Look for the Helpers: Los Angeles
Resources for Recovery and Relief
“If you look for the helpers, you’ll know that there’s hope,” is one of the numerous aphorisms Mr. Rogers has given us, and it’s what I’m holding onto this week. If you’re looking for helpers in Los Angeles, I’m sharing a few below. One overarching thought: money is the most impactful thing you can contribute, if you can contribute it. People in LA need immediate relief, non-profits that are strapped for resources need our support, and cash will go a lot farther than used clothing (no shade, I promise!).
The Frontline Medics are an Indigenous-run mutual aid group, who are looking for donations IRL but are also accepting monetary support —
Cashapp: $medigurlies
Venmo: @resistcarebloc
Paypal: WOCfrontlinemedics@gmail.com
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is raising funds to support immigrant day laborers, undocumented workers and mixed-status families who are navigating a lot of uncertainty and fear when it comes to seeking shelter and emergency services. LA’s immigrant community will be at the forefront of recovery from this catastrophe, and they need our support.
There are many GoFundMe pages circulating and some brilliant minds who understand Microsoft Excel have created thorough spreadsheets that allow folks to view which GoFundMes are in need of the most support and which are closest to their funding goals. This first spreadsheet is a compilation of nearly 400 GoFundMe pages across LA, and this second is a directory of Black families in Altadena who are currently displaced. For context, Altadena was a sanctuary for Black families leaving the South in the Great Migration and it has remained an incredible pillar of LA’s Black community.
The Trans Defense Fund LA is an organization I’ve supported since 2020 — it’s run by an incredible human, Nikki, who is always trying to do more good in the world. Follow their page and keep an eye on what they plan in terms of fundraisers and product drives, they’ve been sharing useful info all week.
The Infatuation has pulled together a guide with LA-area restaurants supporting people impacted by the fires — for those outside of LA, one nice way to support would be getting a gift card to those restaurants, many of whom are serving people at no charge. A restaurant gift card is a thoughtful and impactful way to tell a friend out there you’re thinking of them.
Finally, sharing something that might bring you a tiny bit of relief, peace, or lightness of spirit. My dear friend Joelle sent me this Instagram reel from a singer out of London who goes by ‘Big Boi Hums’ covering Soundgarden’s '“Black Hole Sun.” I immediately got the chills and then went down a rabbithole of all of his musical covers.
Big Boi Hums sings like an angel. I love how he randomly puts a receeding hairline or bald filter on some of his clips. He has such hauntingly beautiful covers that I want an entire album of them. I’ve also gone off Effexor (an anti-depressant, there are medical reasons why I had to stop taking it) this week after 2 months of tapering down my dosage and I’ve felt like my brain is electrocuting me at random all week long. This page was truly the first thing that gave me relief.
All we have are each other. Apologies to borrow Lester Holt’s nightly sign-off, but please take care of yourself, and each other. Love you.