Los Angeles County Fires:
How to Help

Join us in supporting wildfire relief efforts to help our communities recover and rebuild their lives.

We Are Stronger Together

Dear PTA Members and Leaders,

We have received many questions about how to best support our neighbors impacted by the recent wildfires.

To provide guidance, I've consulted California State PTA and the California State PTA Toolkit. We’ve identified ways our PTAs can help while remaining aligned with non-profit policies.

Thank you for coming together as a community to make a difference in these challenging times.

Take care,

Melanie Lucas

President, Thirty-Third District PTA

How PTAs Can Help

Donate

Supplies and Gift Cards

PTAs can make a significant impact by organizing or participating in drives to collect clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food, school supplies, and gift cards. When selecting an organization, ensure that it has a channel to distribute the supplies and a specific list of what is urgently needed.

PTA Funds Cannot be Used to Purchase Gift Cards: Gift cards must come from individual donations.
Partner with Your District Office: They will identify those affected and can distribute collected items to those in need.

Relief Organizations

PTAs can also donate funds to recognized 501(c)(3) relief organizations that assist disaster-affected communities, such as:

Approval Process for PTA Donations

All donations must be approved or ratified by the membership at an association meeting.
This approval must be documented in the meeting minutes.

Please Remember

PTA funds cannot be used for personal gifts or financial support for specific families because PTAs are not organized as relief organizations.
Do not use the PTA's EIN to open financial accounts for relief.

Handling Requests for Relief Assistance

Volunteer

Encourage members to give their time by volunteering at places such as shelters and donation centers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Other Ways to Help

In addition to organizing drives, there are many other meaningful ways PTAs can support wildfire relief efforts by:

Taking part in a blood donation drive. Look up an American Red Cross blood drive near you.
Sharing information on how members can make personal donations directly to trusted organizations.
Providing details about volunteer opportunities at relief service locations.
Disseminating information about benefit events or relief initiatives organized by others.

Stay Safe from Scams

During times of crisis, scams targeting donors and volunteers can increase.

Protect your community by sharing these tips:

Only donate to verified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Be cautious of unsolicited requests for donations.
Verify organizations at Charity Navigator.

Resources and Opportunities

Stay informed and find additional ways to support relief efforts with these resources:

Relief and Donation Information

Health and Mental Health Assistance

Helping Children Cope with Disaster

General Guidance for PTAs

California State PTA Toolkit Relief Assistance Guidelines

Disclaimer

The resources shared here are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the information is accurate and helpful, Thirty-Third District PTA does not endorse or guarantee the services, content, or organizations linked. Please use your discretion when accessing and utilizing these resources.

THIRTY-THIRD DISTRICT PTA