San Diegans often talk smack about Los Angeles. There is a lot of teasing, jesting, and eye-rolling going on, especially when the Dodgers are in town. A bit like siblings in the backseat on a 12-hour road trip without iPhones. But in times of crisis, we come together. Us against the world.
The fires in LA hit close to home for so many people in San Diego. Almost everyone down here knows someone who has been affected by the fires. Greg’s step-brother and his wife lost his house in Altadena. Our Social Media streams were filled with photos and videos of loved ones, who anxiously saw the flames and smoke creep closer. Now that the news coverage has subsided and many first responders have gone home, let’s roll back our sleeves and do what we can to help our neighbor! Ready?
The recent fires in Los Angeles were devastating. Twenty-nine people lost their lives. Thousands of homes were lost, businesses burnt to the ground, and whole neighborhoods were eradicated. People lost everything.
When you live in California, the risk of wildfires (or earthquakes) is part of the deal. You accept the risk, prepare as best as you can, and hope for the best. Every year, wildfires and other natural disasters (not just in California, obviously) destroy homes and leave people with nothing. But the sheer size of the 2025 LA wildfires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Pasadena put this disaster in a category of its own.
How to Help After Los Angeles Wildfires
I know that many struggle in these tough times, but if you can spare a little (or a lot) to support our neighbors up North, here are some suggestions on how to best help after the Los Angeles wildfires.
Plan a Day Trip And Support Small Businesses
I recently talked to an employee of the Pasadena Tourism Office and asked her what people could do to help. She said the best thing to do is visit the area and spend money there.
Support the local businesses and restaurants. Many of the owners and employees were directly affected by the fires and lost their homes. Many of their local customers have been displaced, lost everything, and simply don’t have the funds or mindset at the moment to go out to eat or go shopping. Try to spend money at family-owned businesses and support them so they can keep their employees and stay afloat. Ask them how they are doing and listen to their stories. Be kind.
I recently took a day trip to Pasadena to shop and explore the area. I will share some of my favorite shops and restaurants with you soon!
Donate to Reputable Charities or Directly
Donations can be a bit tricky. You want to make sure that your donation has the greatest impact and goes to the people who need it the most.
There are many reputable charities out there that do a fantastic job helping people who were impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires. I always recommend donating as close to you as possible when a natural disaster strikes in your area. My husband and I decided to donate to our step-brother’s GoFundMe. Maybe you know someone who was also directly impacted? That way, you know exactly where your money goes.
If you don’t know anyone who was directly impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires or needs the support, here are some charities that are reputable.
Important: If you donate to a charity, make sure that they are reputable. As sick as it is, there are scammers posing as charities that use tragedies to exploit people and funnel money to themselves.
Donate Gift Cards to Fire Victims or Shelters
After a natural disaster, when the news coverage is everywhere, donations of goods start pouring in immediately. This is good in situations where access and availability are limited. But the donation of goods also requires a lot of space, manpower, and time. Sometimes, they are also just not that helpful, and the shelters and donation centers receive too much of this and not enough of that, broken items or things that are not useful and must be sorted out.
Gift cards, on the other hand, are easy to transport and distribute. People can buy exactly what they need, which is fantastic for anyone needing specialty items, for example, due to allergies. It also supports local stores and businesses, which in turn helps the community help itself.
Call Your Representatives to Ensure Ongoing Support For LA Fire Victims
In our current politically tumultuous time, many federal aid programs, such as FEMA, have had to fire hundreds of employees and are threatened with severe budget cuts. This directly affects the LA fire victims. No matter what side you are on, questioning help for those in need after a devastating natural disaster should not be a political strategy.
I recommend calling your representatives and speaking up for your friends, families, and neighbors in Los Angeles. Tell them you need them to speak up for those who lost everything. You can find the contact information for your local representative here>>
I hope these ideas help you help others. If you have additional ideas, please share them in the comments.
Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by Maria Haase
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