Wildfires have decimated more than 80,000 acres of the Los Angeles metropolitan area in recent days, charring more than 12,000 buildings, displacing more than 150,000 residents and killing at least 13 people.
When the fires first broke out on Tuesday, the White House made federal disaster assistance available to the state of California to support the state’s recovery efforts. The disaster has also led to an outpouring of donations from around the world.
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As the fires rage on and Los Angeles looks ahead to an eventual recovery, here are ways you can most effectively help the city’s recovery efforts.
Long-term giving
Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, emphasized that the Los Angeles community will need donations to survive beyond the immediate aftermath of the wildfires. She compared disaster response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In the past, people would have said, we just need protective equipment and we need a vaccine, and that’s all we need. But the longer we were in that crisis, the more we came to understand that what everyone needed to get rid of Covid was so different,” she said. “For some people it was childcare. For others it was elderly care. For some, their children were falling behind in school. It varied in so many ways, which we all need to move forward.”
McIlreavy encouraged donations to organizations focused on preventing the Los Angeles community from being left behind due to the devastation, in addition to organizations providing immediate, life-saving resources.
“What is the difference between a hot meal and access to your own pantry and kitchen? A hot meal is delicious. It’s wonderful to get a hot meal after your family has experienced a disaster. But access to a kitchen, access to the ability to prepare your own meal, to feed your children with food, and in a way and at a time that you choose, that’s about dignity, that’s about freedom of choice.”
Be specific with your donation
Brea Burkholz — a spokesperson for Direct Relief, a California-based nonprofit that provides medical supplies for disaster recovery — cautioned against bringing large bags of miscellaneous items directly to shelters. While this is well-intentioned, Burkholz says, Los Angeles shelters often lack the capacity to handle the sudden influx of donations.
“Often the system can become overwhelmed with donations of clothing and material items because they are not set up and don’t have the space to take it all in,” she said.
Burkholz suggested that people instead volunteer or help specific families in need of certain items or housing.
“If you can make a direct connection to a family in need, that’s a much better approach because you know exactly who it’s going to and there’s a place for it,” she said. “A lot of these people who are displaced don’t have space. They don’t have a house.”
Wendy Escobedo, emergency operations manager for the food relief nonprofit World Central Kitchen, echoed Burkholz’s sentiment.
“At first it was just an influx of people bringing all kinds of things,” she said. “And now they’re really going to focus on, ‘You know what? What are the needs?’”
Escobedo said the city’s shelters need more toiletries, including diapers, wipes, towels and hairbrushes.
Beware of scammers
On Saturday, California officials warned Los Angeles at a news conference about a wave of scammers taking advantage of the crisis.
“To anyone who wants to take advantage of people for their greedy gain, who sees dollar signs, I have a message for you: You will be held accountable,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. “You will be persecuted.”
Experts recommend doing thorough research before opening your wallet.
“If they say they can do something that trusted organizations can’t do or aren’t willing to commit to, there may be a reason for that, and it’s not always that they’re being creative and leading the way. ” said McIlreavy.
Escobedo suggested that people donate directly to organizations or shelters. For example, World Central Kitchen only accepts donations through its website.
“We do not accept donations in any other way, or from any other sources,” she said. “That way we should avoid all these problems.”
The following charities have been vetted by NBC News:
Community Foundation California
California Fire Foundation
LA Fire Department Foundation
Pasadena Humane Society
Ventura County Community Foundation
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Immediate help
World Central Cuisine
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
