Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fires in Los Angeles. If you're watching from afar and want to help, sending money to a trusted relief organization may be more effective than donating items or heading to the front lines to see how you can lend hand.
If you are wondering where to start, Los Angeles County has set up an online portal with links to local funds that have been set up to help first responders and fire victims with housing, employment, and recovery.
Unsolicited donations of goods — such as clothing, or canned food — can cause more trouble for aid organizations already in place. " I've seen pallets of clothing just left outside in a parking lot for months after some disasters, because there's no place to put it, people don't have resources to sort it," said Drew Hanna, who has led relief efforts after wildfires in California, Hawaii and elsewhere for the nonprofit Team Rubicon.
In fact, several aid groups, including the local YMCA, have already asked people to stop bringing clothes to its donation centers. "The one thing we really do not need is clothing," Christina Bragg, a YMCA spokesperson told LAist.
Just a few days after the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena and parts of Pasadena, the city of Pasadena, in a post on X, also wrote that it was "incredibly grateful for the donations of food and other items. However, at this time, we are overwhelmed with the amount and we are no longer accepting additional donations."
At news conference on Sunday, L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said "there are donations of food, water supplies, literally spilling over and out into our local fire stations."
The community support is heartwarming.
But no one wants supplies — and the hard-earned money people spent to purchase them — to go to waste.
Many organizations say donating money and/or signing up to be a trained volunteer (for the current and future disasters) is the best way to help.
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has been encouraging people who want to help to visit the website of the Emergency Network Los Angeles. For volunteer opportunities, L.A. Works has information about how to help with housing, child care, food and specific needs from local nonprofits.
Also, the state's CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov serves as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities.
One quick way to know what an agency does or doesn't need is to check their website and social media channels. Organizations will often broadcast needs there first. You can also try calling, but understand some agencies may not have the bandwidth to answer phones.
Why donations can get overwhelming
Families who lost their homes in the fires have tremendous needs. But it may be difficult for them to get to the places where donations are being distributed. They also likely have no place right now to store many of the things they'll need to rebuild their lives.
For volunteer coordinators, trying to manage donated objects like clothes, blankets and food can be difficult.
"That is countless hours of work by volunteer agencies, by survivors themselves, to navigate the piles and piles of donated clothing," Hanna from Team Rubicon said.
A recent post on the group's website tells the story of useless donations given by well-meaning people in the wake of disasters, including thousands of winter coats donated to Houston residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the hot, sticky summer of 2017.
"Coats weren’t what the city’s residents needed," the article reads. "Thousands of donors’ well-intended impact became a logistical nightmare for community organizations and relief volunteers who could have been focused instead on the emergent needs of a ravaged city."
Volunteering takes time
If you'd like to get your hands dirty and help people one-on-one, it's not always as easy as just showing up. Local community groups may host events and drives, but big organizations like the Red Cross say it takes a bit of time before you can become a volunteer.
It may be a week of training at least before they can deploy you to assist people. They accept applications here.
Don't be too disappointed that you can't volunteer right away, though, because many services are needed well after the flames are extinguished. For example, volunteers might work with people to connect them with the right organizations and providers to help them get back on their feet.
How can I help, right now
That said, here are a few options if you want to get involved right now:
- Check out the list of volunteer opportunities posted at L.A. Works
- Join LAIT911's disaster response and recovery team, where the work includes collecting donations and assisting with delivery
- Foster a dog or cat from a family displaced by the fires. Email the Pasadena Humane Society or stop by their office for more info
- Contact your local community group or religious organization to find out how they're trying to help
Where to donate money, and some specific items
Public officials in L.A. are encouraging people who want to help to donate to specific, well-vetted organizations and funds. These include:
- California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund
- American Red Cross
- Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
- The county's online relief portal with links to numerous local funds for fire victims
If you'd rather donate to a specific individual or family, GoFundMe has set up a dedicated page where you can donate to SoCal fire victims, first responders and others through their separate fundraising accounts.
If you have more stuff than cash, the YMCA is accepting donations of essential items for families affected the fires, minus clothing. Check out the YMCA's social media for updated needs.
The Pasadena Humane Society is seeking monetary donations to feed and care for the more than 300 pets they've taken in since the Eaton Fire broke out.
Donation drops through the city
City Council members have announced locations for donations, asking that people do not drop off at fire stations, shelters or other locations:
Councilmember Traci Park
Council District 11 Office
Location: 7166 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Items requested:
- Individually-wrapped items
- Non-perishable goods
- Personal hygiene products
- Canned goods
- Baby food
- Dog food
- Water and Gatorade
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez
North Valley Caring Services Food Pantry
Location: 15453 Rayen St., North Hills
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 2 p.m. on Friday
Items requested:
- Non perishable foods
- Blankets
- Bottled Water
- Diaper and wipes
- Microwaves
- Fresh produce — Please only drop off on Thursdays
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson
It’s Bigger Than Us
Location: 4308 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday
Items requested (new items only):
- Men, women and children's clothing
- Air mattresses
- Bedding
- Toiletries
- Non-perishable foods
- Monetary donations to It’s Bigger Than Us are also welcomed and can be made here.
Organizations seeking volunteers
- Volunteer Collective has an updated list of volunteer opportunities and drives.
- Volunteers are needed by Canine Rescue Club to offer temporary foster care for dogs displaced by the fires. You can apply to temporarily house an affected dog by filling out an online form.
- The LA Regional Food Bank is also accepting food donations and volunteers. These locations are open from 8 .a.m to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday:
- Vernon: 1734 East 41st St., Los Angeles
- Industry: 2300 Pellissier Place, Industry
- Help people get connected to food and supplies via No Res Gourmet. There are three way to volunteer: help cook, package and distribute meals. Donate funds with 100% of donations going directly to fire relief. Donations aretax-deductible. Drop-off supplies — Bring essential food, prep items, and care supplies to our drop-off location. View more details and lists of items needed.
- Project Angel Food is seeking immediate volunteers for both delivery and in the kitchen over the next several days. Contact [email protected] to get started.
- Los Angeles Animal Services has issued an urgent plea for fosters and adopters to take pets from their crowded shelters. This will open space in shelters for displaced animals and pets. Visit their foster page to sign up.
- Volunteers are urgently needed by OBKLA (Our Big Kitchen LA) while they prepare hot meals for those in need and for firefighters and emergency personnel. Contact [email protected] to volunteer.
- Mercy Chefs is also looking for volunteers and donations for its hot meal service to impacted residents and first responders.
- Sign up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity's wildfire relief efforts. As specific opportunities arise, you will be notified.
- Local schools, YMCAs and community centers have partnered with the American Red Cross to collect donations for those affected by the wildfires. They need help transporting and distributing goods. Many YMCA's are also offering emergency child care.
Note: This story was first published in October 2019 and updated to include information relevant to victims and evacuees from the Palisades, Eaton and other fires burning in SoCal in January 2025. Sarah Steinman contributed to this report.
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