The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have left many families facing incredible hardship and loss. Our thoughts remain with the impacted communities, first responders, and visitors in the region as we focus our efforts on supporting their immediate needs and recovery. For more information, visit our Travel Alert page.
Despite the growing scale of this tragedy, the resilience and kindness demonstrated by those most affected has been deeply moving. Their steadfast spirit serves as a powerful source of inspiration and strength as Los Angeles works through this tragedy and begins the long path to recovery.
This list of reputable organizations provides meaningful ways to contribute, from supporting immediate relief efforts to aiding ongoing recovery. Your generosity and support can make a lasting difference in the lives of those impacted.
How to Help: Wildfire Victims and Food Banks
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles has provided shelter for hundreds of evacuated and displaced residents. Volunteers also care for minor injuries, help to replace things like eyeglasses and medications, and provide emotional support. Red Cross caseworkers are helping individuals create plans for next steps and connecting them with community resources. They are also assisting with transportation, health care, and childcare. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS 800/733-2767, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a donation.
The California Community Foundation, Wildfire Recovery Fund focuses on supporting the immediate and long-term recovery of communities affected by wildfires, with an emphasis on underserved and marginalized populations. The foundation’s sister organizations—the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Pasadena Community Foundation—focus on their specific communities.
L.A.-based The Dream Center offers emergency shelter, hot meals, and supplies to those evacuated in the Los Angeles wildfires. The organization’s food line has been crucial in meeting temporary and long-term needs, and has become a gathering point for those who have lost homes in this disaster.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy awards grants to community groups and nonprofits that support communities as they rebuild after a disaster. That support comes in the forms of social services, food access, and advocating for wage earners who have lost income or affordable housing due to the disaster.
Direct Relief is a California-based disaster relief medical assistance organization. It’s currently working with two Koreatown YMCA locations to hand out free N95 masks to residents affected by the harmful smoke. Donations directly benefit individuals impacted by the fires in Palisades, Altadena, and across California.
Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), headquartered in Los Angeles, has deployed an emergency response team in areas where air quality is a concern, supplying N95 masks, emergency go-bags, and protective equipment. The organization also supplies WiFi and charging banks to local shelters. Long-term, CORE will assist with structural repairs, rebuilding, and case management support for displaced people.
The United Way of Greater Los Angeles Fund focuses on both urgent and long-term community recovery efforts to support low-income individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and those who provide services to support them, as well as small businesses.
Founded by James Beard Award–winning chef and humanitarian José Andrés, the World Central Kitchen provides meals at disaster sites around the globe. The organization is working with local restaurants, food trucks, and volunteers to provide hot meals to both emergency workers and residents affected by the wildfires.
Operating since 1981, the Westside Food Bank typically supports more than 70,000 households on the west side of Los Angeles. Through its food pantries, it acts as a food distribution hub for 60 partner agencies.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank—offering food pantries all over Los Angeles County—is a partner of Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks. It supplies food to lower income families and individuals; about one-fourth of its recipients are children and one-fifth are the elderly.
How to Help: Firefighters and First Responders
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is seeking donations to its wildfire emergency fund, which provides vital equipment and funds critical programs to help save lives and protect communities. The proceeds will go toward equipping firefighters with tools and supplies, including emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks, and wildland brush tools.
The California Fire Foundation works with local fire departments and community organizations to support firefighters, fallen fighters and their surviving families, and impacted communities.
How to Help: Animals
During the ongoing L.A. fires, Pasadena Humane Society has played a vital role in rescuing and sheltering animals. Its animal-control officers assist with evacuations, while staff at the shelter care for displaced pets. Having taken in more than 100 animals, they continue to provide emergency boarding and are partnering with local groups to reunite pets with their families.
Best Friends Animal Society has launched two pet-pantry locations, one in West Los Angeles and another in Granada Hills, offering essential supplies such as pet food, cat litter, pet beds, and other necessities, along with human sanitary products, for those impacted by the wildfires. Contributions go directly toward emergency assistance for pets impacted by the fires in Los Angeles.
In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization assisting with temporary housing for animals whose owners evacuated or lost their homes. The organization is providing essential resources such as veterinary supplies, food, and water. In collaboration with local rescuers and organizations like Advanced Fire & Rescue Services and Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, they have been crucial in coordinating resources and evacuating animals in dangerous areas.