can be dropped off at Center of Hope Church Los Angeles, 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood.
Volunteers are urgently needed this week to help sort donations from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 18, at West Adams-Leimert Park Family Source Center, 4305 Degnan Blvd., Suite 105; and from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 18, at Center of Hope Church.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Angela Parker at 323 552-6503 or aparker@jenesse.org.
While the Collaborative officially ends Jan. 18, the last day it will collect donations, Parker said Jenesse Center’s efforts are “ongoing.”
Parker said that on Jan. 18, L.A. Care will pick up all the donations from organizations in the collaborative and take them to legitimate organizations they have identified in the Altadena/Eaton Canyon area.
“We will keep some of the items at the Family Source Center for people who need them,” Parker said. “Although our efforts are ongoing, we will have a special event on Jan. 23-24, from 9 am. to 4 p.m. for people who are in need. Anyone impacted by the wildfires is welcome to pick up whatever items they need at the Family Source Center in Leimert Park.”
Jenesse Center is working to develop additional ways to support the recovery and resilience of the community.
It recognizes that the chaos of the last week can have a mental health component.
On Jan. 16, clinical Psychologist Charmaine Davis, will host a free virtual mental health healing circle. For information, contact Davis at cdavis@jenesse.org.
Jenesse also is hosting free tutoring for students K-12, both in person and virtually.
It is also offering free internet service at the Family Source Center’s computer lab daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We will also have referrals in case people need something we can’t provide,” Parker said.
Supporters interested in making financial contributions to help Jenesse Center continue assisting wildfire victims in their recovery can do so through the organization’s website (jenesse.org).
“The donations we receive will be the building blocks to help people rebuild their lives,” Parker said. “We want people to know there is hope for the future. You can’t lose hope.”
The L.A. Care Health Plan’s Community Partners Collaborative includes L.A. Care Health Plan, Council of Black Nurses, Health Matters Clinic, Alzheimer’s Association Southern California Chapter, National Action Network, Advocates for African American Elders, UC Irvine School of Public Health, Center of Hope Church (Los Angeles), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inglewood Chapter.
The Los Angeles Wave Newspapers and Cooking With Gabby are not part of the L.A. Care Health Plan’s Community Partners Collaborative but are partnering with the Jenesse Center.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.