The wildfires that proceed to ravage the Los Angeles area are among the worst in California history, amassing levels of loss which can be hard to quantify in real time. Through all of it, the best way communities across the Los Angeles area and beyond have galvanized to support our collective neighbors has been nothing short of gorgeous. From the modern offerings of the sweetness community to insightful donation suggestions courtesy of local organizers, there’s a wealth of knowledge available for all those searching.
Jocelyn C. Chambers, founding father of BLK Events LA and Community Partnerships lead with WalkGoodLA has spent countless hours with the WalkGoodLA team coordinating services across a broad spectrum of needs. She shares her best suggestions for local individuals trying to support below.
Check what organizations need first
“At all times check the social media or website of the donation center for what they need, prior to arriving,” she says. “Clothes,” for instance, “are essentially the most significant item which have been donated, and we’ve gotten to points where we’ve needed to turn people’s clothes away. I believe that’s happened across every donation center in LA, so being mindful of what they need and going out of your technique to purchase things that people don’t have already got to donate, comparable to recent hygiene products and gift cards, is best.”
Donate recent beauty items
Unused, packaged, and newly purchased beauty and hygiene products are all ideal donations for impacted families trying to rebuild and feel a way of normalcy on this time of tragedy.
Where can I donate recent beauty items in LA?
People and businesses across the sweetness space in LA and beyond have come together to supply services and help, and there are a lot of ways you’ll be able to get entangled too. Local spaces aiming to support beauty and wellness needs are opening their doors to gather beauty, hygiene, and menstruation product donations from all who want to assist.
Neighbors and Friends Cafe is a Pasadena-based coffee shop accepting Black hair care product donations.
Dezi Skin an LA-based beauty brand helmed by Desi Perkins can also be collecting donations of recent and unused hygiene and sweetness products to create care packages for wildfire victims.
Give stuff you’d wish to receive
“Be sure that you just are giving things that you just would wish to receive yourself if you happen to were within the situation. Used items are unhygienic. They should be recent, unused, and in excellent condition. All products comparable to toothbrushes should be unopened, because they will get contaminated with other items they’re packaged with.”
Organize your donations before dropping off
“It’s also very vital to prepare your donations before coming to a drop center, since it makes it easier to sort properly.” Please donate with intentionality. Lots of these families have lost all the things they’ve owned and cherished; give them the dignity of donating quality items.
How can I contribute if I don’t live within the LA area?
For those non-local to Los Angeles or California typically, she also offers a suggestion to prioritize monetary contributions. Gift cards, direct donations, and uplifting personal fundraisers are great ways to assist and likewise offer folks the chance to buy their favorite products themselves. Monetary donations to families’ GoFundMe campaigns are ideal because the method is streamlined, efficient, and may be easier than having to coordinate where to send, and methods to disseminate physical items.
On the sweetness end, the opportunities that exist across beauty, wellness, and hygienic resources are aplenty. Leaning into the community and listening to what they need, especially pertaining to beauty-related products, is the most effective technique to contribute to the cause.
