As smoke billowed over Los Angeles, thousands of women and families found themselves suddenly displaced. From January 17th to the 31st, 17 catastrophic wildfires occurred in the Los Angeles area and San Diego County in California, leaving more than 100,000 individuals displaced and $30 billion in insured property damage. Now, Girl Up is stepping in to help by launching a donation drive to extinguish the damage to women and families affected by the fires. Through collective action and support, Girl Up hopes to relieve the lives of those affected and displaced, and your help is needed. People have lost their homes and personal keepsakes, and donating products or time is necessary to combat the results of the fires.
Donation Drive Information
Throughout February, Girl Up is collecting donations for the Elizabeth House, a women’s shelter taking in displaced women and families for fire relief.
“The holistic residential program has served over 900 women, children, and grandchildren, providing essential supports such as shelter, case management, health and wellness, scholarship funding, mental health services, and so much more”, and now they are providing a home to women and children who have lost theirs. The Elizabeth House stresses that those who are able should donate to their emergency and relief fund to help these victims rebuild their lives. By donating, you will support residents and Alumni directly impacted by the fires.
Donation Items
The Elizabeth House first urges donating people to visit their Amazon Wishlist, linked here. There, donors will find items of critical need to the House. These items include water bottles, laundry detergent, air purifiers, and gift cards ($50-$100) for groceries and gas to nourish and transport during this precarious time. The gift cards they recommended are eShell, 76, ARCO, Mobil, Chevron, gas gift cards, and then grocery store gift cards such as Ralphs, Target, 99 Cent Store, and Walmart. The gift cards can be mailed to P.O. Box 94077 Pasadena, CA 91109-4077 or dropped off at Room P200 at Santiago High School to be delivered.
The Elizabeth House also listed some other accepted items, which include women’s maternity clothing (gently used or new), maternity bras, hygiene products (full-sized & new), and business and semi-formal women’s clothing. Items not accepted are child/ infant clothing (new or used), furniture or appliances, toys, stuffed animals, books, non-maternity clothing (i.e., casual), and children’s food and formula.
All items can be donated to Room P200, ordered off their Amazon Wishlist, or mailed directly. Please let Girl Up team members know of these donations through their Instagram @santiagogirl, @pacificcoast.girlup, or email: [email protected].
Elizabeth House Support Information
Potential donors may wonder what these Fire Relief Funds and critical need donations will be used for. Jessika Wang, marketing manager of the Elizabeth House, details that the Fire Relief Fund will be used to help with “professional cleaning and necessary replacement costs for the residential house for the higher-risk pregnant and parenting mothers and their children, as well as the Center for Mother and Child Wellbeing to continue in-person operations. The smoke, ash, and debris have made both houses uninhabitable, and many items will need thorough cleaning and replacement.” She continues to describe that these funds will help contribute to costs for their residents who have been evacuated to hotel rooms until the residential house is in a suitable and safe condition. These funds will cover the costs of providing housing and meals for their residents during this time, adding that “some of our residents have lost their daycare center, personal items, and other community structures” to which the funds will be allocated. “This fund will help their residents and their children, alumni, and community clients directly impacted by the fires to continue to support their families with items like gas cards, food cards, and ways to connect to the Elizabeth House family.”
Girl Up and the Elizabeth House will continue to walk alongside those affected by the fires, and they will call you for help. Support women in need today by participating in this donation drive. Contact Girl Up for further questions regarding this drive or future opportunities and events.
