Volunteers in Tri-State Area sending supplies to California fire victims
NEW YORK — People in the Tri-State Area are asking how they can help those who have lost everything in the Los Angeles wildfires.
Whether supplies or hands, the help for those in California is much needed.
You can find a list of organizations providing aid to those affected in Southern California here.
Sending care packages to Los Angeles fire victims
Inside Americares in Stamford, Connecticut, workers are prepping boxes of critically needed supplies to head to Southern California as the area continues to deal with raging wildfires.
Americares says their most requested item is hygiene kits that provide relief for those displaced by the fires and now living in shelters. The organization says they have thousands of supply kits ready to hit their trucks.
"In addition to the hygiene supplies, people often don't take enough of a supply of medication with them ... We have respiratory medications ready to go, as well," Americares CMO Julie Varughese said.
New York City entrepreneur Lisa Richards says multiple family members of hers in California have lost their homes. In an effort to make a difference, she's sending out care packages straight to those who need it. Her Instagram posts offering help have gone viral.
"We sent everything from kitchen utensils to shampoo, conditioner, shower caps, sweatshirts, clothing," Richards said.
"We have people all across the nation that are looking for ways to help ... And it could happen to any of us in so many ways," Varughese said.
Volunteers head from Tri-State Area to California
On top of supplies, Red Cross volunteers are taking a boots-on-the-ground initiative.
Thursday, Anne Leahy was flying from Newark to Los Angeles to volunteer at a shelter for those displaced by the fires.
"It's a lot of moral support more than anything else. They know people are there for them, and hopefully we'll get them situated in permanent situations," she said.
At 74 years old, Leahy said she didn't want to sit at her home in New Jersey while thousands in California are losing theirs.
"I think there's gonna be a lot more need, so I'm glad to be part of it. Even if it's a small part, I'll be there," she said.
Raising funds to donate to those in need
New York and Los Angeles may be more than 2,000 miles apart, but the ties between the two cities are endless, especially for those in the arts and entertainment industries.
"We know a lot of these people, now that we're starting to hear, have either been evacuated or lost their homes, and it's really, really heart-wrenching to see that happen to anybody. It's even moreso, it hits a little bit more home when it's someone you know," said Paul Italia, owner of the Stand Comedy Club by Union Square.
The club is donating a portion of proceeds from its shows this month to the Red Cross for California support and are organizing a benefit show next Thursday of which all the proceeds will be donated.
"All of us, I think in these kind of situations, want to think, what else can we do, right?" Italia said.
Channeling that feeling of hopelessness into help.
