Not everyone could set up a GoFundMe fire fund
After surviving the fast-moving fires, many found themselves without shelter, basic necessities, or hope. We kept reading about celebrities in the spotlight and the many GoFundMe efforts. But what about the most vulnerable people in L.A.—families who were already food insecure or at risk of houselessness?
Reaching L.A.’s most vulnerable families
After some digging, our Director, Jen Hofmann, was delighted to discover Give Directly and their campaign to give struggling families both cash and dignity. This organization operates on the principle that people in crisis don’t need bags of clothes or second-hand furniture, they need cash. This allows them to decide how best to meet their own needs.
You showed up in a big way
375 of our subscribers reported giving a donation–and many of you sent an email telling Jen the amount. She sent AoCC’s $100 match right away.
Within a few days, Jen received an email from Tyler Hall, Give Directly’s Director of Communication, who said,
“Hi Jennifer and the Checklist team — writing to say thank you from GiveDirectly for encouraging donors to give to our LA fire relief program. We’ve already started delivering donations and this will help us reach even more families in need.”
Total impact so far
As of this week, Give Directly has already delivered $3,500 infusions to 273 low-income families, predominantly reaching households with 2+ children in the Altadena area who lost everything to the Eaton fire. There are at least another 1,000+ low-income families in the hardest-hit neighborhoods they’re hoping to reach.
Tyler told me that together, the AoCC community raised approximately $21,000–enough to send six families $3,500 each. We did that together!
Here is what some of the recipients said
Claire (28) and her 3-year-old son:
“The fires were really tough and traumatic—the hardest part was losing my only support system when my son’s school burned down. We have been living in our car since December 2023, with nowhere else to go. Thanks to the support, I was able to get a hotel for a month, which felt like a miracle. It was such a relief to finally get out of the car.”
Briannah covered essentials for her family after they lost everything:
“There was no saving [our home]—we lost everything inside, all our memories, pictures, and personal belongings. Applying for support was really easy—I did not have to put in too much information, and it went through quickly. Getting the $3,500 was such a big help for our family. It allowed us to get the things we really needed, like food, clothes, and hygiene items. It meant a lot to know that there was extra help out there, especially after losing everything.”
Jim (63) hopes to rebuild the home he lost (see photos):
“Getting the cash made me feel like I had some independence again. I plan to use it to rebuild, take care of my dogs, and find a place to stay because right now, we have nowhere to live. This support really lifted me up, and I cannot thank you all enough. It was such an unexpected blessing. I appreciate you so much!”
Thank you for showing up
Your generosity is helping some of L.A.’s most vulnerable families regain a sense of security and hope. Instead of the awful headlines, reading stories like Claire’s, Briannah’s, and Jim’s remind us of the profound impact of kindness. Thank you for showing up for our neighbors in their time of need.
P.S. Still want to give? Here’s the link. Give Directly is nearing their goal of two million!