How to donate to the victims of the Los Angeles fire and avoid falling into scams– BC

Finding ways to help from afar after natural disasters, like the Los Angeles fires, is not always easy.

Despite the best of intentions, sometimes people can do more harm than good by overwhelming local organizations with unnecessary donations or inadvertently detracting from relief efforts by making uninformed decisions about how best to donate or be a volunteer.

And then there are the scams. The chaotic aftermath of disasters is a prime environment for fraudsters to set up fraudulent funding campaigns or exploit the situation for nefarious purposes, diverting needed donations from well-intentioned people.

If you’re looking for ways to help victims and recovery efforts from the Los Angeles fires, here’s a helpful guide on how to find trusted resources. We also provide some best practices for navigating the online situation.

Find out where to donate

Considered one of the most devastating fires In the story of Los Angeles, there is an overwhelming number of people who need help and subsequently an overabundance of information about their needs, leading to confusion about how to help.

If you’re trying to sift through this mountain of information looking for things you can do, Start by researching verified and trusted organizations that are working on the ground so that the money or goods you donate go to the right places. Look for local and federal government and established nonprofit sites that provide vetted resources.

He Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and the official California website have regular updates on what is needed and where to donate. For monetary donations, the LAFD lists its base for the supply of fire fighting equipment and supplies, the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fundhe American Red Crossand the Salvation Army as options. The LAFD has also linked LAworks.com which supports local Los Angeles nonprofits for volunteer opportunities and resources.

The official website of California, CA.gov also has a list of organizations examined to donate money and volunteer opportunities through the Governor’s Office California Volunteers department.

He Los Angeles Mutual Aid Network (MALAN), a center for mutual aid efforts and resources, has a regularly updated database from local organizations and information about what they request and volunteer needs.

If you are looking to directly help individuals and families who have been displaced by the fires, GoFundMe has a section dedicated to fundraising campaigns that have been verified by the site’s Trust and Safety team.

The Pasadena Humane Society is no longer accepting donations of pet supplies, but still needs monetary donations, which can be made here.

Find out how to donate better and what these organizations need

As you research, look closely and frequently at what organizations do and No need. The LAFD urges people not to leave donations at fire stations and shelters, because it “affects the critical operations of these frontline first responders.” Similarly, the city of Pasadena announced in X who is “overwhelmed by the amount [of food and other basic supplies] and we are no longer accepting additional donations.

The tweet may have been deleted.

Organizations usually specify which items are needed. Second-hand clothing or used or opened packages of food and toiletries may not always be welcome. MALAN, the Los Angeles-based mutual aid network, has been providing detailed, real-time information about what each donation drive needs and whether they accept volunteers.

In that sense, there is an impulse to show up at an organization’s door ready to collaborate. However, training volunteers often requires time and effort that could be better spent elsewhere. during an ongoing disaster like the Los Angeles fires. So, check their sites and social media accounts for up-to-date information on how to best volunteer your time or resources. Sometimes the most necessary resource is simply money.

Share reliable information

With emotions running high and social media doing what it always does, misinformation thrives during crises like the Los Angeles fires.

When firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades ran out of water, rumors that it was due to broken fire hydrants led the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to make things clear. The fire hydrants were not broken, but due to an “extreme and unprecedented demand for water to fight the wildfire without air support.”

The viral satellite images of Altadena on fire don’t actually represent the fire, they are infrared images that show heat maps of the fire. So while the devastation is real, that’s not what the fire looked like to the naked eye.

Meanwhile, fact-checking sites like Snopes and Politifact have been busy debunking false claims of looting, misleading claims about budget cutsand accusations from politicians.

Now is an especially good time to read social media closely and think carefully before reposting or sharing anything online. Ask yourself if a post seems to provoke anger, about the original source of the information, and if you have enough context for the news you are reading.

A good strategy to quickly evaluate the online information you want to share is to SIFT methodwhich was developed by digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield. SIFT is an acronym that stands for 1. Stop, 2. Investigate the source, 3. Find better coverage, and 4. Trace claims, quotes, and media back to the original context.

At the very least, be careful what information you create and reshare from your social networks.

Beware of scams

Scammers take advantage of people at times like these by exploiting their emotional investment and taking advantage of the urgency and severity of the situation. In addition to luring people to donate through fake fundraising campaigns, scammers also go on the offensive, targeting people through phishing calls, text messages, emails, and direct messages on social media.

Through social engineering, they may not even ask you for money directly, but rather tease you for sensitive information, such as contact information and passwords, under the pretext of needing help or offering help on your behalf. If you donate outside of official channels, such as sending money through Venmo or sending supplies to someone, it’s best to turn to trusted networks of people you know or people who can vouch for them.

If you think someone is trying to scam you, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau have some tips. Find out specific information about the charity that you can research and verify and do not give them any money or personal information until you have verified the organization.

Scammers will often emphasize the urgency of the situation and try to get you to donate immediately. But legitimate charities will have websites with secure donation portals, so if it’s a real organization, you can always find it and donate later.