Don Griffin, a Pacific Palisades resident and real estate investor, discusses how California is rebuilding after the wildfires on “FOX Business Live.”
A group of California women are organizing a free shopping event for Los Angeles fire victims and first responders, and on a Dozens of companies To help with items ranging from clothing to personal care products.
Jessica Lopez, Kelly Lopez, Emily Caperta, Danielle Hutchinson and Michelle Spears have raised $100,000 at the same time to help families rebuild their lives in a matter of days.
Four of them, including Jessica Lopez, Kelly Lopez, Emily Caperta, initially joined forces after the Woolsey Fire destroyed their community and displaced many families. The four didn't have much experience in event planning, but using their knowledge and resources, they prepared hot meals, raised $150,000 in capital, and helped families get the supplies they needed to start over.
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After several wildfires swept across Los Angeles last week, destroying more than 12,300 homes and buildings and killing at least 16, the group of women is once again trying. This time they are working Along with the non-profit organization California Strong, which was founded shortly after their first initiative and the YMCA.
(L to R) Danielle Hutchison, Jessica Lopez, Emily Caperta, Fabian Garber, Kelly Lopez. Michelle Spears is not pictured. This is a group of women who come together to help fire victims get resources and money to rebuild their lives. (Jess Lopez)
“We were completely bootstrapped in 2018. We didn't know anything. We weren't event planners. It's not what we do for work. We're not fundraisers, but just with that desire,” Jessica Lopez said. Fury flared up to help us.” FOX Business.
Jessica Lopez said they arranged something similar a few years ago. However, they had the same motivation to help. “Our team was like, 'Okay, let's do it again,'” he said.
On January 18, the group will start working Los Angeles fire event at the Capretta Preventative Sports Performance Center in Westlake Village, so families can get “whatever they need to start rebuilding everything they've lost,” Jessica Lopez said.
Fire victims must first respond to the event.
We want this to be a moment of beauty in heartbreak
On Saturday, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM PST, victims who have either completely lost their homes or are unable to stay in their homes. Fire hazards They must come and “shop” for all the resources and resources they can physically carry.
Everything is brand new and donated from major brands like Lululemon, CalPak, Cotton On, and the community.
Productsincludes a wide range of items such as clothing, shoes, food, pet food, cosmetics, toys and gift cards.
Collected supplies for the LA Fire Relief event starting January 18th. (Emily Caperta)
The team has also created “knife bags” specifically for first responders who put their lives on the line to help save the community. It will be filled with a host of products from local and national brands such as Herbalife, Stonefire Grill, Zevia, Autumn Headwear, Next Health Recovery, Celsius, Athletic Nicotine, SANS, Monster Energy and Sann Supplements.
However, the event also offers a range of on-site recovery services, such as trauma therapists and real estate consultants on hand. Help with rent and housing. There will also be a photographer on site so victims can replace family photos that may have disappeared during the fire.
The entire event will be broadcast and music will also be played.
“It's a little depressing and demoralizing when so many people lose everything and come to these centers,” Caperta said. “We want this to be a beautiful moment in heartbreak.”
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A picture of the first relief event after the Woolsey fire in 2018. (Burgundy Blue Photography/Ryan Calindo)
Caperta said the beauty of this is that so many people in the community have stepped up to help. In fact, they put out a volunteer form to help set up during the week and within five minutes the spots were filled. There is currently a waiting list of about 100 people who still want to help.
The group plans to begin raising $100,000 in family donations in the next few weeks in partnership with the YMCA.
They will use the YMCA process to verify recipients. However, unlike many other groups, Caperta said they have the “resources and funding to cut checks immediately.”