As devastating fires ravage the Los Angeles region, we are closely monitoring the impact on our school and community partners as well as our supporters. Our hearts are heavy as we witness incredible loss.
Of utmost concern is the immediate and prolonged impact this disaster will have on kids, families and the greater community. Families are facing the loss of their homes and evacuations, alongside lost jobs and incomes. At the same time, destruction to school buildings, air quality and power outages has led to school closures – which means the loss of school meals. The result is a situation where many kids and families are facing hunger.
We are grateful for the heroic work of our local partners who have jumped into action to meet the needs of our community. Los Angeles and Pasadena Unified School Districts are operating meal pick-up sites, where students can pick up breakfast and lunch while schools are closed. Members of the culinary community, alongside local organizations and volunteers, are coming together to provide meals for those in affected communities.
For our friends and families across Southern California affected by the fires, we encourage you to stay informed through trusted sources and remain vigilant.
- County of Los Angeles for latest emergency updates and alerts
- CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to monitor wildfire activity.
- National Weather Service for updated weather conditions.
- Download Watch Duty. Watch Duty is an app that tracks wildfires and disaster information like notifications on fire perimeters, evacuation zones, and air quality in real-time.
- Build your emergency kit with this disaster checklist from Ready.gov
FOOD RESOURCES
Disaster CalFresh Assistance
Disaster CalFresh is a program that provides immediate food assistance to individuals and families impacted by natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or fires. If your community is approved for federal disaster relief, check here for locations on where to apply.
More information about the Disaster CalFresh program.
You can apply for Disaster CalFresh:
Apply Online at BenefitsCal.com
Apply by Calling the Los Angeles County DPSS’s Customer Service Center (866) 613-3777
Apply In-Person at any DPSS District Office or outreach site.
Visit the LA County DPSS Website for more information.
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
LAUSD will reopen most schools and all offices on Monday, January 13.
LAUSD will provide student meals at Daniel Webster Middle School for the following schools sites on Monday, Jan. 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
- Canyon Charter Elementary School
- Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary School
- Palisades Charter Elementary School
- Marquez Charter Elementary School
- Topanga Charter Elementary School
- Lanai Road Elementary School
- Paul Revere Middle School
The Grab & Go site is located at:
Daniel Webster Middle School
11330 Graham Place
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Sites may change, please check the LAUSD website for up-to-date information on school meals.
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)
Schools will remain closed from January 13-17, 2025.
Starting Friday, January 10, 2025, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., the PUSD Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) program will provide an opportunity for all families to drive through and pick up meals for the children in their family at 3 of our schools sites.
The following schools will provide (2) meals, breakfast and lunch, for each student. Meals will be available for pick up between 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, in the parking lot or bus lane at each participating school. Please stay in your car and meals will be passed to your car.
School Hubs Offering Meals District-wide:
- McKinley School | 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
- Madison Elementary | 515 Ashtabula St, Pasadena, CA 91104
- Field Elementary | 3600 E. Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
Sites may change, please check the PUSD website for up-to-date information on school meals.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD)
All Santa Monica schools, with the exception of Roosevelt Elementary, still in the evacuation warning zone, will be open Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Schools will be operating on an inclement weather schedule.
Malibu schools will remain closed Monday, Jan. 13, Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Wednesday, Jan. 15, due to ongoing safety concerns of the Palisades Fire and the need for campus assessment, cleaning and road reopenings.
Ongoing Community Food Programs:
- Virginia Avenue Park – Thursday Food Bank 11am -12pm
- Venice Family Clinic
- 2509 Pico in SM, Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9-11 am
- 589 Rose Ct. in Venice, Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 9:30-11:30 am
- Westside Food Bank https://www.wsfb.org/our-services/need-food-help/
- SOVA Food Pantry: 818-988-7682 https://www.jfsla.org/program/food-pantries/
- Salvation Army Food Pantry (call for hours): 310-451-1358
Sites may change, please check the SMMUSD website for up-to-date information on school meals.
World Central Kitchen (WCK)
WCK is distributing free hot meals to the public at the following locations in Southern California in response to multiple active wildfires near Los Angeles.
- Pasadena City College | 1570 E Colorado Blvd | Pasadena | 5-8 PM
- St. Francis School | 200 Foothill Blvd. | La Cañada Flintridge | 12-5 PM
- Arco Station, Woodbury Road | 2171 N Fair Oaks Ave. | Altadena | 1-7 PM
- Collins & Katz Family YMCA | 1466 S Westgate Ave. | Los Angeles | 11:30-1:30 PM
- Taft High School | 5461 Winnetka Ave. | Woodland Hills | 12-8 PM
- Canoga Park High School | 6850 CA-27 | Canoga Park | 12-8 PM
Sites may change, please check their socials and the WCK website for up-to-date site information.
LA Regional Food Bank
For families seeking food or other resources, the LA Regional Food Bank has a network of over 600 partner agencies and are ready to provide vital food assistance. If you or someone you know is impacted, please use their Find Food Pantry Locator or please go to 211LA.org or call 2-1-1.
YMCAs in LA County
YMCAs with Food Distribution Sites:
- Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA | 2900 Whittier Boulevard, Los Angeles | 323 260 7005
Food Distribution | Monday’s & Wednesday’s | 9:00AM – 11:00AM - Anderson Munger Family YMCA | 4301 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles | 213 427 9622
Food Distribution | 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month | 9:00AM - Weingart YMCA & Aquatic Center | 9900 S Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles | 310 754 3191
Food Distribution | Tuesday’s | 9:30AM – 11:30AM - Crenshaw Family YMCA | 3820 Santa Rosalia Drive, Los Angeles | 323 292 9195
Food Distribution | Tuesday’s | 11:00AM – 2:00PM - West Valley Family YMCA | 18810 Vanowen Street, Reseda | 818 774 2840
Food Distribution | Wednesday’s | 10:00AM - Mid Valley Family YMCA | 6901 Lennox Avenue, Van Nuys | 818 989 3800
Food Distribution | Thursday’s | 10:00AM - Collins & Katz Family YMCA | 1466 S Westgate Avenue, Los Angeles | 310 477 1511
Food Distribution | Thursday’s | 10:00AM - Culver-Palms Family YMCA | 4500 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City | 310 390 3604
Food Distribution | Thursday’s | 9:00AM – 11:00AM
LA Restaurants
Visit the LA Times and EATER LA for a list of restaurants providing support to evacuees and first responders.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
YMCA
Free Childcare: The Y is offering free child care for children of first responders, essential workers and families who have been displaced, evacuated or who have otherwise experienced loss. We have limited spaces available.
- ALL YMCA locations are offering childcare for children of first responders, essential workers and children of families who were displaced, evacuated or lost property, or who cannot attend school because their school has closed for the day.
- This program is being offered at no-cost.
- Children must be at least 4 years and 9 months old to attend the program and must be in grades TK-8th.
- Space is limited. Contact afterschool@ymcaLA.org to learn more and sign up.
Sites and times may change, please visit the YMCA LA website for up-to-date information.
LA County Department of Parks & Recreation
Click the link for up-to-date information on registration and locations for the Care Camps: https://parks.lacounty.gov/care-camps/
To support families impacted by the Eaton fire, LA County Parks Care Camps will provide youth and teens with a supportive space for fun and recreation including music, arts and crafts, sports activities and field trips to the LA County Natural History Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Dodger Stadium, & more. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be provided daily; teens will also get supper.
MONDAY TO FRIDAY, January 13 to January 31, 2025
YOUTH CAMPS AGE 5-12: 8 am to 5 pm
TEEN CAMPS AGE 13-17: 8 am to 7 pm
LA County Department of Mental Health
If you or your loved ones are experiencing mental health distress related to the wildfires in California, do not hesitate to ask for help. 24/7 support and resources are available through our Help Line at (800) 854-7771 and through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
See below resources for additional ways you can support yourself and others during this time:
- Mental Health and Stress After An Emergency (LACDMH / DPH)
- LA County Emergency Response and Recovery Page
- Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990
- CalHOPE Warmline at 833-317-4673
- Crisis Text Line by texting LA to 741741
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby is providing critical items, including diapers, food, formula and hygiene products for children and families who have lost their homes to the fires.
California Community Foundation
The California Community Foundation distributes grants to affected communities through its Wildfire Recovery Fund. The foundation’s team utilizes data from CalFire and CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index to ensure their grants target the neediest communities with both intermediate recovery and long-term support.
VOLUNTEER
National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON)
We need volunteers to assist with resource distribution, provide logistical support, help with recovery efforts on the ground, and to join the Fire Relief Brigade. If you are in the Pasadena or Altadena area, please consider joining us to offer hands-on support. Sign up by contacting us at info@ndlon.org or reaching the Pasadena Community Job Center at (626) 440-0112. Please follow the Pasadena Community Job Center and NDLON for updated volunteer information.
LA Regional Food Bank
Volunteers provide critical support in our food distribution efforts. We need volunteers at our South LA and City of Industry locations. We will also deploy volunteers to support agencies and mobile food pantries in areas impacted by wildfires. To register for an upcoming volunteer shift, please visit lafoodbank.org/volunteer
No Kid Hungry provided emergency grants to two local organizations actively responding to the crisis. The first grant went to the National Day Labor Organizing Network’s (NDLON) Volunteer Emergency Fire Relief Brigade, which is assisting immigrant families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who have lost their homes and/or jobs by providing essential aid. The second grant was given to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which is distributing food to local pantries and emergency shelters to support those in need.
A disaster of this magnitude will have a ripple effect, and recovery from this tragedy will take time. In the days, weeks and months ahead we will continue to monitor the impact and needs on the ground and how we can best support local relief efforts as communities navigate recovery and start to rebuild.
We are sending strength to all affected by these disasters.
Last updated: January 14, 2025