Some Resources for L.A.
A list of places to donate time, money, and goods. Plus: some other thoughts on being away home.
Dear friends,
I’ve gotten used to whisking in and out of Los Angeles, like I did a couple of weeks ago, giving myself barely enough time to indulge in all my favorite things. On my last visit, I spent most of my days eating my way through my beloved and boring San Fernando Valley, but on my second to last morning, as I’ve done on every recent trip home, I drove down to the beach for a run. I began in Santa Monica and ran north into the Palisades—just one of the areas that has been decimated by the devastating fires that began ripping through the city early last week.
I’ll refrain from waxing poetic, but I will say that watching this happen from across the country has been strange and shocking. I’ve been listening to Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” over and over and over again. I ache for L.A. and for everyone whose homes—and with it, their sense of stability—have been lost as cruelly and hastily as they were. I’ve also been desperate to do something. Mostly, money seems to be the best I can offer. Shipping donations across the country, while noble, seems less efficient than simply giving to people and places who are already there.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of GoFundMes, donation centers, relief efforts, and mutual aid collectives that could use some extra cash. The listserv I e-mail every week is small (but engaged!), so hopefully this can be helpful for at least one person who, like me, has found themselves far from home and eager to make themselves useful. If you feel inclined, comments are open for more suggestions.
These two lists (one and two) have collected GoFundMes that have reached less than 30% of their expressed goal.
Spreadsheet with GoFundMes for individuals and families affected by the Eaton Fire.
Spreadsheet with GoFundMes for those affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
A list of GoFundMes focused on specifically Latino folks who’ve been affected.
A list of GoFundMes for displaced Black families who’ve been affected.
A list of shelters, donation centers, options for animal boarding and food distribution, and other services.
Donation page for CORE, a Los Angeles based non-profit that focuses on community-driven and long-term recovery for those affected by the fires.
“Love LA” t-shirt with all proceeds going to CORE’s relief and recovery efforts.
Information on physical and monetary donations for the Pasadena Humane Society (where we adopted our silly boy Jack when he was a puppy).
These two Instagram accounts (one and two) have been sharing useful information regarding individual fundraisers and other opportunities to help within Los Angeles and nationally.
Last week, two thousand miles away from home, I sat down at the Barrymore Theatre for the Broadway Revival of “Our Town” just as a new fire erupted in the Hollywood Hills. In the third act, Emily Webb, played by Zoey Deutch, moves downstage to deliver a monologue. For anyone, like me, who knows nothing about this story other than what’s alluded to in Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake,” I’ll only say that Emily is, in a sense, visiting her childhood home for the last time.
“One more look,” she says to the Stage Manager. “Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners. Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking. And Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths. And sleeping and waking up.” Finally, she wonders: “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? —every, every minute?”
The Stage Manager responds: “No. The saints and poets, maybe they do some.” May this turn us all into saints and poets. May we try to realize life. Every, every minute.
With love and hope,
Erin
P.S. I’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming next week and will save most RECS until then, but if you’re interested in some reprieve from the heaviness of the past week, I’ve been devouring “Slow Horses,” and Conor and I have already binged the first three episodes of the new season of “The Traitors.” The former is not exactly light and mindless, but it is thrillingly distracting and can be laugh-out-loud funny at times. The latter is just ridiculous and exactly what all reality TV shows should be.
Thanks for sharing, Erin. Very helpful list for how to aid families in need. Much appreciated.