Southern California has been devastated by wildfires that have spread and destroyed communities and acres of wildlife. At least 28 people have died, at least 15,000 buildings have been destroyed, and thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate. Currently, damages from the wildfires are estimated to range from $250 billion to $275 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster on record in American history. With the ongoing fires, firefighters across the country are putting themselves on the line and going to California along with firefighters from Canada and Mexico too. Relief efforts have also been rampant in the past few weeks with many pitching in to help, and you can too.
One of the ways people have been able to help is donating to charities and nonprofits. Unfortunately, some people have tried to take advantage of the humanitarian efforts and are trying to scam donors. The website Charity Navigator can tell donors if a charity is based on scores the organization gives based on information from the IRS and the organizations based on things like accountability, leadership and results. Connecticut’s own Americares in Stamford is one of the highest-ranked charities on the website with a Charity Navigator score of 99%. Americares is using money to donate medical supplies and other necessities to help care for people who were wounded or injured from the wildfires.
Within New Haven, various pizzerias such as Zuppardi’s Apizza are taking part in an effort led by the organization Slice Out Hunger to raise funds for families impacted in California as well as restaurants in the Los Angeles area that have been impacted by the wildfires.
On Thursday, two concerts will be held at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Los Angeles to benefit wildfire victims. The FireAid Benefit Concerts will feature performances by artists such as Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Wonder, Green Day, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting and others. Anyone can donate as FireAid is accepting donations online.
The American Red Cross has also been sending volunteers from across the country to help with relief efforts as well. Among them are four Connecticut residents hailing from West Hartford, Cheshire, Lyme, and Middletown. You can also apply to volunteer for the American Red Cross and get trained and certified to help in disaster relief situations.
In addition, various celebrities have made contributions or helped with rescue efforts. Actor Steve Guttenberg put his life on the line to move cars in a neighborhood so rescue crews and firefighters could get through to the scene. In an interview with CBS, Gutenberg said, “And I really feel like I can make a difference. Like, I’m able-bodied, I’m strong, I have a heart, and I care. And this is what I’m supposed to do today.”
Bodybuilder, actor, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also pledged to donate $1 million to three charities and organizations helping with relief efforts. On an Instagram post, Schwarzenegger said, “I don’t like when companies or rich people ask their fans to make their donations for them.” He and his marketing team are selling T-shirts from which all proceeds will go to charities.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said, “As I look around the country, ask L.A. Ask Florida. Ask North Carolina. Climate change is real, and these extreme weather effects are costing us more and more every day.”