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LA Fire Resources

Cal-Pac UMC Relief
YMCA Relief Resources
Mutual Aid LA

Resources for LA Fire Response

By SSP Staff
We are devastated by the destruction of homes, sacred spaces, and entire communities in Southern California from this week’s fires. SSP has deep ties to Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church, with many volunteers growing into staff alumni over the years. Similarly, many affected from the Pasadena area have been a key part of SSP’s story, from former Executive Director Rev. Paige Eaves and other staff alumni, to current and former board members and their families. Many of these have either lost their homes, neighborhoods, and cherished community spaces, or remain in the uncertainty of evacuation and red zone warnings. We mourn for the losses, both material and emotional, in these communities that have invested so much in SSP’s work over the years.

Many have reached out asking how SSP can support at this time. We are not the experts in what is needed locally, but we are looking to reshare local resources and highlight needs as we learn of them, and have started doing so on both Facebook and Instagram. Because many volunteers are connected with us via the Cal-Pac UMC conference, their daily posts have been a good starting point. The Cal-Pac conference has set up a relief fund accessible on their website, and are more regionally connected than we would be in understanding to whom, where, and how to distribute aid. We will be looking for more to reshare as well – everything from shelter and resources to volunteering and donations needed. If you know of coordinated efforts regionally that should be shared with the broader SSP network, please send them our way.

Those affected by this week’s devastation: 

We are so, so sorry. We plan to update this page with relief information of all kinds as it becomes available. Below are some resources that might be useful:
    • Watch Duty App for live updates on fire perimeter, evacuation, and warnings.
    • Cal-Pac UMC is seeking information about immediate needs, coordinated by Director of Justice and Compassion Essential Ministry, Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes: dbarnes@calpacumc.org
    • Mutual Aid LA has a Google Sheet outlining immediate resources available, including shelter, meals, and more (filter column D by aid type).
    • YMCA LA is offering several resources:
      • Shelter, showers, and basic amenities
      • Free childcare
      • Distribution of goods
      • Mental health resources
      • Events for support replacing lost items such as Driver’s Licenses and more

We encourage everyone to follow local businesses and community centers, which will have the most up-to-date and relevant information.

Mutual Aid LA
Cal-Pac UMC Relief
YMCA Relief Resources

SSP community members seeking ways to help:

There are a few ways you can assist in alleviating the toll this week’s events have taken. As California’s Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday says, the best ways to support right now are to:
    • Sign up for emergency alerts
      • Follow instructions by emergency personnel
    • Check on your neighbors 
      • Whether you live in the region affected or not, this is key. Stay up to date with loved ones and friends of friends on the ground, as they will often have the most up to date information about local needs and circumstances. Be sure to respect their privacy as well; grief has its own timeline.
    • Donate financially to recovery efforts
Donating Items:

Many in-kind donations will be needed in the coming days, weeks, and months. Be aware that while in-kind donations are valuable when meeting a specific need, unsolicited material donations can actually add more burden than helping. While SSP will do our best to keep this page updated with the most prevalent needs, those seeking to donate items should confirm with recipients that those items are still needed. 

    • Donation Items Sought by Cal-Pac UMC:
      • High-capacity generators
      • Bottled water
      • N-95 masks
      • Note: Contact Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes at dbarnes@calpacumc.org to coordinate.
    • Locations Accepting Donations:
      • Local YMCAs: – “Many of our centers are accepting items to give to families impacted. These items include clothing, blankets, toiletries, non-perishables, diapers, formula, and more. For large quantity donations, contact Inkinddonations@ymcaLA.org to confirm specific guidelines and pickup or drop-off procedures.”
      • Mutual Aid LA has a Google Sheet with donation drive locations (filter column D)
      • Octavia’s Bookshelf
Volunteering Regionally:
    • YMCA LA – Each site will likely have different needs for volunteer hands, depending on the day, time, and any skills you can offer. Contact your local YMCA for further guidance: volunteer@ymcaLA.org
    • LA Food Bank – Listing various local agencies needing both hands-on volunteer support and donations!
    • Mutual Aid LA has a Google Sheet with volunteer opportunities (filter column D)
    • Cal-Pac UMC is seeking to share access to grief counselors to process the trauma and loss experienced this week. If you or someone you know is qualified to support this need, please reach out to Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes at dbarnes@calpacumc.org.

To everyone in the SSP community, thank you for your passion and desire to do some good in the face of unspeakable tragedy. Be gentle with yourselves and your neighbors as we engage in ongoing grief about this and other regional and global crises.

 

Editor’s Note: This page was last updated on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM (Pacific). We will update the resources and information listed here as it becomes available to us. Note these resources are not exhaustive.
Cal-Pac UMC Relief
YMCA Relief Resources
Mutual Aid LA