How to help victims of the Southern California wildfires
The fires consuming parts of Southern California have moved rapidly since breaking out a few days ago. The Thomas Fire, a blaze in Ventura County, has already claimed 90,000 acres. The fires have collectively led to the evacuation of more than 200,000 residents, according to news reports.
There are numerous efforts underway to aid survivors, who may have fled wearing only the clothes on their backs and may not know the fate of their homes for days. By Wednesday, the Red Cross had opened seven shelters to provide refuge for survivors in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
If you'd like to contribute to the rescue and recovery efforts, consider the following initiatives:
1. Support local chapters of the United Way.
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The United Way of Ventura County partnered with the American Red Cross of Ventura County and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services to respond to the disaster effectively. It also created the Thomas Fire Fund, which is collecting donations online, by phone at 805-485-6288, and via text (type UWVC to 41444). Checks may be sent to the United Way office at 702 County Square Drive, Suite 100, Ventura, California, 93003. (Write "Thomas Fire Fund" in the memo section.)
The United Way of Greater Los Angeles created a separate but similar fund. Donations can be made online or by mail. Send checks to the United Way office at 1150 S. Olive Street, Suite T500, Los Angeles, California, 90015. (Write "SoCal Wildfire Fund" in the memo section.)
All donations will support those affected by the fire.
Those looking for opportunities to volunteer after the fires have been contained can check the chapter's website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.
2. Support the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.
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The LAFD Foundation has requested contributions to help keep more than 250 firefighters battling the fires safe. The foundation collects money to cover costs that the fire department can't always afford. Those include things like brush helmets, custom flashlights, veterinary care, and night-vision capability.
You can donate here.
3. Support the Humane Society of Ventura County.
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The Humane Society of Ventura County has taken in dozens of animals since the fires began. Contributions will help support the care of horses, goats, donkeys, alpacas, chickens, cats, dogs, and rabbits. The shelter has also asked for feed for large animals, temporary bedding for staff and volunteers, human food, and items like paper towels, batteries, and battery operated lanterns.
If you don't live locally, you can make a financial donation here. You can also monitor the shelter's real-time needs and requests via its Facebook page.
4. Support GoFundMe campaigns.
GoFundMe has vetted and verified campaigns related to the fires and created a hub to make them easy to find. The campaigns are largely trying to raise money to help families replace basic items, rebuild their lost homes, and find temporary or permanent housing.
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5. Use Facebook's Crisis Response tool to donate or give and find help.
Facebook users are leveraging the platform to both donate money via GlobalGiving, a nonprofit organization that provides grants and funding for local and reputable nonprofits affected by the fires.
Users are also crowdsourcing offers and requests for help that include clothes, shelter, and transportation.
6. Donate via Google.
If you search for "Southern California fires donation" in Google, the top of your results should include a pop-up prompt to make a donation for the Ventura County Fires. Google partnered with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a nonprofit organization that helps direct financial contributions to local nonprofits in the affected area.
The entire donation goes to the nonprofits, and you don't need a Google account to make a contribution. To learn more about Google donation program, click here.
Editor's note: This list may be updated as more initiatives become official.
Topics Activism Social Good
Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness. Rebecca's experience prior to Mashable includes working as a staff writer, reporter, and editor at NBC News Digital and as a staff writer at Forbes. Rebecca has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a masters degree from U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.
