Giving Compass' Take:
- Andrea Domanick reports on supporting LA fire recovery and relief, providing a list of vetted sources to donate to and volunteer for.
- How can you most effectively support those impacted by the wildfires in an immediate sense as well as supporting long-term recovery?
- Learn more about disaster relief and recovery and how you can help.
- Search our Guide to Good for nonprofits focused on disaster philanthropy.
What is Giving Compass?
We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Learn more about us.
Watching this week’s events unfold, it’s hard to not want to take action, supporting LA fire recovery. While donating items or showing up to sites IRL may feel good, make a point of checking whether that’s actually what’s needed. Managing donated objects can become overwhelming for organizations, especially when they exceed demand, while volunteering for large-scale relief efforts may require special training or time and logistical commitments that may not be realistic for you. Both efforts can still be effective — just make sure to do your homework first.
In times of crisis, providing financial support can be a direct and effective way to support both individuals and communities in need, supporting LA fire recovery. But how much, to whom, and when should you donate? That’s up to you. Check out Charity Navigator’s helpful Giving 101 guide for a clear breakdown on how to get the most bang out of your buck.
They’re also a good resource for vetting and verifying charitable causes, effectively supporting LA fire recovery. Which you’re going to want to do. Unfortunately, scammers are already out there.
"You’ve got scams taking place, you’ve got GoFundMe that are not legitimate," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger at a news conference on Friday, regarding supporting LA fire recovery.
The Better Business Bureau has published this handy list of tips for donating to Southern California wildfire relief efforts, including how to vet organizations, review crowdfunding requests, and understand the phases of disaster relief.
Below, you’ll find a running list of donation and volunteer opportunities vetted by KCRW.
General Resources for Supporting LA Fire Recovery
- Find volunteer opportunities by date, location and need via Mutual Aid LA's in-person volunteer opps spreadsheet. For donations and other contributions, check out their spreadsheet of resources by location and aid type. If you have anything to add to their list, reach out by commenting on this Instagram post.
- Find resources by location with this interactive mutual aid map.
- Sign up for #CaliforniansForAll to get information about volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved in your community.
Read the full article about supporting LA fire recovery by Andrea Domanick at KCRW.