Wave Staff Report
WEST HOLLYWOOD — The city is activating its West Hollywood Responds program to help encourage contributions to agencies and organizations that are working to help people in Southern California recover from the wildfires. The city has assembled a list of organizations on its website at www.weho.org/wehoresponds.
As the region navigates through the fires and local impacts, the city encourages community members to take part in donating to organizations that are in urgent need of contributions to provide support to thousands of people and animals who are displaced and in need of shelter and emergency aid. Estimates indicate thousands of structures (have been destroyed in Los Angeles County, including devastation across entire areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, among other fire locations.
Charity Navigator, which rates charities based on their financial health, accountability, and transparency has assigned a “give with confidence” designation to organizations listed below. Before donating, make sure that a given charity aligns with your values and that the donation is being used in ways you’d like.
Charity Navigator also has compiled a list of highly rated charities that are providing relief and recovery to those impacted by the Palisades, Eaton and other area wildfires.
Among the organizations are:
• American Red Cross (www.redcross.org): The American Red Cross is engaging in wildfire relief efforts to shelter families, serve meals, support emergency responders, provide medical care and deliver emergency relief supplies. You can volunteer with the American Red Cross or make a financial donation.
* Baby2Baby (baby2baby.org): Baby2Baby is providing diapers, food, formula and critical hygiene items to children and families impacted by the fires.
• California Community Foundation (www.calfund.org): California Community Foundation is providing critical funding to nonprofits aiding fire recovery and rebuilding efforts.
• California Fire Foundation (www.cafirefoundation.org): California Fire Foundation is giving aid to victims with immediate financial assistance.
• Direct Relief (www.directrelief.org): Direct Relief is mobilizing to deliver important medical supplies and financial aid to health facilities serving those impacted by the fires across L.A. County.
• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation (supportlafd.org): The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is providing critical equipment, technology and emergency resources to support fire crews battling the fires.
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (www.lafoodbank.org/fire): The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is providing emergency food assistance to families and residents impacted by the fires. The Food Bank is accepting food donations at its two distribution centers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. located at: 1734 E. 41st St., South Los Angeles, or 2300 Pellissier Place, Industry.
• Pasadena Humane (pasadenahumane.org): Fires also impact animals. Pasadena Humane is rescuing, sheltering, and reuniting pets with their owners displaced by the wildfires in Southern California. They are in need of donations of food, water and food bowls, extra-large crates, and blankets. They are also seeking people willing to foster animals, especially larger dogs, amid the emergency.
• World Central Kitchen (wck.org): Founded by chef Jose Andres, World Central Kitchen provides fresh meals to communities in need worldwide. World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is in Southern California to support first responders and families impacted by wildfires.
As background, the West Hollywood City Council first established West Hollywood Responds as a local disaster relief program in 2005 developed to provide assistance to the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina. It has been reactivated multiple times during the past several years, including an active effort for people to donate to organizations that are aiding people in Ukraine, relief efforts for devasting earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and wildfire in Maui, and more.