Though firefighters’ incredible efforts have made real progress in battling Los Angeles’s wildfires, the city is still facing a daunting and difficult path to recovery. With many things out of our control—and with more high winds on the way this week—it’s easy to feel helpless and at the mercy of mother nature.
One thing we can control, though, is how we show up for one another. And Angelenos have been showing up for each other in droves—in fact, over the weekend, many relief centers reached their capacity for both donations and volunteers. It’s a much-needed silver lining in the midst of a terrible time, and it makes us even more proud to live in this great city.
The work is far from finished, though, and with so many businesses and nonprofits that have stepped up to help, it can be hard to navigate it all or determine where your effort would make the most impact. Luckily, Mutual Aid L.A.—who serves as a “connector and information hub for mutual aid efforts”—has gathered dozens of volunteering opportunities in one incredibly useful resource.
Check the spreadsheet to see places that need volunteers and donations, handily organized by day and neighborhood. There are slots for the upcoming weekdays or, if you’re tied up at work all week, you can check the ongoing/future tab for projects to get involved in. No matter what your skills are—organizing, babysitting, cooking, building—you’ll find a way you can help. You’ll need to register in advance for some opportunities, while others allow you to just show up and help.
And while the full extent of the damage to L.A.’s natural habitat and beloved hiking trails has yet to be determined, Eaton Canyon—home to one of our favorite waterfall hikes—has especially been on our mind since its Nature Center burned down. You can volunteer for future recovery efforts by emailing eatoncanyon@parks.lacounty.gov with your contact information.
If you’re short on time and would rather donate money, there are endless ways to pitch in and a few different routes you can take. You can donate to larger nonprofits like Red Cross (click “California Wildfires” when you’re asked what cause you want to support), the Salvation Army, chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen or the Pasadena Humane Society, where hundreds of displaced pets are being cared for. Find more nonprofit options here.
Most of us already know, either directly or indirectly, someone who’s lost everything from these fires. And there are so many heartbreaking stories we’ve all encountered on the news and social media, with no doubt countless more that have yet to be shared. If you want to donate on a more personal level, so your dollars go directly to a certain person or family who’s touched your heart, check out this comprehensive list GoFundMe has compiled of fundraisers for people affected by the fires.
Thankfully the site has taken the time to verify these fundraisers, as—unthinkable as it may seem—some have tried to take advantage of the current situation with fake campaigns. Case in point: There was an early imposter trying to raise money as the Bunny Museum, a beloved, quirky institution that burned down in Altadena. Now co-owner Candace Frazee is running the official GoFundMe page, which you can donate to here, to raise funds to rebuild the museum. (We’ve also rounded up donation links for the local restaurants that have burned down.)
The Eaton Fire has also hit the Black community of Altadena especially hard. With that in mind, a spreadsheet began circulating over the weekend that specifically gathers the names and GoFundMe links for over 450 displaced Black families. And you can similarly find a list of links for teachers who have lost their homes here.
Lastly, GoFundMe also has its own Wildfire Relief Fund 2025, which sends “critical cash grants directly to people who need help recovering from the impact of a wildfire.” At the time of writing, it had already raised over $2.6 million toward its $3 million goal.
Whichever way you choose to pitch in toward recovery efforts, keep showing up—every dollar and hour helps. We love you, L.A.